When King Charles When he saw photos of his mother posing with her hands in her pockets, it was said that he was white-tanned.
Charles considered the photographs, taken during a Royal Collection photo shoot, to be inappropriate and therefore did not publish them.
The images, which later appeared in Angela Kelly’s 2019 book The Queen, The Dresser and The Wardrobe, captured a rare moment when Queen Elizabeth deviated from the strict protocols of royal etiquette.
Kelly, who served as the Queen’s dresser for nearly 20 years, wrote: “Her Majesty began to assume a series of poses, placing her hands in her pockets, taking them out again and placing them on her hips to imitate the posture of a professional model.”
In the world of monarchy, every gesture and posture matters, and the seemingly casual act of putting one’s hands in one’s pockets can spark controversy.
Several members of the Royal Familyincluding King Charles himself, have been seen with their hands in their pockets at both informal and formal events – as we reveal below.
King Charles walks casually with one hand in his jacket pocket as he arrives for the Easter Sunday morning service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2023.
Queen Elizabeth II protects herself from the rain with her hands in her pockets as she attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019
Meghan Markle chats with both hands firmly in her pockets during an official visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand with Prince Harry in 2018
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, keeps her hands in the pockets of her puffer coat during the England hockey team training at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in 2020.
Princess Beatrice puts one hand in her pocket as she poses for photographs during a private viewing of the exhibition ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ at the V&A in 2015.
Prince Louis arrives at Westminster Abbey for the Christmas service “Together At Christmas 2023”, his hands buried in his coat as he makes his way to his pockets
Peter Phillips strikes a casual pose as he watches the racing at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival from the royal box
Prince William appears calm as he walks along the sidewalk in Portsmouth in 2015 with one hand in his jeans pocket
Princess Anne keeps warm by putting her hands in the pockets of her tweed jacket during the Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park in Stroud in 2007.
Zara Tindall cuts a stylish figure on the first day of Royal Ascot 2023, making use of the pockets of her floral dress
Queen Camilla puts a hand in her Musto jacket as she visits Westonbirt, the National Arboretum in Tetbury in 2020
Meghan, pregnant with Archie, looks relaxed during a visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in North Kensington in 2018
Sophie walks with one hand in her pocket at the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2022
King Charles puts a hand in his coat pocket as he leaves the New Year’s Day service at St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham in 2023.
Zara looks casual at Cheltenham Racecourse, keeping her gloved hands in her pockets, January 2024
