Members of royal families have wardrobes that normal people can only dream of. However, because of their status, their fashion choices are always scrutinized in great detail. Over the years, there have been a number of instances where even these dignified individuals have had fashion faux pas moments like regular human beings. We’ve compiled forty of the most prominent ones to prove that if you make embarrassing fashion choices, you’ve at least got that in common with the royals. Without further adieu, let’s dig in.
She really needed a pedicure
If you ever thought that members of the royal family were any different from the rest of us, this photo will prove you wrong. Someone took a photograph of Duchess Kate without her shoes on and judging by her toes, she’s just like the rest of us. Judging by the outfit, she probably wasn’t planning on showing her bare feet that day. However, she had to take her shoes off during an event where everyone was paying respect to the late Indian independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Of course, the press went bezerk over this!
Watch out for those pipes
We’re not at all envious of Duchess Kate Middleton when we say that she’s always looking perfect and composed, no matter where she is. Even when things go wrong, she handles the situation with grace and the trademark royal smile, just like in this photo. This happened during yet another royal event, where her heels got stuck in the pipe. We’re sure she was slightly embarrassed, but she bent over to get the heels out of the pipe while Prince Williams offered her a hand. She’s the only one who’d still look good, though.
The time the wind lost
In addition to the huge variety of stately duties that the Queen has, many also look at her for what she represents. After all, as the head of the monarchy, she’s seen as the personification of all that is dignified and royal. While there have been many moments over her reign where she’s been tested, however, the Queen has always reigned supreme. Take the situation in this photo, for example, where most of us would have lost composure. However, she simply grabbed a hold of her hat and her facial expression didn’t even change.
Was that a baby bump?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are by far the most popular royal couple on social media, so it’s obvious that fans pay attention to every little detail in their photos. What’s more, Markle is also considered the most stylish member of the family, so critics often place her in a different league than most celebrities. When this picture of the couple was posted online, everyone’s attention went to how Markle’s belly looked in the white coat. It even sparked a rumor online that she was pregnant, which turned out to be wrong.
The dress she shouldn’t have worn
When you’re a member of the royal family, you better get used to every single move you make being scrutinized in the press. We’re sure Meghan Markle is pretty used to that, however. Take this dress, for example, that many criticized her for wearing. Apparently, it did not flatter her or suit her silhouette. We’re sure she’ll still wear whatever she wants to wear, but we imagine it must get pretty tiring with all that constant attention. If we’re being honest, it really doesn’t look all that bad on her.
Kate’s Marilyn Monroe moment
Any woman who’s ever worn a dress knows that you’ve always got to watch out for the wind. We don’t have to tell you just how embarrassing it can get, otherwise. Duchess Kate Middleton had her own Marilyn Monroe moment during a somber event, where she was wearing a stylish, light dress. However, we’re sure she’s been taught several times how to handle situations like this by her stylish, because she handled herself with such grace and composure here. With that being said, we have nothing but praise for what she’s wearing here.
Camilla vs the wind
It’s impossible to think about Camilla without thinking of the love triangle that dominated much of Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s marriage. However, when Camilla finally married Prince Charles in 2005, it’s obvious that she was going to receive a lot more media attention than even before. She even took the help of professionals to ensure her style was always on point, but it looks like no one told her about the weight hack. This hack, if you’re not aware already, helps women avoid having a Marilyn Monroe moment when there’s wind.
Revealing more than she’d like
Can you imagine the type of parties that Princess Eugene and Princess Beatrice must get invited to? It sure seems like they have all the perks of being a royal and can still go out at night with their friends. Princess Beatrice is often even seen wearing risque outfits that we’d never imagine Meghan or Kate wearing. On a recent outing in London, the press took a photo of Beatrice wearing this incredibly stylish and daring dress. However, she revealed her underwear when stepping out of her car and the picture ended up online.
Meghan Markle’s 37th birthday
It’s amazing how the day that Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex attended their friend’s wedding, from the picture above, was also her 37th birthday. While there’s no doubt that she looked absolutely beautiful in her outfit, things got a little embarrassing when she had a wardrobe malfunction. She revealed a little lace underneath her dress which had people debating online about whether it was underwear or some sort of camisole top. Either way, we think she made an incredible choice with her outfit, because she looked amazing.
Time to grab a safety pin
It’s not just the British royal family that fashion critics look at when talking about royal style. Queen Rania of Jordan is considered just as much of a style icon as any of them. She’s had a few slip-ups as well during public appearances, which we totally understand. However, the one we feel must have been most annoying for her was from when this photo was taken. Her sash kept slipping off her shoulders, and we’re sure it must have been incredibly distracting. Otherwise, it’s an amazing outfit!
