The Real Reason Why The Queen Carries Transparent Umbrellas

It's not just because she wants to keep dry...

The Real Reason Why The Queen Carries A Transparent Umbrella

by Phoebe Parke |
Updated on

As the Queen of England you’re going to see a fair bit of rain, so it’s no surprise the monarch has a tried and tested solution for a rainy day.

When stepping out for royal duties the Queen protects her outfit and perfectly coiffed royal curls with a transparent umbrella – a birdcage design by Scottish brand Fulton to be specific, who have the royal warrant for umbrella manufacturing, meaning they can advertise the fact they supply the royal family with goods.

There’s a good reason why the Queen carries the transparent version of the birdcage umbrella – so that people can see her clearly. This is also the reason she always wears bright colours, when the Queen is around there are huge crowds of people who have come out to see her, so she wants them to be sure it’s her when she shows up.

READ MORE: An A-Z Guide To Dressing Like The Queen

Gallery

An A-Z Guide On Dressing Like The Queen

Queen in Anello and Davide1 of 27

A

London-based footwear brand Anello and Davide is where the Queen purchases some of her favourite shoes. And it was recently revealed that Her Majesty has hired someone to break in her block heels... If that's not goals, then we don't know what is.

Queen with broaches2 of 27

B

The Queen's most cherished piece of jewellery? The brooch. Her Majesty is rarely seen without a bejewelled pin on the left of her jacket. She'll even go so far as to pesonalising her brooch depending on the country she is visiting.

Queen colour block3 of 27

C

The Queen of England? More like the Queen of colour-blocking. Her Majesty has a talent for making anything look brilliant whether its head-to-toe fuchsia or this season's 'It' hue, yellow.

Queen in jewels4 of 27

D

Diamonds are the Queen's best friend, after all.

Queen on tube5 of 27

E

Enjoy fashion. What inspires us the most about the Queen is the way in which she embraces fashion. She plays with the colour palette, experiments with hats and is never, ever short of Instagrammable accessorises. But the best part? She's always dressed for the day ahead. Whether she's travelling by horse-drawn carriage or, well, the tube...

Queen in flower crown6 of 27

F

Believe it or not, the Queen was the original festival girl. Just take a moment to appreciate the flower-embellished hats she donned in the late seventies.

Queen holding baby7 of 27

G

We can't help but wonder if the Queen inspired Princess Diana's love of colourful gloves?

Queen in headscarf8 of 27

H

We doubt the Queen ever has a bad hair day but if she does, she's got a failsafe plan. Whether she's out riding her horses or going on a state visit, Her Majesty is sure to don a fabulous headscarf. And of course, the accessory will always match her co-ords.

Queen in chic outfits9 of 27

I

Invest. The Queen rarely performs outfit repeats. So ensure you have a co-ord for every possible occasion. You never know who you might meet and quite frankly, it could be a little embarassing...

Queen in ceremonial gowns10 of 27

J

The Queen has reportedly never worn jeans. Or at least, she's never been spotted in public donning a pair.

Queen with corgis11 of 27

K

Keep your corgis close. The Queen's greatest accessories are of course her beloved pets. You cannot even begin to channel the Queen's majestic aesthetic without the help of the most quintessentially royal emblem there is.

Queen in sparkles12 of 27

L

Let loose on the sparkles. You needn't be a princess to don glitter. The Queen debuted one of our favourite looks to date back in 1964 when she attended a banquet at Claridges in a gold dress and fur stole.

Queen with handbag13 of 27

M

The Queen has been carrying the miniature handbag before we even knew they were a trend.

Queen with handbag14 of 27

Queen with handbag

But Her Majesty doesn't just carry them on the crook of her arm for sartorial purposes, as the secret reason behind her growing collection was recently revealed...

Queen wedding day15 of 27

N

Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November, 1947. As the second world war had only just come to an end, Her Majesty had to purchase material for her wedding dress using ration coupons. The gown was designed by Norman Hartnell and was made from white satin.

Queen in furs16 of 27

O

Rule number one when it comes to royal protocall? One can never be overdressed. So don layers of pearls, faux furs and always choose the sparkliest tiara.

Queen in pearls17 of 27

P

Well, you couldn't possibly rule as the Queen of England without pearls. Her Majesty is rarely spotted without a full set.

Queen in rainbow colors18 of 27

Q

Rainbow hues. There isn't a colour on the spectrum that the Queen cannot pull off. Whether it's primary red or sunny yellow. We challenge you to find someone who wears it better. Good luck.

Queen in royal farms on throne19 of 27

R

Rule the fashion scene. The Queen is never afraid to don the brightest colour in the crowd or debut the sparkliest tiara. Channel Her Majesty this season with similar flair and enthusiasm. Do Liz proud.

Queen with mum20 of 27

S

Seek sartorial inspiration from your mum. Her Majesty often co-ordinated with the late Queen Mother. The mother/daughter duo often sported similar hats, hairstyles and miniature handbags.

Queen in trousers21 of 27

T

The Queen has only ever been photographed in trousers once. Her Majesty was pictured in a suit by Ian Thomas during the 1970 Royal Canadian Tour.

Queen with matching umbrella22 of 27

U

The Queen is as dedicated to fashion as she is to her royal duties. And if she's going to colour-block her outfit, she isn't one to do it half-heartedly. Her Majesty even goes so far as to co-ordinate her umbrellas to her outfits.

Queen in maximalist clothing23 of 27

V

Veer away from monochrome. The Queen is no Scandi-wannabe. Want proof? We challenge you to find an ounce of minimalism in her wardrobe. So channel the rainbow and you'll soon bring a smile to your colleague's faces. We'll be paying sartorial homage to Her Majesty next Monday in sunny yellow...

Queen on horseback24 of 27

W

Oh, one does love to go outdoors. The Queen is renowned for her adoration of horses and always dresses for the occasion. Her go-to outfit? Her Majesty often teams a waistcoat and waterproof with a co-ordinating headscarf and wellies.

Queen Elizabeth as a young princess25 of 27

X

XCI. The Queen has been reigning the style stakes for a grand 91 years. Impressive.

Queen in yellow26 of 27

Y

The Queen is undoubtedly able to pull of any hue but our favourite? It has to be yellow. The sunny shade is a failsafe and the Queen has been donning the look long before any of us declared it the colour of the season.

Queen in zipped jacket with queen mum27 of 27

Z

Zip up. Each of the Queen's outfits is fitted with a zip in preparation for endless outfit changes.

Her trick took off at New York Fashion Week this year since the rain kept coming. Influencersand editors alike borrowed style tips from the Queen to protect those all-important fashion week looks while staying dry and making sure the photographers got a good shot of their street-style looks.

The Real Reason Why The Queen Carries Transparent Umbrellas
©Shutterstock

We will have to wait and see if the Queen shows up at London Fashion Week this season – it was a major moment when she sat front row at Richard Quinn’s show in February 2018 next to fashion queen Anna Wintour.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us