Royal Clothing | Medieval Chronicles (2024)

The clothing of the European rulers and their family members at the beginning of the medieval period was relatively simple. This was because rulers in this period were primarily military leaders who were expected to be well trained in martial skills and usually chose a dress which reflected their military abilities.

Over time, as kingdoms and Empires began to emerge in Western Europe, Kings and their family members began to establish the use of more elaborate dresses, often to distinguish them from the rich nobility and to reflect their status as the sovereign of a kingdom or an Empire. Typically, the greater the territories under a King or an Emperor, the more elaborate was his dress.

Royal Clothing of the King

The royal clothing of a King in the medieval period differed according to the occasion. For instance, the king’s clothing while hunting was simpler, though fairly embellished, while his appearance in court or at notable ceremonies expressed the full regalia of his person.

The king would usually wear a well-embellished tunic with gold-work thread as a basic dress. On top of it, a surcoat was often worn which depicted the emblem of the King and his family. Robes and coats were also part of the King’s costume at certain occasions.

All the dresses were made with the finest silk, fur and other expensive materials such as animal furs. A large number of other items which the King typically used as a part of his clothing were called regalia. These included ornate sceptres and orbs, precious jewelry rings, daggers and swords which mostly served a decorative purpose being hung at the waist as well as gloves, bracelets and handkerchiefs.

Royal Clothing | Medieval Chronicles (1)

Tudor Clothing Worn By Elizabeth I as a Princess, The royal clothing of a Princess, much like that of a Queen, was made from the best materials available in the period.

Evolution of the Royal Clothing of the King

During the early medieval period, kings in various regions of Western Europe were busy in warfare and trying to establish a stronghold on the Continent. Consequently, their dresses was simpler, often similar to the warrior class of their respective society or tribe.

By the High Middle Ages, several kingdoms had become established fairly securely and a number of dynastic families had immense power. This led to a sense of stability and wealth upon which Kings around Europe began to improve their lifestyle, most notably their clothing at the court and other occasions.

The most profound influence on the King’s clothing of the period was that of the Byzantine Empire where the Emperor wore elaborately designed costumes.

Royal Clothing of the Queen

The clothing of the Queen in the medieval period was the veritable standard to which all women of the nobility aspired in their dressing. Usually, sumptuary laws forbade certain elements which a Queen used in her dress to be used by anyone else in the kingdom.

The material used in the manufacture of Queen’s dresses typically included silk and fur. Like the King, the clothing of a Queen differed from occasion to occasion. On official and ceremonial occasions, a Queen wore a long gown made of silk with rich trimmings of other materials.

Velvet was also frequently used as gown-manufacturing material. A well-embellished tunic was then worn on top of the gown. The tunic, being the most visible part of the dress, was embellished with laces, jewels and other ornaments.

Evolution of the Royal Clothing of the Queen

During the early medieval period, the dressing of a Queen was simpler, the same as the Kings of the period. Queens dressed more along the styles of ancient Rome, borrowing directly from the rich legacy of the now-fallen Roman Empire.

It was in the High Middle Ages that Byzantine and Oriental influence from the East, Levant, Moorish Iberia and from the Crusading expeditions reached Europe. This directly influenced the evolution of different aspects of the European culture, including the formal dressing of the Queen.

Royal Clothing of a Prince

The royal clothing of a Prince in the medieval period was meant to depict his status as the incumbent-ruler after his father. This status meant that the Prince was superior to the nobility of the period. Consequently, rich embellishments and decorations used in the clothing of a prince reflected this elevated status.

Although simpler than a King’s standard clothing, a Prince typically wore trousers, leggings, cloaks and tunic. The tunic, being the outermost garment, was decorated with embroidery, gold lacing and other elements. If the Prince wore a cloak on top of it, the cloak was designed specifically to clearly identify him as the Prince of the realm.

Evolution of the Royal Clothing of a Prince

While a King was typically dressed as a military leader during the early medieval period, a Prince didn’t wear in a distinctive style during the period. It was towards the end of the early medieval period that Princes began to establish formal dressing and style of their own which eventually evolved into a clothing which included distinctive and identifying dressing features.