The gloves won’t come off
Judging by the tabloids, it might seem like it’s only female royal members that come under scrutiny for their fashion choices. However, we don’t think that’s true at all, and this little faux pas by Prince Charles proves our point. It seems like he was having some trouble with the gloves and Camilla had to take off her own so she could help out her husband. By the looks of it, Duchess Kate Middleton found the whole situation pretty hilarious. Considering how the whole world had their eyes on them, we can see why.
Looks like she’s in the danger zone
If you’ve ever worn a wrap dress, you know just how careful you have to be with them. It just takes that one little piece to unwrap before the whole thing falls apart. We’re sure Kate was aware of this when she decided to wear this dress. When you’re a royal, however, you absolutely can’t afford to have a moment like that. That being said, sometimes there’s absolutely nothing you can do when the fashion disaster moment strikes. As always, she gracefully took care of the situation, though she’ll probably never wear it again.
Time to buy new shoes
The next time you see a royal struggle with their shoes, ask yourself if it’s destiny. Or maybe, it’s because of the precedent that Cindrella set. Either way, it’s embarrassing when it does happen, especially because the paparazzi just love moments like that. Princess Mary of Denmark had a similar faux pas during an event where her heels got caught in the cracks in the sidewalk. She immediately took care of the situation, but still managed to get clicked. We guess that’s the price you pay for being a royal.
The Beast from the East
If you’re annoyed about having a bad hair day because of the weather, we totally get it. However, as this photo shows, even the royals aren’t immune from the wind and rains. By the looks of it, it’s obvious that the wind was especially bad and messed up Kate’s perfect hair. We’re not going to lie, she still looks as amazing as ever, and even managed to have a smile on her face during the whole thing. Okay, maybe you won’t look as good as her, but we hope you get the point.
Those pants are way too long
If you shop regularly at high street brands, you know just how frustrating it can be getting the right length. It’s like every single style comes with it’s own length. However, the royals can’t make that excuse, because everything they wear is tailor-made to their own bodies. That’s why, when Meghan Markle was caught wearing these really long trousers, many suggested she replace her seamstress. Well, that sounds a bit extreme to be honest, but it’s amazing how no one said anything about them being too long to her. They even got all muddy.
When she forgot to wear a belt
While it’s certainly true that the Duchess is mostly seen in dresses and formal clothing, we’ve gotten to see her casual side as well. She looks just as stylish in jeans, which might not amaze any of our readers. However, things got a little embarrassing during a charity event that required her to get a little active. It seems that she forgot to wear a belt because she was seen spending more time adjusting her jeans than the task at hand. It would be a fashion nightmare if the paparazzi took an embarrassing photo.
Brand new coat
It’s always a huge deal when A-listers from Hollywood have a fashion faux-pas moment, but when it comes to members of the royal family, it’s on a whole another level. Take this incredibly stylish coat that Markle wore on a trip to Birmingham. She looked perfect until someone noticed how the final stitches on her coat hadn’t come off yet. While this was embarrassing, it only helped boost the coat’s popularity online, with many choosing to get one of their own. How does she still look so perfect?
You can’t train for the weather
It’s common knowledge that members of the royal family go through rigorous training on their customers and etiquette so they can appear royal at all times. We’re sure the Duchess was taught all about how to handle having her outfit ruined by bad weather, but sometimes, there’s nothing you can do. Like this moment, when it started raining heavily and it seemed like her perfect outfit was about to be ruined. Fortunately, Prince William stepped in and everything turned out to be alright. We love how the people behind her are smiling in delight.
When Meghan forgot the tags
It’s amazing just how closely people pay attention whenever members of the royal family are seen in public. In this picture, it looks like there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Meghan’s outfit. In fact, we think the dress really flatters her. However, if you’ll pay close attention to her handbag, you’ll notice that the bottom tags are still there. We don’t know if royals wear clothes for a night and then return them, but anything’s possible. We’re kidding and yet, it’s amazing how this little snafu managed to slip through the cracks.
Get him new shoes ASAP
Most people would assume that the members of the royal family probably wear a brand new outfit every single time they’re seen in public. This photo shows how that’s not always the case. In fact, Prince Harry even wore one of his trusty ol’ shoes at a friend’s wedding that he attended alongside Meghan Markle. Unfortunately, his shoes were a bit too old because there was literally a hole in the sole. We’re sure everyone on social media had a ball making jokes out of this photo.
