by Prince Harry, fresh from celebrating his 40th birthday last month in California, is back in London, and, perhaps softly, taking style cues from his father.
The Duke of Sussex attended the Wellchild Awards on Monday evening in a slim navy blue single-breasted suit and striking turquoise tie with a subtle fish pattern from British brand Reef Knots. The style costs a relatively cheap £69.
The choice is symbolic. Reef Knots is an independent British brand founded by Patrick Dudley-Williams in 2012 and partnered with the Blue Marine Foundation, a charity dedicated to ocean sustainability.
It’s a small gesture, a clean decision as he prepares for an event close to his heart and one of the few he makes a point of for the UK – but it also speaks volumes about Windsor’s wardrobe flourishes still coming naturally.
King Charles enjoys the finer points of dressing and is a stickler for tradition, always adding a dose of personality through his accessories; tights, pocket squares and cuffs are used to bring a playful element to his otherwise formal outfits.
The King previously wore a tie decorated with elephants in support of the Elephant Family, the elephant charity of his late wife Mark Shand’s brother, as well as a tie with a dinosaur pattern, a T-Rex to be exact, which was thought to be a message coded by expression. his position as Charles III Rex.
Prince William, the ever-faithful heir, followed in his father’s footsteps in this regard as well, opting for a Ferragamo tie at the Euros this year adorned with a football.
Harry usually prefers an open collar, like many men his age, but has been known to wear an Hermès tie on occasion. “I looked at the shiny blue tie and thought it might be Hermès,” says Tom Chamberlin, editor of The Rake magazine. “But to be honest, my eye was drawn to the fact that his upbringing in boarding school has not been completely wasted, because the point of equality stops right at the top of the waist band, just as an individual should be. breasted jacket. There is still hope for the dreary prince.”
His playful choice of tie also nods to the sartorial legacy of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales who always made sure she wore bright clothes and jewelery when visiting children or hospitals. Harry’s tie will no doubt be an inspiring sight for the children honored by Wellchild.
Of course, it is common practice for royals to deploy certain signs through their style; see the Princess of Wales in soft-to-soft boho or the Queen wearing Dior in Paris. Prince Harry was an outcast, plus ça changein the way he presents himself, sitting a little apart from the traditional classics of his father and brother.
His usual style is more casual, and less focused on being fit and polished, with a touch of Californification courtesy of his Vince trainers and fitness equipment.
Prince Harry went his own way for his wedding by asking Queen Elizabeth for permission to wear a beard throughout the day, breaking strict military rules about facial hair in uniform and, according to Spare’s memoirs, incurring the wrath of his brother because of the grooming violation.
He favors talismanic bracelets, a subtle nod to his love of Africa. He has also raided high fashion, going far beyond his brother, who tends to favor traditional Savile Row tailoring – Prince Harry wore Dior for his father’s coronation in 2023.
Formality has never been Harry’s forte, but he is happy to toe the line in a safe suit when the occasion arises, most notably and stylishly when he was photographed wearing a slick Paul Smith suit, meeting the Duchess Sussex in the rain. following the announcement that they would be stepping down from their royal duties in 2021.
Perhaps he is finding his own way in terms of style as he celebrates his 40th birthday. Prince Harry is clearly intent on carving out his own path, but choosing a relaxed tie, nothing overtly “fashion”, is a very manly approach.
The look is just very funny for an everyday British working man – blink and it could be any City suit – and perhaps a nudge towards a more “toe the party line” approach to dressing. the royal family does well. Could he be easing into an image that is more in line with the family status quo? Time will tell, and how he chooses to present himself.