Royal Clothing of a Princess

The royal clothing of a Princess, much like that of a Queen, was made from the best materials available in the period. Not only silk and fur were used in the manufacture of main pieces of the dress such as the gowns and tunics, other rich embellishments were also used such as gold laces, jewels and pearls on the dress. The clothing of a medieval princess evolved significantly during the period between the early and late medieval age.

Evolution of the Royal Clothing of a Princess

The clothing of a medieval princess in the early medieval period was simpler and loose, often complemented with a head-covering at public occasions. Given the close relationship between the rulers and the Church in this period, women typically conformed strictly to church regulations regarding dressing.

Towards the High Middle Ages, ruling dynasties grew more independent, feudal power reinforced the nobility against the might of the Church and wealth grew which resulted in more elaborate dresses for the royal family, including the Princess.

Typical features of the evolution included tighter dresses embellished with rich and expensive trimmings, different hairstyles and stylish veils, caps, the use of two robes and the use of shoes towards the late medieval period.

Royal Clothing | Medieval Chronicles (2024)

FAQs

Royal Clothing | Medieval Chronicles? ›

Kings and queens wore elaborately embroidered, beaded, and jewel-encrusted robes. They also wore ornate headpieces, including crowns, caps, and veils. Men's clothes included form-fitting coats and hose, while women's attire had fuller skirts and sleeves.

What did royalty wear in medieval times? ›

Kings and queens wore elaborately embroidered, beaded, and jewel-encrusted robes. They also wore ornate headpieces, including crowns, caps, and veils. Men's clothes included form-fitting coats and hose, while women's attire had fuller skirts and sleeves.

What did Queens wear in the 1600s? ›

Heavy brocade, stockings, tight-fitting doublets, long billowing dresses embellished with pearls and jewels, knee-length trousers, stiff linen collars or ruffs, and feathered hats were all staple elements of the wardrobes of the well off.

What is a prince's outfit called? ›

A royal mantle, or more simply a mantle, is a garment normally worn by emperors, kings or queens as a symbol of authority. When worn at a coronation, such mantles may be referred to as coronation mantles. Many princes also wear such a mantle.

What did kings wear in battle? ›

The helm provided protection compared to earlier helm's but it did restrict vision and could become extremely hot and stuffy, particularly on Crusade. In the 14th century it was common to see kings wear a crown on their great helms so they could be readily recognised by their own soldiers on the battlefield.

What is the color of royalty in medieval times? ›

White for Purity, Gold for Wealth; Purple, Violet, and Blue for Royalty and Piety. This gallery shows pictures from the 16th-19th centuries of high ranking or royal people featured in these colors. Who more royal in this age than the Virgin Mary?

What did rich nobles wear? ›

Noblemen wore tunics or jackets with hose, leggings and breeches. The wealthy also wore furs and jewellery. Women wore long gowns with sleeveless tunics and wimples to cover their hair. Sheepskin cloaks and woollen hats and mittens were worn in winter for protection from the cold and rain.

Was the Queen allowed to wear black? ›

After the sudden death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861, she began wearing black. And did so every day for the next 40 years, until her own death. Since then, black has been a strict part of the Royal mourning dress code.

Do any of Queen Elizabeth 1 dresses still exist? ›

The Bacton Altar Cloth is a 16th-century garment that is considered the sole surviving dress of Queen Elizabeth I.

Did the Queen ever wear pants in public? ›

The only time the Queen was photographed in pants was during the Royal Tour of Canada in 1970, when a young tailor crafted her a matte-silk trouser suit in an effort to update her look. Apparently it never stuck, and the moment has become the only time the royal wore trousers in public.

What did queens wear in medieval times? ›

Royal Medieval Queen Clothing comprised highly elaborate and intricately embroidered dresses made of brocade and velvet. The Queens wore fitted bodice dresses with a V-shaped neckline and a full skirt. Collars and cuffs made of lace were also added to their attire.

What is a Prince's girlfriend called? ›

Princess consort is an official title or an informal designation that is normally accorded to the wife of a sovereign prince.

