The very specific dress code rule the Royal Family and Middletons have to follow for key festive event

There’s a very specific dress code rule the Royal Family and Middletons have to follow for a key festive event in their calendars.

With the festive countdown in full swing, many of us will be searching for the perfect glamorous outfit for the Christmas party season, whether that’s a velvet suit or one of the best dresses with pockets for a more relaxed look. The royals tend to often be a little more formal and traditional with their occasion wear outfits. 

However, there’s a very specific dress code rule the Royal Family and Middletons have to follow for a key festive event that apparently prohibits one of their most-worn smart pieces.

Taking to social media on 7th December, the Princess of Wales shared a special video of certain people receiving their invitations to the 2023 Together at Christmas carol concert. According to physician and UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Dr Alex George, the invitations apparently specified no hats.

This year’s concert is with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and Alex received his invitation and towards the end of the video clip he read out, “Dress code: smart. No hats”, before touching the cap he was wearing and adding, “Noted”. The reported “no hats” dress code is something that might come as a surprise to some given how often the women in the Royal Family in particular wear them for special occasions.

Whether it’s walking to church on Christmas Day in Sandringham to Trooping the Colour and special services of thanksgiving, the royals often favour a hat for big events. As a senior working royal, the Princess of Wales opts for hats or headpieces particularly often and when her mother Carole Middleton or sister Pippa are at occasions alongside the royals they wear them too.

For the past two years a lot of royals and members of Kate’s family have attended the Together at Christmas carol concert. This year plenty of them have done so again and there wasn't a hat in sight thanks to the very specific dress code rule the Royal Family and Middletons have to follow.

Admittedly, they tend to wear hats more to public occasions and the concert is a little more low-key so perhaps that could’ve inspired the dress code. Another factor might of course be making sure everyone in Westminster Abbey has a good view without anything being obstructed by hats. Hats weren’t worn last year or the year before either, so it seems that the 2023 concert is upholding its usual dress code. 

This year's Together at Christmas carol concert is being recorded on 8th December at Westminster Abbey, before being broadcast on Christmas Eve. Royals like Zara Tindall, Duchess Sophie and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have always attended Together at Christmas and looked spectacular in their winter occasion-wear best as they arrived for the 2023 concert.

Kate’s parents Carole and Michael and sister Pippa have also been regular Together at Christmas attendees in the past and this year all three arrived to support the Princess of Wales and the concert once again. 

Meanwhile, Prince George and Charlotte attended alongside their parents as they did in 2022 - this time accompanied by Prince Louis. This marked his debut attending the carol concert and this special family outing was also the siblings' first public appearance all together since July.