Celebrities Who Ignored Fashion Rules When Meeting Royalty

Royal style rules are notoriously strict. Even the most conservative outfits can unknowingly contain a fashion faux pas; while some fashion rules are made to be broken, most royals don’t think so. In the case of the British royal family in particular, we have access to some of the dress code expectations they were held to by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was notoriously particular about clothing (after all, she deemed Meghan Markle’s wedding dress inappropriate for its shade of white being too bright). For women, modest necklines and hemlines are expected, and pantyhose are highly encouraged when wearing a dress or skirt.

However, when celebrities have encountered the royal family over the years, they have understandably ignored the majority of these somewhat old-fashioned rules. From the beauty icons of the ’50s and ’60s to girl groups and well-known actors in the 2000s, women have continuously disregarded fashion rules when meeting with royalty. For as stylish as many of their outfits have been, they likely were a bit too much for the English royals. 

The Spice Girls were responsible for some of the most era-defining celebrity outfits of the ’90s. That being said, the iconic British pop group stayed true to their modern fashion sense while meeting Queen Elizabeth after their Royal Command Performance. Some of the group’s worst dress-code offenders were Mel B’s tiger-print gown that revealed her cheetah-print bra underneath, Geri Halliwell and her risqué white column dress, and Victoria Beckham’s strapless metallic gown, which featured a split that ran up her thigh.

Helena Bonham Carter wore an interesting outfit made of black satin and lace for her meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Middleton, and other members of the British royal family during a 2014 reception for the Dramatic Arts at Buckingham Palace. Carter donned a dark vest, ruffled skirt, and heeled metallic boots at the event; dark, somber colors like black are generally not worn by royals outside of funerals, so Carter’s moody outfit certainly went against royal norms. 

While matching colors with the Queen isn’t necessarily a royal fashion faux pas, a low neckline is. Elizabeth Taylor met Queen Elizabeth at a charity gala in 1976, with both women wearing beautiful pale-blue gowns. Taylor’s dress featured a scale pattern in a light-to-dark gradient, as well as spaghetti straps and a low neckline. Taylor’s gown may be tame by our standards, but to the British royal family, a dress like hers would be considered inappropriate.

Accomplished Italian actor, model, and photographer Gina Lollobrigida met Queen Elizabeth II at the royal premiere of “To Catch A Thief” in 1955. As one of the beauty icons of the decade, Lollobrigida looked absolutely stunning at the premiere, wearing a beautiful satin dress with a full skirt and sweetheart neckline. However, if we applied royal style rules to her look, the actor’s exposed collarbone and bare shoulders would likely have caused a stir. 

We’ve gotten to witness Halle Berry’s stunning style transformation over the years; the Oscar winner has had some of the most unforgettable ’90s awards show outfits. However, what Berry wore to meet the Queen would be considered inappropriate by royal standards. For her meeting with Queen Elizabeth at the London premiere of “Die Another Day” in November 2002, Berry opted for a strapless white and black gown with black opera gloves. The pretty, if a bit dated, gown defied the strict royal style rules.  

The first time Ellie Goulding met Queen Elizabeth II at a Performing Arts Reception in 2011, the singer opted for a white dress that came to her mid-thigh, sans pantyhose — a fashion faux pas for royal women. Goulding is friends with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and reportedly shared a kiss with Prince Harry in 2016; Goulding’s continued close relationships with the royal family show that her “short” dress and lack of tights must not have bothered their matriarch too much.