What are Prince pants called? ›

Some might call them Paper Bag Pants, but we just call them The Prince Pants - super baggy, cinched waist, pegged leg chambray pants with 2 perfectly placed holes at the hips.

Why do kings not wear crowns? ›

Why Kings and Queens Don't Wear Crowns is a fairytale written by Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and released as a children's book in the US in 2005. The original version was released as a picture book in Norway in 2004. The story is about her grandfather, King Olav V, when he first came from Denmark to Norway.

Why did the king tear his clothes? ›

King Josiah manifested his anger by tearing his garments (2 Ki 22:11) because the dictates of the law were ignored by his people. The ritual of tearing clothes by both the king and reconnoitres denotes the consequence of unbelief on the part of those who should have had strong faith in God.

What color did Kings wear? ›

The color purple's ties to kings and queens date back to ancient world, where it was prized for its bold hues and often reserved for the upper crust. The Persian king Cyrus adopted a purple tunic as his royal uniform, and some Roman emperors forbid their citizens from wearing purple clothing under penalty of death.

What color is royalty blood? ›

The term “blue blood” has been used since 1811 to describe royal families and the nobility. Having pale skin was once a sign of higher social standing, showing the royalty and nobility did not need to spend their time outside with the likes of the working class, such as farmers.

What does purple mean in royalty? ›

The color purple became associated with wealth and royalty because, oftentimes, the rich were the only individuals who could afford clothing and other household items that were dyed purple.

Why did royalty wear purple? ›

Purple has long been associated with royalty, originally because Tyrian purple dye—made from the secretions of sea snails—was extremely expensive in antiquity.

What did female nobles wear? ›

Noble women's dresses were made from fine linen, wool, and even silk and often had rich embroidery and even gemstones around the neck and hemlines. Women also wore head coverings like wimples or veils to protect their modesty.

What are medieval puffy pants called? ›

Hose are any of various styles of men's clothing for the legs and lower body, worn from the Middle Ages through the 17th century, when the style fell out of use in favour of breeches and stockings. The old plural form of "hose" was "hosen".

What were pants called in medieval times? ›

Pants were also called 'breches' or 'braes,' which were trousers that went just below the knee, where they were tied or fastened. Some of these pants also were tied at the ankle. Today we would call them breeches or knickers.

Why can't the Queen wear beige? ›

The Queen wears bright pastel colours because she fears nobody would recognise her if she wore beige, a royal writer has claimed. Robert Hardman, the Queen's biographer, said the 85 year-old monarch was “engagingly modest” despite being the most famous woman in the world.

Why doesn't Princess Anne wear a dress? ›

The 72-year-old explained that her brother made her “Gold-Stick-In-Waiting” for the event, which means she will be sporting a military-style uniform. “That is a role I was asked if I'd like to do for this coronation,” she told Arsenault, before adding, “Not least of all, it solves my dress problem.”

What color did Queen Elizabeth not wear? ›

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was known to sport the brightest of colours when she attended public events, however there is one colour the monarch never wore. Royal biographer Robert Hardman reportedly said: “My favourite remark she ever said was: 'I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am. '”

Why did Queen Elizabeth dress so frumpy? ›

Such is the genius of her turn toward frumpy fashion: The queen uses her modesty as a tool to pacify her advisers, so that they remain her cooperative informants. But the dowdiness of her clothes is merely a comforting lie. Underneath her ill-fitting garments lies an experienced, determined, resilient woman.

What did queens wear under their dresses? ›

A crinoline /ˈkrɪn. əl. ɪn/ is a stiff or structured petticoat designed to hold out a skirt, popular at various times since the mid-19th century. Originally, crinoline described a stiff fabric made of horsehair ("crin") and cotton or linen which was used to make underskirts and as a dress lining.

Do any of Henry VIII clothes survive? ›

Very few original garments have survived from this time, and the nature of portraiture has meant that our knowledge of what the average Tudor man or woman wore is very limited as only the rich and powerful could commission them.

Does the Queen bathe and dress herself? ›

The Queen has to be on top form to be in charge of the Royal Family every day, and apparently, the monarch has a very strict morning routine, which involves tuning into her favourite radio station, enjoying a cup of tea and a long soak in the bath before getting dressed.

