Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton turned heads at Wimbledon this year, not just for their presence, but because of their daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her eye-catching manicure.
Charlotte, 10, appeared alongside her parents and older brother Prince George at the tennis tournament, dressed in a crisp white sundress with navy accents. But it was her choice of nail color — a vivid pink — that drew extra attention, subtly defying a long-standing but informal royal beauty tradition.
A Break from Tradition
Traditionally, members of the British royal family have opted for more subdued nail shades, such as sheer nudes and pale pinks — tones famously favored by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
These muted colors are typically seen as a way to remain discreet and avoid distracting from official duties. While Princess Kate, 43, is known for her refined polish choices, she has occasionally stepped out in a bright red shade as well.
“There’s no formal rule banning dark nail polish,” royal commentator Omid Scobie explained to Harper’s Bazaar back in 2018. “It’s more about what’s considered appropriate for the occasion. You wouldn’t usually see a bold nail color at a royal engagement.”
Flexibility in Informal Settings
According to Scobie, royals have more leeway when attending relaxed or non-official events — such as Wimbledon — compared to formal state functions or diplomatic appearances. Charlotte’s playful manicure could be seen as a reflection of this more casual setting, and a hint of her growing personality and independence.
Meghan Markle on Color Expectations in the Royal Family
The conversation around fashion and color within the royal family isn’t limited to nail polish. Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has spoken openly about the silent guidelines surrounding wardrobe choices during her time as a working royal.
“Most of the time I was in the U.K., I rarely wore color,” Meghan shared in her 2022 Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries. “There was thought behind that. You can’t wear the same color as Her Majesty at a group event, and you’re also not supposed to wear the same color as another senior royal.”
She added, “So I thought, what colors are they unlikely to wear? Camel, beige, white? I stuck to a lot of neutral shades because I wanted to blend in. I wasn’t trying to stand out — I wanted to show I respected the family and did everything I could to fit in.”
A Royal Shift in Style?
Meghan, 43, married Prince Harry in 2018. The couple stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and now live in Montecito, California, with their two children. Her remarks highlight the subtle pressures faced by women in the royal spotlight — and suggest that even personal style can carry symbolic weight.
Charlotte’s vibrant nail polish may seem like a small detail, but it quietly reflects a possible shift in how the younger generation of royals expresses themselves — especially at events where tradition takes a back seat to family and fun.