Here are some photos of Prince Charles in Gloucester on Monday, visiting the Emma Willis workshop. Charles is quite the dandy – he’s always loved a well-cut, double-breasted suit and an impeccable tuxedo. He loves a sharp pocket square and he (of course) prefers a Windsor knot on his silk ties. Personally, I find Charles to be the best-dressed royal man out there, if not one of the best-dressed men in the world. We can argue about who did what to whom and whether Charles is terrible (I don’t think he is, but he’s done terrible things), but one thing I’ve always enjoyed about him is how much he loves clothes. His visit to the Emma Willis workshop was a real royal engagement – he was highlighting how the designer hires refugees in the workshop, and Willis also sponsors young people to go to university who later want to learn the seamstress trade. Willis has apparently been Charles’ long-time shirt-maker, and he joked about his neverending battle to stay trim enough to fit into his shirts:
Prince Charles says staying fit is a “never-ending battle.” Queen Elizabeth‘s eldest son paid a solo visit to Gloucester workshop of Emma Willis, who has been making shirts for him for many years. When he was gifted a new garment, he joked that staying the same size wasn’t easy.
“Very kind of you — you’ve got my measurements. I struggle to keep them the same, a never-ending battle,” he quipped. In addition to a tour of the factory floor and the cutting room, the 71-year-old royal met with injured service personnel sponsored by the company’s charity Style for Soldiers.
Willis recalled six years ago, when one of Charles’ dressers said the royal would like to try her designs. “So I went to Clarence House and measured His Royal Highness for the first time, and we’ve been making his shirts ever since,” she said. “And one of the things we specialize in is very fine Swiss cottons, and he loves lovely soft fabrics.”
I don’t think he was entirely joking about about the neverending battle to stay trim. He’s always eaten a mostly vegetarian and organic diet, but as age creeps up, of course most people put on a little weight and the shirts and pants start getting a little tighter. This is possibly why Charles favors double-breasted jackets… more forgiving. Anyway, I think Charles is in very good shape for a 71-year-old man.
Charles is also doing his own fashion collaboration, just like Meghan! Charles isn’t designing anything though, he’s just donating “hydrangeas, nettles, willow, ash, wood chippings and horse hair clippings from the stables” to Vin + Omi, a punk fashion brand which focuses on sustainable, environmental fashion. They use Charles’ donations to make “sustainable innovation” in fashion. Clarence House even highlighted the work on their social media:
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
That was all pretty interesting. I wonder if something Charles consumes regularly contributes to his hands looks as red and swollen as they always do? They look like Vienna sausages about to bust.
Also, I never realized how close together his eyes are on his face. Now I can’t unsee it.
I like soft fabrics, too. As well as beautifully tailored clothes. They help extraordinarily unattractive people look less so.
He might have porphyria. It’s hereditary and members of the British royal family have had it going back centuries.
I think the Royal line also suffers from priapism, going back centuries too.
I think Charles has stated he suffers from “rosacea” which is made worse by the amount of time he spends in the sun.
They are not related to royals centuries ago. I thought they were from Germany, and not related to any past Kings/Queens from that long ago.
The current royal family is not of the same bloodline as the royal family from centuries ago so I highly doubt that’s the case
@Zapp On the nose!
Actually a cousin of the queen, William of Gloucester, suffered from it.
@LadyMary. They are direct descendants to King George III. Queen Victoria ( the current queen’s great, great, grandmother) was the granddaughter of George III who was king during the time of the American revolution. G3 was the one who was believed to have porphyria.
I know nothing g about porphyria but I thought it was related to irrational behavior, mood swings and mental health, not redness and swollen fingers.
The current Queen is a descendant of William the Conquerer and for that matter Alfred the Great as well. So she is descended from the English kings going back for centuries. Sometimes the descent runs through a female, but as good feminists we should not find that to be off-putting. The German line, the Hanoverians were descended from the elder daughter of James I ( who was a Stuart). James was descended from the elder daughter of Henry VII (Tudor), Queen Margaret of Scotland who was descended from both sides of the Plantagenets of the Wars of the Roses, Lancaster and York etc.etc.
