King Charles shatters 100 year-old royal tradition to usher in modern monarchy: experts
For the first time, players on the royal family's outdoor tennis court no longer have to follow the strict "almost entirely white" dress code, The Sunday Times reported. According to the outlet, the 76-year-old has relaxed the protocol, making tennis whites now "preferred" but "not essential" for players, including members of the royal family, household staff and their guests.
Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
Shannon Felton Spence, a former British public affairs official, told Fox News Digital that the king has been determined to modernize the monarchy, making it fresh and relevant for today's public.
"King Charles is a very progressive-thinking man," said Felton Spence. "He has been his entire life, always looking forward and trying to build for the future. He has made it his mission to reshape a monarchy fit for the purpose today and tomorrow, while keeping the cultural relevancy that grounds the institution. These initiatives are good news and should be celebrated."
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that it's one of many changes the busy king has been making. She pointed out that Buckingham Palace announced on July 3 that the Royal Train, whose history dates back to Queen Victoria, would end 156 years of service. The palace shared it's too costly to operate and would require a significant upgrade to accommodate more advanced rail systems.
"The Royal Train is no longer," said Fordwich. "Other changes have included lowering the temperature of the palace swimming pool to reduce energy consumption and other updates to palace amenities."
"King Charles has previously broken many royal customs, including changes to ceremonial duties, the public displays of affection, and, in general, many public engagement styles," she shared. "His direct engagement in political lobbying has not been well received and has been most ill-advised."
The dress code upgrade is significant for the king, who is known for his formal wear. According to the outlet, Charles is rarely seen in jeans or sneakers. However, he wanted his staff and guests, in particular, to "feel less restricted by protocol."
"While the end of the all-white tennis dress code at Buckingham Palace might seem somewhat minor, it's a significant and rather symbolic step by King Charles to modernize the monarchy, making royal life more approachable and less bound by rigid traditions," Fordwich explained.
Fordwich noted that the fashion rule was originally put in place when the court was built in 1919 during King George V's reign. According to the Royal Collection Trust, it's recognized as "London's most exclusive tennis court." The Sunday Times noted that it's located in "a shady area of the palace's 40-acre garden."
"It has always been a hallmark of royal sporting etiquette," Fordwich shared. "Players, including royals, staff and guests, may not wear colored clothing... It's so sad to see yet another tradition abandoned."
It's noted that for Charles's ancestors, sweat was considered unsightly, and colorful clothing showed it off more than white ensembles.
Felton Spence noted that we can expect the king to continue bending the rules.
"Protocol are simply unofficial rules adopted through tradition. They started somewhere," she said.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta also told Fox News Digital that Charles's latest move may have been a quiet one, but its message was loud and clear.
"It might seem like a minor change, but in royal circles, even a small dress code modification says a lot," Matta explained. "By easing up on the all-white rule for tennis at Buckingham Palace, King Charles is continuing his quiet push to modernize the monarchy. This modernization will not be through big pronouncements, but with subtle shifts."
"The all-white rule dates back to Victorian ideas about formality and appearance, and changing it shows that Charles is willing to let go of traditions that feel outdated," she shared. "It's also a practical move. This isn't Wimbledon, after all, and the court is used by family, guests, and even palace staff, so relaxing the rules makes sense. I'm expecting (and excited for) more of these small tweaks throughout Charles' reign!"
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that Charles isn't the only one looking to dust off the monarchy's rigid rules. Kate Middleton made her fashion first by wearing Christian Dior on July 8 for the start of the French state visit. According to the outlet, the 43-year-old's style choice was aimed at showing sartorial diplomacy. Her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, was known to be a muse for the French fashion brand.
"There have been many arguments recently allegedly about fashion styles," said Turner. "It is known that as soon as she is seen in a new outfit, it is sold out in minutes. Such is the demand to emulate her."
