Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Classic Denim
    • Feminist Thrillers
    • Burgundy Makeup
    • Knee-Length Skirts
    • Beauty Advent Calendars
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Royal Editor Reveals King Charles is “Determined” to “Maintain Standards” With His Fashion Choices

    "Dressing with intention still stands as a sign of respect for yourself and others."

    Christine Ross's avatar
    By Christine Ross
    Published 23 July 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    King Charles dress code
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    It may come as a surprise to hear that King Charles III, the 77-year-old monarch, is an incredibly fashionable dresser. The King is regularly praised by mens' fashion enthusiast Derek Guy—also known as Die, Workwear on social media—for his expert tailoring, timeless suits, and immaculate menswear style. Royal editor Richard Eden has revealed that the King’s refusal to bow to casual dress codes is an effort to “valiantly uphold standards” for the monarchy.

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: King Charles III meets members of the Afghan Refugee Women's Cricket Team at Clarence House on June 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images)

    King Charles looked dapper despite the sweltering temperatures.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Household to the Sovereign holds a small battery powered fan for King Charles III as he attends a London Climate Week reception, hosted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), at St James's Palace on June 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images)

    The King was unamused.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    During a recent sweltering heat wave in England, Buckingham Palace’s ballroom must have been oppressively warm. Despite the temperatures, King Charles arrived at a reception at the palace wearing his signature Savile Row suit and tie. “Immaculately dressed as always, the top button of his shirt remained fastened and there was no question of him removing the jacket of his grey Anderson & Sheppard suit,” Richard Eden wrote in his weekly column for the Daily Mail. “His only concession to the stifling atmosphere was to mop his brow discreetly from time to time using the lilac silk handkerchief that matched the colour of his Turnbull & Asser tie.”

    Certified etiquette trainer Courtney Opalko tells Marie Claire that while dress codes and formal dressing can seem outdated to some, the message they send is timeless. “While dressing formally may seem antiquated in today’s casual society, dressing with intention still stands as a sign of respect for yourself and others,” Opalko said. “It’s a quiet signal that says, ‘I care about you enough to show up as my best self.’”

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: King Charles III uses a handkerchief to dab his forehead whilst speaking to a guest as he attends a London Climate Week reception, hosted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), at St James's Palace on June 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Yui Mok - Pool/Getty Images)

    Despite the temperatures, King Charles refused to remove his jacket.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Household to the Sovereign holds a small battery powered fan for Britain's King Charles III as he attends a London Climate Week reception, hosted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), at St James's Palace, London on June 24, 2026. (Photo by Yui Mok / POOL / AFP)

    King Charles stayed in good humor despite the heat.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    “It was only the latest example of the King’s determination to maintain standards in a world where such matters are increasingly considered to be of little or no importance,” Richard Eden reflected. “The King tried valiantly to uphold standards.”

    “This week, I asked a friend of the King about his determination to maintain standards,” Eden revealed. “He told me: ‘His Majesty believes that monarchy needs to be dignified.’” Eden refers to the King’s insistence on dressing formally, as his outward appearance is a reflection on the steadfastness and strength of the monarchy.

    You may like
    • Prince William and Prince Charles standing on a rocky beach Prince William Refuses to Take Part in One Tradition King Charles Loves
    • King Charles laughing as he talks to fans King Charles Is Happier Than Ever Doing One Duty, Says Body Language Expert
    • King Charles wearing a gray suit and laughing, talking to a woman King Charles "Doesn’t Feel the Need to Perform Anymore," Says Royal Expert
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    King Charles
    CATEGORIES
    Fashion
    Christine Ross
    Christine Ross
    Social Links Navigation
    Writer

    Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

    She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.

    Read more
    Prince William and Prince Charles standing on a rocky beach
    Royals Prince William Refuses to Take Part in One Tradition King Charles Loves
    By Kristin Contino
    King Charles wears a red military uniform and looks concerned while standing on Buckingham Palace balcony with Queen Elizabeth II, who wears a baby blue outfit
    Royals King Charles Has One "Desperate Desire," Per Author
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    King Charles is in side profile and has white gray hair while wearing a gray pinstripe suit while his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, wears a turquoise blue coat dress and matching hat
    Royals King Charles's "Hot Temper Flared" After The Queen's Death
    By Amy Mackelden
    King Charles wearing a gray suit jacket and red tie with a kilt
    Royals King Charles Admits One Part of Royal Life Can Be "Hazardous"
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Prince Harry sitting next to Princess Diana, wearing a white blazer and blue hat
    Royals Prince Harry Says He Asks Princess Diana Questions Often—And Gets a Response
    Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table
    Royals Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
     
     
    Prince William laying a wreath in Aberfan
    Royals Prince William Joins King Charles and Queen Camilla for a Rare Joint Engagement
    Princess Kate wearing a tiara sitting at a banquet table
    Royals Princess Kate’s Royal Superpower Is Revealed By Body Language Expert
     
     
    Latest in News
    collage of fall-winter 2026 trends worn by London girls
    Celebrity Style I Want to Dress Like a London Girl This Winter—These Celebrity-Approved Trends Are My Blueprint
    Prince Harry sitting next to Princess Diana, wearing a white blazer and blue hat
    Royals Prince Harry Says He Asks Princess Diana Questions Often—And Gets a Response
     
     
    Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table
    Royals Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
    Lola Tung wore Bella Hadid's Coachtopia patchwork bag with an all-black going-out look
    Celebrity Style Bella Hadid's Under $300 Coachtopia Bag Is Becoming a Gen Z It Girl Favorite
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.