When imagining a monarch’s wardrobe, what comes to mind? With the late Queen, it was bold-coloured dresses (as she famously said, ‘I have to be seen to be believed’), elaborate hats, silk headscarves and those black Launer handbags. Our new King is no less a style icon. For him it’s well-tailored double-breasted suits from Anderson & Sheppard (probably well-worn, for His Majesty is a great advocate of make do and mend – the suit he wore to Harry and Meghan’s wedding was 34 years old), Turnbull & Asser shirts, hats from Lock & Co. and probably the odd tartan kilt.
But it is his collection of pocket squares that I would be most interested to see if ever allowed a peek into the King’s cupboard. He is the world’s most high-profile flagbearer for this quintessential piece of men’s tailoring. And he can in fact lay claim to continuing a tradition established by one of his direct predecessors – for the pocket handkerchief is widely believed to have been invented by Richard II.
How to wear it? First things first, a clarification.
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