

It's been one week since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their plans to step down from "senior" royal family duties, and a lot has happened, to say the least. We've seen statements from the Queen, trips to Canada, family meetings, and...a lot of the color brown? If you're a fan of the royals, you've probably noticed that the shade has showed up in the outfits of the Queen, Kate Middleton, and Markle more than usual.
The head honcho herself, the Queen, is well-known for her preference for bright colors that can be seen for miles. Her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, even said so in the documentary The Queen at 90: "Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen's hat as she went past."
One day before the couple announced to the world the big news, Markle was photographed at an engagement at Canada House wearing an all-brown outfit I would die for.
So when the Queen showed up to church on January 12, four days after the announcement, wearing head-to-toe beige—well, it was a statement, to say the least. "She knew she would be photographed, and that the most recent pictures of her would be published in the papers alongside the most recent pictures of Meghan," speculated Elizabeth Holmes, author of the forthcoming book, HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, to Harper's BAZAAR. "To have them in the same shade, I took very much to be a sign of unity."
According to the Very Well Mind' s principles of color psychology, the shade of brown stands for strength and reliability. It's a color that is "often associated with resilience, dependability, security, and safety." The theory seems to hold true, especially since Middleton was seen wearing two pieces of brown—a khaki coat and a brown turtleneck—as she drove her two oldest children to school. But hey, maybe she just was in an all-over brown kind of mood?
To quote Holmes: "It could be a coincidence, but I think perhaps not."
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.

Bianca Rodriguez is the Fashion & Luxury Commerce Manager at Hearst Magazines, covering fashion, beauty, and more for Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s BAZAAR, and Town & Country. She likes lounging about with a good book and thinks a closet without platform sneakers is a travesty.
-
Anne Hathaway’s Look Is Ushering Us Into Winter In the Most Beautiful Way
Angelic winter white is a trend we can get behind.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Julia Stiles Steals the Show With Surprise ‘Save the Last Dance’ Cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’
This is, randomly, the second time this week Stiles has reenacted a character of hers from the early aughts time period.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Ryan Reynolds Says Gigi Hadid’s Clothing Line “Makes Damn Nice Clothes” in Supportive Instagram Post
Hadid’s response was equally as sweet.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
George, Charlotte and Louis Will Be Laden With Gifts as Prince William Returns From New York
He was handed so many souvenirs for the little ones.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Makes Sure to "Treat George and Charlotte as Equals," Body Language Expert Says
I should hope so!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Isn't "A Workaholic Like His Father," Royal Expert Claims
He's got more of a work-life balance.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate's New "Signature" Gesture? The Stealthy "Bum Pat" to Prince William
Love this for her.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry Says His "Spirit Is Renewed" as He Attends the Warrior Games for Wounded Service Members in San Diego
The Games inspired his Invictus concept.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Not Expected to Invite Prince Harry to His Coronation, Friend Claims
That doesn't sound good.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
We Finally Know Where the Earthshot Prize 2023 Will Take Place
Let's go!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate Is Seen Skipping Happily With Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in Behind-the-Scenes Footage
This is too cute.
By Iris Goldsztajn