Daily Times

The Duchess of Cambridge doesn’t have the same holiday packing woes the rest of us have.

For one, we imagine none of her toiletries have ever leaked over every outfit in her suitcase.

Of course, Kate probably has someone in charge of packing for formal trips and royal tours, each outfit planned meticulously and every eventuality prepared for.

Because whenever Kate – or any member of the Royal family, for that matter – goes on a trip, there’s one outfit they need to have with them.

For example, on their recent tour of Poland and Germany, the Cambridges will have had a black mourning outfit in their luggage, in case a family member dies.

In the event the Queen dies, members of the Royal family have no choice but to wear black to show their respect as part of normal protocol.

As Mamamia reports, when Diana’s father, Lord Spencer, passed away in 1992, the family were on a ski holiday in the Alps.

However they all wore black for the return journey to the UK, having had appropriate outfits packed.

There have been rare occasions, however, when the royals have not been prepared.

When the Queen’s father, George VI, passed away in February 1952, the young Queen and Prince Philip were on a Kenyan safari meaning no one was allowed to photograph them until they were dressed in their mourning outfits.

There are all sorts of dressing protocol and peculiar rules the royals adhere to.

Only married female members can wear a tiara and even ‘casual’ wear while out in public must still be pretty smart.

Published in Daily Times, July 30^th , 2017.