Queen Elizabeth was known for her obedience to royal duty – but that isn’t to say that she wasn’t afraid of a cheeky rule-breaking moment now and then when it came to the lighthearted side of public life.
In fact, she made her rebellious side clear to Michelle Obama during an American state visit to the UK in 2016. The wife of the former US president recalled: “So I had all this protocol buzzing in my head, and I was like, ‘Don’t trip down the stairs and don’t touch anybody, whatever you do so the Queen says, ‘Just get in, sit wherever’ and she’s telling you one thing and you’re remembering protocol and she says, ‘Oh it’s all rubbish, just get in’.”
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Queen spoke to Michelle Obama about protocol
The late Queen’s broken rule
But an element of protocol that royal ladies like the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh have always honoured is the unwritten rule that preening in public is a complete no-go. The ladies always arrive at royal engagements looking pristine with perfect hair and makeup, and you won’t see any of them touching up their look in public – apart from the late monarch, that is.
© Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II put on her lipstick as she attended the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
On three occasions during her reign, the Queen was spotted blatantly flouting the unwritten rule as she applied her lipstick for the world to see. In 2014, the royal was seen refreshing her beauty look while attending the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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Meanwhile, all the way back in 1985, she was seen topping up her poppy pink lip while watching the Windsor Horse Show from the Royal Box. Though royal fans may picture the Queen surrounded by makeup artists and hairdressers before her outings, royal dressmaker Angela Kelly said her getting-ready routine was far more pared-back.
© Getty ImagesThe Queen always carried a bright lipstick with her
Did the Queen apply her own makeup?
Writing in The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, Angela revealed that the Queen’s annual Christmas Day broadcast was the exception to her rule: “You might be surprised to know that this is the only occasion throughout the year when Her Majesty does not do her own makeup.”
© Tim Graham/Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II applies her lipstick at a function during a visit to Fiji with Prince Philip in 1977
Even if the late Queen wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries, the Princess of Wales has long been praised for her adherence to royal protocol, having reportedly taken private guidance on royal etiquette from the Queen herself.
How Princess Kate honours late Queen
In his new book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Russell Myers documented the bond Kate and Prince William‘s grandmother formed throughout the early years of her integrating into the royal family, and in particular, the pair’s private meeting at Buckingham Palace ahead of the 2011 royal wedding.
© Getty ImagesKate and Queen Elizabeth shared a close bond
Myers wrote: “During the light buffet of tea and finger sandwiches, the Queen eschewed questions about the finer details of the production and instead looked to comfort the young woman she hoped would successfully shape the institution for the next generation.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageThe late Queen welcomed Kate into the royal family
“According to one former courtier, the Queen offered words of encouragement to Catherine regarding her future role as a senior member of the family, as well as guidance in how to deal with ‘head- strong’ husbands. William had a reputation among his staff and family for being down to earth and thoughtful, preferring to be addressed by his first name instead of His Royal Highness or Sir, but he could also be direct and plain-spoken when he wanted things done a particular way.”