Why Royal Women Wear White to King Charles III’s Coronation

Kate Middleton wasn’t the only royal wearing white to King Charles III’s coronation. In fact, all the women royals were wearing the hue — Queen Camilla and Princess Charlotte included — and for good reason.

The bright and clean tone is thought to be an emblem of peace, as well as new beginnings, according to color expert Gabi Winters, who was quoted in Hello Magazine. To that, she added, “While it isn’t a stimulating color to the senses, white represents a blank canvas waiting to be written upon. It’s a fully reflective colour that creates simplicity, clearing the way forward.”

At the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, both the women of the royal family as well as the larger contingency of aristocracy all wore white as well. Queen Elizabeth II, herself, wore an iconic coronation gown designed by Norman Hartnell and made of white satin.

For King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, 2023, Middleton chose a white dress from Alexander McQueen that was full of symbolism. The dress featured embroidery that symbolized the four nations that comprise the United Kingdom: rose, thistle, shamrock, and daffodil. Standing by her side, her daughter, Princess Charlotte, wore a similar outfit, also designed by Alexander McQueen, crafted of the same white silk crepe and embroidered with symbolism of the four nations.

Queen Camilla chose a white gown with gold details that coordinated with her husband King Charles III’s white coronation robes for the day’s events. Camilla’s dress was designed by Bruce Oldfield and embroidered with daisies, forget-me-nots, celandine, and scarlet pimpernel, all meant to represent the king and queen’s love of nature. With it, she wore the same necklace that Queen Elizabeth II wore for her own coronation in 1953. It was designed for Queen Victoria and then worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Elizabeth II on their own coronation days. On top, Camilla wore an equally iconic crimson velvet ermine Robe of State that was originally crafted for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and was tailored today by Ede and Ravenscroft.

Ahead, see all the iconic white looks at King Charles III’s coronation.