Does the Queen recycle her outfits? What she does with her used clothes

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News Desk

Updated on April 19, 2021

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Queen Elizabeth II is well-known as one of the most stylish royals. She is still neatly color-coordinated in vivid neon shades, with a matching hat and umbrella. However, because she has been in the spotlight for so long and is pictured at any royal event and activity she attends, several people are asking whether she ever uses the same outfit twice.

Unlike her granddaughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, who is an expert at recycling outfits, Queen Elizabeth rarely wears the same clothes.

It’s not uncommon for royals to wear the same outfit many times.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been pictured more times than any other royal in reused outfits. Middleton has shown that she isn’t above rewearing the same item on several times, whether it’s a pair of jeans or a blazer that goes with an older ensemble or the same exact dress she’s worn previously.

The Queen’s outfits can only be worn two to three times before being redesigned or designated for private occasions.

What she does with all her old clothes

Her Majesty offers the items to her dressers, who will determine whether to use them or sell them, according to Brian Hoey’s book Not Infront of the Corgis. However, if they prefer the latter, they must adhere to a strict requirement before anything leaves their possession.

It is impossible to tell if the garments actually belonged to the monarch, “all of the labels found on the clothes are removed and anything that could possibly identify it as having come from royalty are obliterated,” according to Hoey.

Of course, certain apparel pieces are never sold or donated. It’s unknown which costumes and dresses the queen has kept, but we’re guessing she’s keeping her prized garments for future showcases and exhibits.

.. and her hats?

Although it is unclear what Queen Elizabeth does with all of her hats, it seems that she is saving them. She once displayed her hats and handbags in a London art exhibit, according to the DPA Lighting Consultants website. According to the detail, the showcase featured “all the queen’s hats and handbags that Her Majesty has used in public engagements since her coronation.” And “it was the first, and only, time that this collection was seen together .”