Red-faced from embarrassment
The Queen has been in the eye of the public for most of her life, so it’s natural that she’s had a few embarrassing moments here and there. However, this photo really stands out, because it’s so hard for us to imagine someone as dignified and stately as her spilling food on themselves. That being said, we totally understand how that happens because after all, she’s just as human as the rest of us. You can see how she’s obviously embarrassed and even annoyed but still trying her best to maintain her composure.
When the Queen broke her handbag
It looks like the Queen was having a rough night when this photo was taken, because she had not one but two fashion faux-pas moments. We’d like to think that she probably only ever uses expensive handbags that most us can’t even dream of affording. However, even designer handbags break from time to time. When this happens to the Queen of England, it’s not quite the same, though. We’re sure someone in the staff must have gotten in a whole lot of trouble after this night.
Eve Pippa can’t beat the wind
Even though Pippa isn’t technically a member of the royal family, she gets as much media attention as her sister. That means the whole world will know about every little fashion faux-pas moment she has. Take this photo, for instance, where she’s seen wearing this magnificent dress and looks absolutely perfect. However, the wind had other plans in store for her because soon enough, she ended up revealing a lot more than she’d have liked to. While she did manage to get it under control, it’s obvious that the woman behind her saw everything.
The wind doesn’t discriminate
It’s good to know that the wind doesn’t discriminate between male and female members of the royal family when creating fashion faux-pas moments. To prove this point, we have this embarrassing photo of Prince Williams. This was actually a very sombre moment, and you can see him placing the memorial wreath to pay his respects. Unfortunately, this was also when a strong gust of wind showed the world everything that he had to show. However, it doesn’t look like he’s embarrassed at all, which is amazing.
Even Lady Diana wasn’t saved
It’s been over twenty years since Lady Diana’s passing, but she’s still remembered fondly as the “Queen of Hearts.” Diana was just as stylish as Meghan, Pippa and Kate, and we’re sure many would say she was the most glamorous of them all. However, even Di wasn’t spared from the wind. As you can tell from the photo, she’s got her hands on her dress to protect her modesty. Us normal people can take comfort knowing that the royals are just like us when it comes to these matters.
Is she taking the hat off
At first glance, it might look as though the Queen is trying to take her hat off. However, if you’ll look carefully, you’ll notice that she’s trying to hold on to it due to a particularly strong gust of wind. It seems as though she was taken back when she got out of the car, which we totally understand. Even though “normal” people don’t wear hats, they’re still worn by royals since they depict posterity. Thankfully, she grabbed onto it in time, but we’re sure she’d have this photo taken down if she could.
Casual Fridays for Prince Harry?
In his younger days, Prince Harry earned himself quite the reputation for partying. He’s in his thirties now and it’s obvious that his wild days are over. However, we thought it’d be fun to go down memory lane and look at one of his more casual outfits. It looks like his outfit is totally falling apart, because he has one button undone, all the while still tucking in his shirt. To be fair, the internet would be broken if the media started publishing photos of normal people in similar situations.
The first of many signs?
We feel like it must have been such a struggle having that incredibly long wedding dress on, so before we dive in, we have nothing but praise for Diana. However, it does look as though she was having some serious problems with that massive viel of hers. If it were us, we wouldn’t be able to keep it on for more than five minutes. That being said, she looked absolutely amazing at her wedding with Prince Charles so in the end, it was totally worth it.
Camilla can’t stand that umbrella
There’s a joke online that it takes so much hairspray to get Camilla’s hair right that if it gets messed up, she’s going to be really upset. Obviously, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point. Anyway, that explains why she was in such a hurry to open up the umbrella that she didn’t even open it all the way before putting her head in. Fortunately, those around her helped her out and her hair remained perfect for the evening. The paparazzi were around and the photo ended up online.
Time to look away, folks
You wouldn’t be the only one to think that the wind has an agenda against royal women. It always shows up at unexpected times, when they’re perfectly dressed and about to make an impression on the whole world. Kate is no stranger to Marilyn Monroe moments and fortunately, this one wasn’t all that bad. What’s more, it seems like nobody noticed it and her dress was long enough to cover her up. However, we’re sure she would have preferred not have anyone around to click this photo.
