The Thoughtful Reason Behind Queen Elizabeth II's Bright Wardrobe

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON-POOL, GETTY IMAGES; ARTHUR EDWARDS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; DAVID ROSE, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; GARETH CATTERMOLE, GETTY IMAGES
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON-POOL, GETTY IMAGES; ARTHUR EDWARDS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; DAVID ROSE, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; GARETH CATTERMOLE, GETTY IMAGES / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILLWELL, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON-POOL, GETTY IMAGES; ARTHUR EDWARDS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES; DAVID ROSE, WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES; GARETH CATTERMOLE, GETTY IMAGES
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The glamorous life of a royal comes with a strict set of fashion rules. Exposed shoulders are frowned upon at weddings, and travel wardrobes must always include one all-black outfit. But not every fashion custom comes from established tradition. As Reader's Digest reports, Queen Elizabeth II's habit of wearing bright colors is self-imposed—but her flashy style is more than an aesthetic preference.

At public events, the Queen of England often arrives sporting neon shades, from lime green to robin's egg blue. Though her classy hats and jackets are typical for a royal, the playful colors they come in may seem like an unusual statement for the 94-year-old queen. Her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, recently revealed that Her Majesty chooses the bold outfits, not for herself, but for the spectators who come to see her.

“She needs to stand out for people to be able to say ‘I saw the Queen’,” the Duchess said in the 2016 documentary The Queen at 90. Her public appearances can draw massive crowds, and by dressing in eye-catching shades, Queen Elizabeth ensures even people in the back will be able to spot her.

The vibrant look is unique to the Queen, but other fashion rules she follows are more universal to the rest of the women in the royal family. From hats to handbags, here are the reasons behind other elements of the royal dress code.

[h/t Reader's Digest]