The Windsor Uniform DJ - Standards relaxed

[Leon]

I found this potted history of the Windsor Uniform on the official monarchy website:

"I recently saw a picture of the Prince of Wales wearing a black dinner jacket with red collar and red cuffs. Is this dress related to his military ranks or a private tribute to fashion?

This jacket is known as the Windsor Coat, and is worn by male members of the Royal Family and those holding certain appointments in the Royal Household, as approved by The Queen, on occasions at Windsor Castle when evening dress is worn.

Also known as the Windsor Uniform, it is an evening tail coat of dark blue cloth, lapelled, with scarlet collar and cuffs. There are three buttons on each front, two at the back of the waist and two at the end of each tail, and also two on each cuff and one above.

The gilt buttons bear a design of a Garter star within a Garter, surmounted by the imperial crown. It is worn with a white single-breasted waistcoat with three small gilt buttons of the same pattern, and with plain black evening-dress trousers. When the court is in mourning, a black waistcoat and black armband are worn.

George III introduced the Windsor Uniform in 1779 and it was first called by that name in 1781. Sir Owen Morshead, then Librarian at Windsor Castle, wrote in 1935 that George III, in establishing a domestic uniform and in choosing blue and red for his colours was following the lead of Frederick the Great.

There may have been two other explanations for its design: the choice of blue and red because of the King's admiration for Lady Pembroke, for the colours are those of the Pembroke livery; or that the King was copying the uniform of a Berkshire volunteer cavalry regiment of which he was Colonel.

There were originally two forms of the Uniform. The full-dress, with gold braid, did not survive for long and it is the undress form which is worn today. William IV discontinued it, but Queen Victoria revived it and since the reign of King Edward VII the Coat has been worn only as evening dress.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have dinner-jacket versions which they wear at Windsor and elsewhere."

There are photos of Charles wearing his DJ version in the photojournals.

I find it interesting that the Royals are themselves relaxing the standards, taking the formality down a notch from evening tails to the dinner coat. What's next the WIndsor Uniform track suit?

Leon

[le.gentleman]

I tried to search for the pictures at their official homepage...but their search options offers far too many pages. So, where exactly did you find the windsor coat pics?

Thank you!

[Leon]

I meant the photojournals of this forum. There was quite a lot of press coverage when his engagement was announced to Camilla. So, a google image search should bring them up if you missed it first time around. I found a wikipedia entry straightaway.

Leon