It can happen to anyone
You’ve got to keep in mind that this can happen to anyone, whether you’re a royal or a normal person. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands almost let the wind get the better of her before catching her dress at the right moment. It looks like she was right on time because otherwise, things would have gotten a bit too intimate. We’re sure many people online would have been appreciative of her legs, though. Regardless of the wind, we’re totally in love with her outfit. It’s something only a royal can pull off.
Things are about to get really bad
There’s no doubt that heels are incredibly stylish. They compliment everything you wear! However, you also have to be really careful with them, since they can often get stuck in cracks between sidewalks and other spaces. This is a photo we have of Kate getting in trouble with her heels and by the looks of it, it’s a disaster that was nearly averted. It looks like she put all her weight on the front of her foot. Otherwise, things would have gotten really bad.
A peak of her petticoat
This photo of Camilla was taken at the NHS Heroes Awards in 2018. She looks as classic and elegant as always but due to the wind, she ended up revealing a lot more than she’d planned to. However, the petticoat also brought a lot of attention to this picture on social media. There’s absolutely nothing you can do in situations like this. What’s more, this isn’t the first time she’s had this issue, and handled it with grace and composure. If only we had even just 10% of her charm and charisma.
A little too much
We’re glad that none of the royals had ever had faux pas moments that have led to really embarrassing moments. However, they’re scrutinized on the tiniest details, so it’s natural that they’re trained to handle these situations. However, things got a little embarrassing for Prince Philips during one of the many times he’s worked a kilt in public. He forgot to cross his legs properly and ended up showing a little too much. At his age, we really don’t think he cares.
All about strategy
Even the most gracious and composed celebrity can get caught in embarrassing situations. That’s why, all royal members are trained rigorously on how to conduct themselves in public. What’s more, they’re taught strategies in case issues arise. Lady Diana, for instance, was instructed always to carry a purse when stepping out of the car. However, even that didn’t help her in this situation. In fact, this might just be one of the most embarrassing ones on this list. That being said, she’ll always be our favorite royal in terms of style.
Even Fergie’s not immune
Many of you might remember Sarah Fergus, Prince Andrew’s former wife. She’s fondly referred to as “Fergie” in the media. The media has not been very kind to her ever since their divorce because of her outfit choices. Many expected her to still dress like a royal, but clearly’ she’d moved on. Just take a look at this dress! It’s way too short and revealing according to her critics. She’s definitely not helping her case, judging by her outfits.
Their stylist must be so frustrated
If there’s one thing we know for sure about the royals’ wardrobe, it’s that Prince Harry and William wear their shoes for as long as they can. His brother, however, had had the same faux pas moment as well. As you can see in the picture, he was interviewing Sir David Attenborough on the release of his newest documentary. Observers noticed how the sole from his shoe literally looked like it was about to fall off. How did the staff let this happen?
Meghan doesn’t mind dirty shoes
We’ve seen lots of celebrities get into all kinds of embarrassing situations due to heels. The Duchess of Sussex had a similar moment at a royal event where her shoes got stuck in some kind of dirt. While we’re not sure what it is, they clearly ruined her shoes. However, this is also the type of moment that the royals have been trained to navigate, and Markle smiled through it all. Isn’t it amazing how she is still so confident and composed even though her shoes are so dirty?
Kate literally wore her outfit wrong
We’re not the type to put celebrities and royals down because of fashion mistakes. We get it, they’re human beings just like the rest of us. That being said, we think this gaffe that Kate made is absolutely hilarious because she literally put her pants on the other way round. She might also be the only one to look elegant and fabulous despite the mistake. We’re sure many fans must have wondered how something so obvious managed to slip through the cracks. After all, we’re not fashion experts, and even we can tell!
Meghan forgot the price tag, again!
Forgetting to remove the price tag is equally embarrassing whether you’re a royal or an average Joe. However, we can’t help but wonder how Meghan made this mistake not once but twice. She was once pictured with a handbag that still had the tags on and in this picture, you can clearly see the tag inside her dress. At least we can take some comfort in the fact that she’s also just as likely to make these mistakes as the rest of us. Plus, the red dress really flatters her silhouette.
Can you blame her?
In the wake of their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, many Royal Family followers were finally able to understand what made Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk out. There were a lot of little moments on the way to that big decision, just like this one – from Meghan’s first appearance at the Queen’s official birthday celebration. In 2018, Meghan attended Trooping the Colour for the first time and wore a blush off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress. Many royals, including Kate Middleton, have done it before her – but she still suffered massive backlash that dubbed her plunging neckline “inappropriate.”