Did the Queen wear makeup? ›

Minimal makeup

Queen Elizabeth II seldom wore little more than lipstick and a hint of blush for her public appearances, and called upon Clarins Compact Powder for her complexion (the brand made an exclusive lipstick to match her suit for Coronation Day in 1953 to celebrate the Queen's loyalty to them).

Did the Queen ever wear a strapless dress? ›

During an appearance in Malta in 1951, the then-Princess Elizabeth wore a strapless dress with royal jewelry. The lavender gown was embroidered with a floral pattern and showed the royal's shoulders. She completed the look with a fur shawl, a tiara, and a matching necklace and earrings.

What did medieval queens wear to bed? ›

Nearly everyone wore a cap or kerchief to bed to keep their heads warm. Women would braid their hair and tie it up to keep it from tangling. Most Medieval pictures show people sleeping in the nude, but there is evidence that by the 16th century, night shirts and night gowns were common.

What happened to the queens clothes after she wore them? ›

What Happens With Queen Elizabeth's Clothes? Queen Elizabeth never wears the same outfit twice at important events. Therefore, the sovereign prefers to either change her outfits and if she gets bored of them, she sends them to her dressers, who are then allowed to either wear them themselves or sell them.

What did an elegant lady wear in the late 1700s? ›

Men wore a three-piece silk or wool suit (coat, or justaucorps, waistcoat, and breeches), which changed in details of cut and fit over the course of one hundred years; women wore a silk or cotton gown, generally open down the front but sometimes closed, over a matching petticoat that was an integral part of the ...

Did the Queen have a fifth child? ›

The queen had four children with Prince Philip: King Charles III, Princess Anne, The Duke of York, Andrew, and the Earl of Wessex, Edward, who are 58 to 73 years old. Together, they gave her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. in the line of succession. line of succession.

What's lower than a queen? ›

At the top of the hierarchy of noble titles is the monarch, also known as the king or Queen. The monarch is the highest-ranking individual in a monarchy and holds ultimate authority over the kingdom. Below the monarch are the various nobles, including dukes, earls, viscounts, barons, and knights.

Can you be a princess without royal blood? ›

It turns out, there are two ways to become a British princess: to be born the daughter of a prince, or to marry one. On top of that, only those born into the royal family can use the title princess (or prince, for that matter) before their name.

What brands did Prince wear? ›

In terms of Prince's wider cultural influence, note his fingerprints on the opulence of Balmain, the polka dot prints at Henry Holland, embellishment at Gucci or the suits at Haider Ackermann.

What is Missy pants? ›

Missy fit is for average size women with a fuller fit than junior or contemporary.

What are harem pants actually called? ›

Early 20th century

His "Style Sultane" included the jupe-culotte or harem pant, made with full legs tied in at the ankle. Alternative names for the harem skirt/pants included jupe-sultane (sultan skirt), and jupe-pantalon (trouser-skirt).

Who was the last king to wear a crown on a coin? ›

Like with most royal decisions, this essentially comes down to tradition and typically, male monarchs do not wear crowns or royal regalia on coins. He will, however, be the first monarch on a stamp to not have a crown as King George VI, the last male monarch, featured a crown in his stamp design.

Who was the king who never wore a crown? ›

The former Duke of Bavaria, who now became King of Bavaria, Maximilian I, commissioned a set of crown jewels to commemorate Bavaria's elevation. However, there was no coronation ceremony, and the king never wore the crown in public.

Does Queen Elizabeth wear a Kings crown? ›

Will King Charles wear the same crown as Queen Elizabeth? Yes. At her 1953 crowning ceremony, Queen Elizabeth wore the St. Edward's Crown at the moment of her crowning.

What king had his eyes put out? ›

There, Zedekiah saw his sons put to death. Then his eyes were put out and he was loaded with chains and carried captive to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1–7; Jeremiah 32:4–5; 34:2–3; 39:1–7; 52:4–11; Ezekiel 12:13), where he remained a prisoner until he died.

What king had his hand dried up? ›

When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, "Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back.