Royal photographer Chris Jackson, author of "Charles III: A King and His Queen," previously told Fox News Digital that Charles's personal style has always shared important messages about his prized causes.
"He's got this beautiful Aston Martin that runs on biofuel, which is surplus wine and cheese whey, which is pretty incredible," Jackson said. "He's obviously very passionate about the environment, [and] he's got this beautiful car, a DB6 Volante Aston Martin, that's environmentally friendly."
The king, who has been a longtime advocate of sustainable living, bought the car in 1970. He converted it to run on biofuels, which use ethanol created from cheese-making whey and wine. He loaned his beloved vehicle to his son Prince William, who used it to drive Kate from their nuptials in 2011.
WATCH: KING CHARLES' ASTON MARTIN, WHICH RUNS ON 'WINE AND CHEESE,' PAYS HOMAGE TO JAMES BOND: ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER
The king's cousin, Lord Snowdon, once joked, "How does [the former] Prince Charles drive his Aston Martin? Caerphilly."
Daily Mail reporter Robert Hardman, author of "The Making of a King," also previously told Fox News Digital that Charles is known for sharing "coded messages" by using his ties.
"His favorite has a little T-Rex motif on it," said Hardman. "I thought, 'That's a bit odd. I keep seeing this tie with a dinosaur on it… Of course, his cipher says, C. Rex, Charles Rex. So, I think he's having a little joke about being king with his tie. But he's in a good place. He's a happy monarch."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the US after migrant deal with UK collapsed
Rwanda on Tuesday became the third African nation to agree to accept deportees from the United States under the Trump administration's plans to send migrants to countries they have no ties with to get them off American soil. Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press in a statement that the East African country would accept up to 250 deportees from the US, with 'the ability to approve each individual proposed for resettlement' under the agreement. Ms Makolo did not provide a timeline for any deportees to arrive in Rwanda or say if they would arrive at once or in several batches. She said details were still being worked out. The US sent 13 men it described as dangerous criminals who were in the US illegally to South Sudan and Eswatini in Africa last month and has said it is seeking more agreements with African nations. It said those deportees' home countries refused to take them back. The US has also deported hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama under President Donald Trump's plans to expel people who he says entered the US illegally and are 'the worst of the worst'. Rwanda attracted international attention and some outrage when it struck a deal in 2022 with the UK to accept migrants who had arrived in the UK to seek asylum. Under that proposed deal, their claims would have been processed in Rwanda and, if successful, they would have stayed there. The contentious agreement was criticised by rights groups and others as being unethical and unworkable and was ultimately scrapped when Britain's new Labour government took over. Britain's Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the deal was unlawful because Rwanda was not a safe third country for migrants. The Trump administration has come under scrutiny for the African countries it has entered into secretive deals with to take deportees. It sent eight men from South Sudan, Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar and Vietnam to South Sudan in early July after a US Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for their deportations. They were held for weeks in a converted shipping container at an American military base in Djibouti as the legal battle over their deportations played out. South Sudan, which is tipping towards civil war, has declined to say where the men are being held or what their fate is. The US also deported five men who are citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini, where the government said they will be held in solitary confinement in prison for an undetermined period of time. A human rights lawyer in Eswatini said the men are being denied access to legal representation there and has taken authorities to court. Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy. The king rules over government and political parties are effectively banned. Both South Sudan and Eswatini have declined to give details of their agreements with the US. Rwanda, a country of some 15 million people, has long stood out on the continent for its recovery from a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people in 1994. It has promoted itself under long-time President Paul Kagame as an example of stability and development, but human rights groups allege there are also deadly crackdowns on any perceived dissent against Mr Kagame, who has been president for 25 years. Government spokesperson Ms Makolo said the agreement with the US was Rwanda doing its part to help with international migration issues because 'our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation'. 'Those approved (for resettlement in Rwanda) will be provided with workforce training, healthcare and accommodation support to jumpstart their lives in Rwanda, giving them the opportunity to contribute to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade,' she said. There were no details about whether Rwanda had received anything in return for taking the deportees. Gonzaga Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst, said 'appeasing President Trump pays'. 'This agreement enhances Rwanda's strategic interest of having good relationships with the Trump administration,' he said.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Greggs and KFC team up to launch sausage roll drenched in gravy
