6 times Camilla, Queen Consort sent messages through fashion: she gifted King Charles cufflinks and wore brooches to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral – but what made Princess Diana stop wearing Chanel?

Sep 30 , 2022

Britain’s Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall arrives to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, in December 2021. Photo: AFP

Camilla wore French brand Chanel to meet French president Emmanuel Macron, and a feathery brooch symbolising the Prince of Wales for her wedding to Charles

She once gave Charles cufflinks with two Cs which made Diana ‘jealous’ … and has also worn brooches that used to belong to queen mother and Queen Victoria

Camilla, Britain’s queen consort and King Charles’ wife, has been known to send subtle messages with her outfits and accessories. The 75 year old wore shoes by French designer Chanel to greet French president Emmanuel Macron in 2020, while her diamond brooch at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral paid tribute to the queen’s historic reign.

So what other occasions has the British royal sent secret messages through fashion?

1. Diamond brooch

Camilla Parker Bowles departs the Civil Ceremony where she was legally married to then Prince Charles, at The Guildhall, Windsor, in 2005, in Berkshire, England. Photo: Getty Images

At her wedding to King Charles – then Prince of Wales – in 2005, Camilla wore a diamond and black pearl brooch with significance to both of their families. British Vogue reported that Charles’ great-grandfather King Edward VII bought the brooch for Camilla’s great-grandmother Alice Keppel, who was believed to be his mistress.

The brooch also featured feathers, a symbol of the title of Prince of Wales dating back to the 14th century, as per the UK government’s website.

2. Chanel shoes

French president Emmanuel Macron, then Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall attend a ceremony in Carlton Gardens during a visit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s speech in June 2020, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images

Camilla wore heels by luxury French fashion brand Chanel to welcome President Emmanuel Macron of France to Clarence House in 2020.

Macron’s state visit marked the 80th anniversary of former French president Charles de Gaulle’s appeal to French people to resist the Nazi occupation. Camilla paid tribute to her French guest with a pair of cream Chanel shoes with black toe caps.

3. “Camilla and Charles” cufflinks

Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall (seen wearing a poppy design face mask) attends a service to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in November 2020, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images