How turquoise became The Queen’s go-to hue for uplifting moments in troubled times
The colour worn by the Queen for an important occasion always generates interest. There were bets on what she would wear to the weddings of her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry (buttercup yellow and lime green, respectively) as well as the annual wagers on her hues of choice for Royal Ascot.
But it seems Her Majesty has adopted a new signature palette over the past few months - one that is both uplifting, yet reflects her awareness of the difficulties faced by the nation during the coronavirus pandemic.
Friday was the third time that the Queen has worn turquoise since the start of lockdown. A busy day by anyone’s standards, let alone a 94-year-old Head of State, she attended the private wedding of her granddaughter Princess Beatrice to Italian property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi in the morning, followed by the knighting of 100-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore in the afternoon.
And turquoise was the perfect colour with which to mark both events, which took place at Windsor Castle. The colour has been associated with good fortune by many different cultures for thousands of years, as well as calm and wisdom - all attributes that we could benefit from right now.
It is likely no coincidence that turquoise (and the stone from which it takes its name) is also considered by many as a protector of good health, care and healing. The fact that the country is getting used to a new Covid-aware way of life in the wake of lockdown will not be lost on Her Majesty, who also wore turquoise to attend a ceremony marking her official birthday in June.
And for her television address to the nation, in which she thanked the NHS frontline at the beginning of lockdown back in April, she chose ‘scrubs green’ (surely turquoise by another name) with a turquoise brooch.
But even outside of those appearances, she hasn’t strayed from the blue spectrum. She marked Prince Philip’s 99th birthday with a new photo in which she wore a pale blue floral-print dress, and for a Zoom call earlier this week with service personnel from the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, she chose a deeper royal blue.
Of course, Her Majesty always favours vibrant colours, and the reason has nothing to do with fashion trends. “I have to be seen to be believed,” she once said of her need to be spotted in a crowd.
But, with the help of Angela Kelly, her longtime senior dresser, in-house designer and personal advisor, the Queen also uses colour to convey sentiment and support when people need it most. Indeed, the planning of each outfit is meticulous.
“Challenging and difficult decisions have to be taken,” says Kelly in her book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe. “I have to be quick and think on my feet… It is her job to look the part, and fashion helps.”
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