At 74, starting a new job must feel a little taxing for our monarch, and the pain the King Charles shared with the rest of the country last year was visible to all that could see, it was a strange time through Britain and The Commonwealth but Charles would be ready to be king for many years, if not emotionally, then certainly sartorially.
Over the last seven decades, King Charles has worn some iconic (I use that word carefully) outfits that have moulded military, outdoor sports, polo, and tips of the hat to many other styles and cultures through the plethora of different countries he has spent time in within the Commonwealth and the wider world.
Firstly though, three of the things that I always notice with King Charles as soon as he steps out of a car, aeroplane, or reaches up to open a local leisure centre are of course – Cufflinks, Watch, rings.
The cufflinks have of course been written about extensively as on honeymoon, after marrying Lady Diana Spencer, Charles may have worn a pair of gold cufflinks that had been purchased by Camilla with twin C figures intertwined, which if nothing else is bold.
The signet ring has been the staple of the British aristocracy for many years, but monarchs have never been compelled to wear one, however this ring didn’t start its life with King Charles. The three plumes of the Prince of Wales feathers have adorned this simple design for over 175 years, with the last owner of note being The Duke of Windsor, someone that Charles may have felt some affiliation with. He has been noted to have worn it since his late 20s and supposedly is never missing from his daily dress.
To complete the small amount of jewellery, King Charles tends to opt for a subtle yet well sized timepiece. In more recent years he has been known for his Parmigiani Fleurier Toric model, which is about as esoteric as the watch market gets – it’s a stunning watch with astounding attention to detail, something which I am sure the King appreciates.
His clothing has always been dictated by the roles he has been performing and whilst he has never been one to shy away from fashion, it couldn’t be said that he has a love of clothes in the same way that the Duke of Windsor may have done.
The double breasted suit, the Fair isle jumper, and the Barbour have all played a big part in his life, as has the 1970s safari suit that came to the fore, but for millennials, perhaps his biggest style moment would have to be the big number T shirt – worn for polo when he was a very competitive player.