What does rend your hearts mean? ›

Rend your heart and not your garments” (Joel 2:12–13). In Bible days, people expressed sorrow by tearing (rending) their clothes. Everyone who saw them knew they were grieving. If someone wanted to demonstrate their repentance and sorrow over their sin, they would publicly tear their clothes.

Who was the first king to wear purple? ›

Cyrus the Great – founder and king of the first Persian Empire – wore a purple tunic as his royal uniform. In Roman times, it was reserved exclusively for the Emperor - some even punished their citizens if they wore any shade of the colour!

Why was purple dye so rare? ›

Tyrian purple dye was so costly because it was difficult to make. The source of the dye was the mucus produced by predatory sea snails found in the Mediterranean Sea. First, the sea snails had to be harvested.

What is the most royal color? ›

Why Was Purple the Color of Royalty?

What did medieval noble ladies wear? ›

In the Middle Ages, ladies wore multiple layers of clothing, including a hose, a long underdress called a chemise, and a tunic or kirtle over the chemise. Noble women's dresses were made from fine linen, wool, and even silk and often had rich embroidery and even gemstones around the neck and hemlines.

What did royal servants wear? ›

Higher-ranking servants were given clothes made of blue cloth with lamb fur, (shearling) while other, lower-ranking clerks wore robes of russet. Described as the “coarsest and cheapest” fabric, russet was a woolen cloth worn mainly by servants and labourers.

What fabrics were worn by royalty? ›

Officials wore extravagant clothing items meant to flash and impress, such as coats and waistcoats that were heavily embroidered with gold or silver, and made of expensive materials such as richly decorated brocade, damask, silk or satin.

How did kings and queens dress in the Middle Ages? ›

Answer and Explanation: In the Middle Ages in Europe, kings and queens wore refined or expensive versions of the clothing worn throughout their kingdoms, usually featuring ankle-length leggings and/or stockings, slipper-like leather shoes, knee-length tunics or overdresses, overcoats, and hoods.

What was considered a beautiful woman in medieval times? ›

Generally, the fashionable lady's look for the bulk of the medieval period was as follows- high forehead, plucked eyebrows, small even teeth, a fair complexion, long neck, narrow chest, low sloping shoulders, high small waist and in some cases, a prominent stomach.

What shoes did noblewomen wear? ›

Royalty and nobility often wore robes so long that they covered their shoes. Those shoes were likely to be small leather boots – suitable for walking outdoors, or softer slippers for indoors. One noblewoman who likely wore all of these things and more was Eleanor de Montfort, Countess of Leicester (1215-1275).

What did female knights wear in medieval times? ›

Women's clothing consisted of an undertunic called a chemise, chainse or smock. This was usually made of linen. Over the chemise, women wore one or more ankle-to-floor length tunics (also called gowns or kirtles). Working class women wore ankle-length tunics belted at the waist.

What was the Queen laid to rest wearing? ›

"Her Majesty is an incredibly humble woman at heart who is unlikely to be dressed in anything but her simple Welsh gold wedding band to rest and a pair of pearl earrings," Ms Levinson said.

What did royalty wear around their necks? ›

You can see that they both wore ruffs around their necks made from expensive, pure white linen. Ruffs were very fashionable at the time and they were a status symbol: the bigger the ruff, the more important you seemed!

What is the oldest piece of clothing in the world? ›

The oldest clothing item recorded is the linen Tarkhan dress from Egypt's first Dynasty approximately 5,000 years ago. Pants found in a Chinese tomb were made 3,000 years ago, while a 1,700-year-old sock was fished out of a landfill during an archeological expedition in the Egyptian city of Antinoopolis.

What is queen of all fabrics called? ›

Pure silk is one of the finest natural fibres and is said to be the “queen of fibres”. Silkworm secretes the silk fibre. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoon of larvae of mulberry silkworm.

Why does the queen always carry a black outfit with her? ›

Since there is a protocol for everything and wardrobe rules apply to all members of the royal family, they are required to carry a black outfit, that is fit for a funeral, with them at all times while travelling.

What jewelry did kings wear? ›

Royalty and the nobility wore gold, silver and precious gems. Lower ranks of society wore base metals, such as copper or pewter. Colour (provided by precious gems and enamel) and protective power were highly valued.

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