King Charles was seen leaving his church in Gloucestershire on Sunday, 22 February, putting on a brave face during this difficult time for the British royal family, but it seems that he also used his clothing to keep the simpler times close to heart.
The monarch was seen walking beside the vicar, wearing a blue shirt with a navy and red tie, but it was his beige overcoat that especially caught our attention, as it's actually a piece with some history in the family.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's son has worn the coat on multiple occasions in the past, including to the Palm Sunday service in 2023 in Gloucestershire, and it's a sweet way of keeping his father's memory close to his heart.
The late Duke of Edinburgh wore his coat on many occasions, including several public engagements such as an appearance at the Badminton Horse Trials with his wife in 1956, meaning that the coat is at least 70 years old.
King Charles is keeping calm and carrying on
Paying tribute to his late father through his clothing suggests that the King is holding onto his family's heritage in this moment of crisis for his family.
Nevertheless, he is unwavering in his commitment to his regular duties and schedule, as he continues to make public appearances and attend the Sunday services in Sandringham.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesRoyal expert Phil Dampier, who has been writing about the British royal family for 50 years, spoke exclusively to HELLO! and explained that the family have scheduled such a string of outings, both high- and low-profile, ranging from London Fashion Week to appearances at the Six Nations, to help "project the image of business as normal."
He explained that "it helps to show that the show is carrying on, keep calm and carry on. The days of 'Never complain, never explain,' have clearly gone. They can't just bury their heads in the sand and say we've got nothing to say about this. They're showing that The Firm is still working so Andrew is almost portrayed as one bad apple, so to speak."
For a long time, the royal family had a concrete PR strategy of "never complain, never explain," where they would prioritise remaining silent and unified instead of speaking out on issues, especially during difficult times.
It seems as if this approach has shifted, as they have been taking more concrete stances, whether that's through quiet symbolism or more overt explanations, during what could be seen as their biggest crisis to date.
