Morbid item Princess Kate must always pack in her suitcase when she leaves UK

11 January 2024 , 12:40

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There is one item Princess Kate must always pack with her on tour (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Kate, the Princess of Wales, is a bona fide style queen. Whatever she wears sells out in a matter of hours, and she has had a marked impact on fashion sales - dubbed 'the Kate effect'.

Her outfit choices on tours garner a great deal of attention, and Kate is known to put a great deal of thought into her choice of clothing - often paying homage to her host nation through colour or championing designers from the local region.

But there is one outfit that the Princess must always pack in her suitcase - but hopefully never have to use. Royal protocol dictates that members of the Royal Family must take a black outfit with them when going on a royal tour, in the unfortunate event that someone passes away when they're abroad.

Kate's brighter outfits wouldn't be appropriate if a member of the family had passed away (SplashNews.com)

Kate only wore black in the days following the late Queen's death (PA)

Members of the Royal Family are all expected to wear black when mourning as a mark of respect. The most recent example of this rule coming into effect was back in 1992 when Princess Diana's father, Lord Spencer, passed away. At the time, she was away on a skiing holiday with the then-Prince Charles. They quickly returned to the UK, and were photographed both dressed in all-black attire.

Famously, the late Queen Elizabeth II was in Kenya on a safari with Prince Philip when her own father, King George VI, died in 1952. The then-Princess, just 25 at the time, was without a mourning dress and as a result, she wasn't allowed to be photographed until a suitable outfit had been brought to her.

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The death of the Queen in September 2022 saw a number of protocols come into effect, with the new King Charles declaring a period of royal mourning until seven days after the Queen's Funeral, which took place on 19 September, 11 days after she passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral on 8 September.

Royal mourning must be observed by members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties.

Flags at royal residences also flew at half-mast and remained so until 0800hrs on the morning after the final day of Royal Mourning. A royal salute was also fired out in Hyde Park by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. One round was fired for each year of the Queen's life.

Gemma Strong