How long will the Queen wear black after Prince Philip’s funeral?

After the Duke of Edinburgh passed away last Friday at the age of 99, arrangements for royal mourning have been ongoing. When it comes to what the royal family will wear, there is a specific tradition, with family members expected to wear black or dark colors for a prolonged time of mourning.

Prince Philip's funeral will be held on Saturday, April 17th, and the 30 mourners, including the queen, will be required to adhere to a strict dress code.

Queen Elizabeth II will wear a black costume and is expected to wear jewelry with a special meaning for her and the late Duke of Edinburgh on the day.

Formal engagements before the death of a consort and his or her burial must be attended by royals wearing mourning bands.

Despite the fact that the national mourning period is just eight days long, the Royal Mourning period is scheduled to last a further 30 days, during which they will be expected to wear solemn attire.

The Queen, as the other royals, is supposed to wear black for at least 30 days after the service, but she can opt to wear it for longer. Queen Elizabeth II is noted for her fondness for bright clothing, especially in the summer, which would be inappropriate right now.

“Mourning dress has been part of European royal culture for centuries, but it reached its peak in the 19th century with the influence of Queen Victoria, who set a standard for the rest of society to follow,” Matthew Storey, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, told The Telegraph.

“Widows were required to wear black, then either white or mauve, for at least three years before being able to return to richly coloured clothing.”

On March 30, 2002, the Queen Mother died, and her funeral was held on April 9. After April 19th, the royal family dressed in black for almost three weeks.

It's ultimately up to Her Majesty, and she can decide to never change her clothes again.

Queen Victoria famously wore black or dark mourning clothes every day for 40 years after her beloved husband Prince Albert died in 1861, until her own death in 1901.

Indeed, it is believed that she cemented the custom of wearing dark colors to funerals, with people following her lead.

The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Royal Modern Style author Bethan Holt gave Hello! an inside look at the dress etiquette for the royal ladies attending Prince Philip's funeral.

“There is a long history of protocol when it comes to royal mourning dress,” the journalist clarified.

“If the royal ladies were to abide by the strictest mourning dress guidance, then they would wear black tights and outfits with little decoration but it's more likely that they'll wear black in the elevated way we often see on Remembrance Sunday, perhaps with military touches to pay tribute to Philip's naval career.