With Prince Philip’s funeral happening tomorrow, it seems entirely appropriate to celebrate him for this Style File Friday. Obviously the Duke of Edinburgh was known for many things. His constant devotion to the queen, his infamous remarks, his stubbornness, his dedication to royal life. However, he never really gets the attention that he deserves for his fashion. (Over 73 years married, and he never failed to dress to tiara standard…) Today I’m going to celebrate some of Prince Philip’s fashion moments, and how he left his sartorial stamp behind.
We talk about Her Majesty’s style constantly. Which tiara is she wearing? What bright colour is her coat for that engagement? (And did the umbrella match?) Who keeps her wardrobe in check? (Angela Kelly) But people rarely commented on the always impeccably-dressed Prince. And I would say, he deserves more than that!
The Canadian Cowboy Look
I’ve already shared how much I adore this photograph/ moment in time, but I had to include it here. Thematic dressing isn’t new for royals- in the early nineteenth century, royals were decked head to toe in tartan for a visit to Scotland. The then Duke of Edinburgh understood that what you wore was important, especially on a diplomatic tour. We have since seen members of the royal family decked out in cowboy-esque attire, typically when they are in Alberta (at the Calgary stampede). However, the Duke chose to go full-on cowboy, complete with plaid shirt, jeans, and necktie! Most of us Canadians don’t wear this look ourselves, but we always appreciate it!
A Classic Suit is Always Appropriate
You might think that a men’s suit is pretty difficult to get wrong. However, a lot of celebrities seem to struggle with getting the fit right for their suits. (Or perhaps their stylist didn’t know.) This was never a problem for Prince Philip, though. Without fail, his suits were always perfectly tailored. When he first began spending time with Princess Elizabeth, he didn’t have much of a wardrobe to his name. A threadbare suit, a few naval uniforms, and not much else to his name- though he did receive a few of his father’s suits when he passed away in 1944.
Once he married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, he was able to spend a bit more on clothing. As you might guess, he needed to be dressed appropriately, no way around that. He favoured classic British cuts, and Savile Row tailor John Kent made his suits for over 5 decades. Kent, Haste and Lachter (Kent’s tailoring business) held the Duke’s Royal Warrant for decades.
A Strong Military Influence
Unsurprisingly, there was always a strong naval influence in Prince Philip’s wardrobe. He went into the Navy straight after Gordonstoun, completing a term at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. He took a month off to spend time with his mother in Greece, and then returned to Dartmouth to continue training. Philip graduated in 1940 at the top of his cadet class, and served in the British Royal Navy during the Second World War.
The Prince’s military associations were always important to him, and we saw this in his attire. Of course, he wore his Lieutenant’s uniform for his 1947 wedding to Princess Elizabeth. At all appropriate events, Philip wore his military uniforms- always perfectly turned out. (Never a question of “he wore the medal on the wrong side”!)
Interestingly, no one will be wearing military attire at the Prince’s funeral. Apparently Prince Andrew wished to wear the uniform of an Admiral, but given that he is in limbo in regards to public status and patronages, that isn’t possible. (Also, the Duke of Sussex is said to have wanted to wear his military uniform, but no longer holds his honorary military positions.) In an attempt to make everything easier, all men will be in morning attire.
No Athleisure for Prince Philip
Some of my favourite looks from Prince Philip are from his leisure time. While the rest of the world has wholeheartedly embraced sweatpants and athleisure, the Duke was always impeccably dressed no matter what he was doing. He turned to tweed for a lot of his casual looks, and I think that it suited him (and his lifestyle) well.
When playing sports, he would always wear the appropriate uniform (fit to perfection). You can find countless pictures of him in a crisp polo uniform, as he loved playing and only stopped when arthritis made it too difficult. (He switched to carriage driving, though, and also loved it!) And when sailing, you would often see him a loose fitting linen shirt.
What are your favourites of Prince Philip’s fashion moments?
Cheers,
The Historian
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