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Prudence Wade (Press Association) & Simon Meechan

The strict dress code for the Queen's funeral - and what the Royal Family wore

A funeral fit for a Queen requires a strict dress code which mourners had to stick to, according to etiquette experts Debrett's.

Debrett's, a publisher of guides on what to wear for aristocratic occasions since the mid-1900s, says there is always a rigid dress code for state funerals.

Attendees at state funerals must wear black. Women can "wear black knee-length dresses, or coats, black hats, and may also wear face-covering veils" while men can choose between either military attire or “black morning coats with medals”.

Read more: Who gets a state funeral?

The Princess of Wales, Kate, opted for a black coat dress and hat with a simple veil over her face – along with the late Queen’s Japanese pearl choker necklace, the same one she wore to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, which was not a state funeral. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wore a similarly-shaped hat to Kate, along with a black dress with caped detailing.

Kate, Princess of Wales arrives ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, (PA)

The King and other royals including Princess Anne, Prince William and Prince Edward all wore military uniforms. Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, who are no longer working royals, wore suits to the ceremony.

Queen Consort Camila wore Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch – diamonds in the shape of an open heart, with two sapphire pendants.

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