Even Gillian Anderson was shocked
Royal wardrobe oops moments sometimes happen TO royals without them really meaning to… When you meet someone from the Royal Family, let alone the Queen herself, there are about 650 rules of etiquette you have to stick to. Now, we’re far from experts, but we’re pretty sure “Don’t entangle the monarch with your scarf” is right up there. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened when this poor woman’s scarf attacked the Queen at the Royal Windsor Cup. The fact that The X-Files star Gillian Anderson was there, and was as flabbergasted as we were, is just the cherry on top.
Not really okay anymore
The enormous fashion faux pas in this photo isn’t immediately apparent, so a little explanation is in order. The royal photographed here is Princess Michael of Kent, wife to Queen Elizabeth’s cousin. If we talked about every single time she courted controversy, we’ll be here all day – so let’s just stick to this one instance. Princess Michael was seen wearing a Blackamoor brooch, which while certainly pretty many people today consider offensive and borderline racist. The fact that she wore it to Meghan Markle’s first Christmas lunch with the Royal Family just made it worse, frankly. Princess Michael later apologized.
A sheer fashion moment
You can say many things about Meghan Markle, but to say that she was unfashionable would probably not be one of them. No, for Meghan the problem was often something else entirely – being bamboozled by her own clothing choices. During the final leg of her and Harry’s epic tour of Australia and New Zealand, Meghan suffered a… Well, you can clearly see. Many of her critics blamed her for intentionally orchestrating this incident, but it was probably a mistake. Her Givenchy dress was semi-sheer, and the hot sun gave it the little nudge it needed to go over the edge.
Left it too long in the dryer
Princess Beatrice may not be the biggest name in the Royal Family, but she’s certainly enjoyed her fair share of fame in the past few years. While Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter tied the knot herself in 2020, it’s her clothing choice for someone else’s wedding that made headlines. In 2018, Beatrice attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, and sported a beaded Roksanda dress. Now, doesn’t it just look like she wore something that’s been through the washer and dryer a little too many times, and accumulated those unsightly little fabric balls? It also seems to get worse the farther down her dress you go…
The oops moment that changed royal fashion
At first glance, this seems like just another instance (in a seemingly never-ending series) where Mate Middleton suffered a little dress hyperventilation. This incident took place in 2011, with Kate wearing a yellow Jenny Packham dress. It was stunning, as usual, but the fact she was on an airport tarmac meant that more than just morale would be rising. It was in the wake of this incident, and others like it, that one of the Queen’s tailors, Stewart Parvin, reportedly started sewing small weights into the hems of royal outfits to hold them down.
Down but not out
Apparently, and this was news to us, Queen Sofía of Spain has something of an embarassing history when it comes to tripping over her own fashion choices. This photo is from an official visit to the United States by Spain’s King Juan Carlos. Sofía naturally accompanied her husband, and just as they were scaling the stairs to meet the then-president and the First Lady, Sofía stepped on the hem of her own dress and went tumbling forward. As you can see, both the King and the President were quick to lunge forward to help her.
How does that thing even stay on?
Back in 2011, Prince Andrew’s daughter Beatrice and Eugenie weren’t exceedingly well-known members of the Royal Family. Unlike Princes William and Harry, who’ve been making headlines since they were children, the two princesses seemed to mostly stay out of the limelight. That all changed at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, when the two arrived wearing fascinators that were… well, fascinating. Eugenie’s blue cap was a little more straightforward, even if it did look like a toy boat, while the bizarre upright detail on Eugenie’s fascinator made people do double-takes. This pretzel-like accessory even became a meme, giving the princesses their first taste of infamy.
Take a hike
What is it with Kate Middleton and her dresses simply refusing to stay put? Time and again, Kate has been forced to battle both the elements and her own wardrobe during outdoor engagements, and this 2013 oops moment is no different. Arriving to the Place2Be Forum, which aims to improve children’s mental health in schools, Kate gave both the public and assembled paparazzi an eyeful when her dress rode up under her navy blue coat. The end result? Exposing way more skin than the Queen would deem decent, and earning herself an entry on this list.
Getting into some hot water
Don’t feel too bad if you don’t see what the problem here is right away – it took us a minute too. There’s actually nothing wrong with what Prince William and Kate Middleton are wearing here, at least not in the strictest fashion sense. However, once you get a closer look at Kate’s gloves, you realize what raised so much controversy. During this 2016 family ski trip, the Duchess of Cambridge wore possum fur-lined gloves, causing PETA UK to announce they’d be contacting her to educate her on the cruelty inherent to the fur trade.