Greggs and KFC have teamed up to create the 'culinary crossover of the century' in the form of a sausage roll drenched in gravy. The high street food giants have worked together for the first time to offer the Greggs sausage roll with KFC gravy, claiming it is the 'mash-up the nation's been craving' and 'seriously flavoursome'. The brands said the alliance followed Britons consuming 15,000 litres of KFC gravy and more than one million Greggs sausage rolls every day over the past year. They are taking the new combination on a three-day tour from Thursday, handing it out for free in London on August 7, followed by Manchester on August 8 and Newcastle on August 9. A sharing bucket including six Greggs sausage rolls and a large tub of KFC gravy will be available for £10 on Friday August 15 and Saturday August 16 through Uber Eats in London, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. KFC brand manager Phoebe Syms said: 'At KFC, we bleed gravy. We go to obsessive lengths for our liquid gold, and so do our fans. 'In fact, it was them who inspired this once-in-a-lifetime event, calling for us to partner with Greggs and unite our iconic gravy with their iconic sausage rolls. 'Now we're joining forces for just a few days to give the people a taste of what they really want … it's time for gravy to meet pastry. You're welcome.' Fiona Mills, brand communications lead at Greggs, said: 'With 96 layers of light puff pastry, and perfectly baked to give that satisfying golden crisp and flaky goodness, we've always known our sausage rolls are a true British icon. And why not pair one icon with another? 'We can't wait to see what Greggs and KFC fans make of our latest partnership. We're sure fans of both brands will enjoy devouring their Greggs x KFC sharing bucket.' The tour will stop at London's Southbank Centre on Thursday, followed by Manchester's Cathedral Gardens on Friday and then Newcastle's Times Square, all between 12pm and 5pm, with supplies available on a first come, first served basis. Last week, Greggs revealed a slump in profits as it was knocked by hot weather and caution among shoppers over their finances. The Newcastle-based business revealed that pre-tax profits fell by 14.3% to £63.5 million for the half-year to June 28, compared with a year earlier. It said the first half of 2025 was impacted by 'challenging market footfall, more weather disruption than in 2024' and increased costs.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MPs call on Government to recognise live comedy as distinct art form
MPs have called on the Government to recognise live comedy as its own distinct art form to ensure the sector can access funding. It comes after the Culture Media and Sport (CMS) Committee held an evidence session on live comedy in April which found that, due to differences in infrastructure, workforce and audiences, the sector experienced significant restrictions when accessing funding bodies, including Arts Council England (ACE). In a letter to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), MPs called for the sector to be recognised as its own art form in order to be able to access more funding and investment opportunities. This comes days after the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world which has largely been cited as the event that helped acts make their break in the industry. The chairwoman of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: 'The gathering of performers and audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe showcases the tremendous impact live comedy can have on people's lives and the wider economy. 'But despite proving its cultural and economic importance across the country, a reluctance to see live comedy as a distinct cultural craft has hampered its access to the funding open to other performing arts. 'It's time the Government took the first step to helping the live comedy sector continue to deliver the huge benefits it provides by recognising it as a specific art form and properly engaging with the sector. 'There also needs to be more support for its workforce and a real focus on making sure that participation in and enjoyment of live comedy is something that is open to all.' In a letter addressed to culture minister Sir Chris Bryant, the CMS committee also laid out additional recommendations to protect the workforce including a voluntary scheme, similar to the grassroots music levy, for the biggest comedy venues, producers and promoters to commit to. It also called on the Government to work with funding bodies to establish an 'independent, accurate assessment of the size and distribution of the live comedy sector'.