Yes, I think, rosacea. Not with the horrible effects of porphyria, but still incurable. Oddly enough, I worked with a total Anglophile of Irish heritage … and she was very spiritual and had great hopes that the marriage of Charles and Diana would have a positive effect on the world. And … she had rosacea. Such a lovely pale Irish complexion but then I did notice redness now and then. We worked at the same place, and would have started on the same day, but she took a week’s delay so she could watch the wedding live. Long, long time ago!
CHarles has not aged well.
How do you expect a 71 year old to look?
I have seen 71 year olds who look better than Charles. And have aged better.
And had plastic surgery? 😆
No, no plastic surgery.
Windsor men IMO do not get better looking with Age.
And there are many who look older, can’t walk, or who look worse, whatever that means. He smiles, walks tall, tries to maintain his body best he can, and that’s awesome.
He aged how he aged, and that’s great.
Yes, Eugene Levy is 73 and Charles looks like his dad!
@Diego I don’t know that’s a fair comparison. While Eugene is hardly hired for his looks, he still relies on playing a father-type role in Hollywood. He can’t look his age until he is ready to play the elderly grandfather.
”I like soft fabrics, too. As well as beautifully tailored clothes. They help extraordinarily unattractive people look less so“
This is masterful shade 😂
Even as a young man, Charles face was always rather reddish.
Finally, a comment I can relate to!
I don’t think he’s a terrible person. Like Kaiser, I think he’s done some terrible things over the years, but he certainly wasn’t the only one. I think we’ve all been expecting a lot more than what is realistic from a family who’s entire lives revolve around tradition, and closing the ranks. I’m also no Diana stan, so I’m not out here ripping on him in her name or whatever, knowing that neither party was playing it super fair in the divorce. Diana was cool in a lot of ways, and kind of a less than lovely person in a lot of other ways. You have to look at these people as flawed humans and not as moral superhumans.
I also think Charles is a fantastic dresser. He’s always dressed appropriately, but it never feels like he’s just going through the motions of getting dressed. He seems to genuinely take an interest in his style, so I like that.
I do think Charles is not a nice person to say the least. Who would court a teenager knowing he did not love her? Marry her for getting heirs, and keep the mistress around. I also don’t think he was particularly nice to Harry. Diana is less to blame IMO because Charles knowingly brought a young woman in and expected her to play nice to the mistress. I don’t see Charles as a fantastic dresser, his clothes often appear wrinkled.
Who would court a teen? A man required by a country, family, and centuries of history to marry a virginal aristocrat and make some heirs. Until Diana, he seemed quite happy to date his own age. (Camilla is older than him.) Charles has plenty of faults, but teen chaser never seemed his type until it has to be.
@Molly – exactly. Diana really wasn’t Charles’ choice. She was just the pick of the litter.
Charles was turned down by two women a short time before he dated Diana. Amanda Knatchbull turned down his proposal. Anna Wallace left him after he ignored her and danced the night away with mrs Parker Bowles. Then Diana was next on the “list.” Diana was Charles’ choice unfortunately for her.
Molly Charles did court a 19 year old girl. He needed a young woman with a “history but no past” fertile and an aristo background. He did in effect court a teenager and proposed to her when she was still 19. He did say that he first noticed her when she was 17 (though courting her would not have been the best idea then). Mountbatten wanted Charles to marry Amanda Knatchbull, Mountbatten’s granddaughter. SHe was not “of age” and Charles could not court her. Though since she and Charles were cousins a few times removed, she could be at social events with Mountbatten and Charles and other relatives. Mountbatten encouraged Charles sow wild oats so he would be ready to marry the woman of no experience when she came of age. This is in a letter that came into the public domain. After Amanda came of age, Charles proposed but Amanda did not want to marry him . Mountbatten was dead by then and had he lived he might have persuaded Amanda to say yes to Charles. Charles choices of people his own age were few and far between since they were either already married or had many boyfriends. Davina Sheffield was disqualified since her ex spoke to the media and said he and Davina had lived together. Charles immediately took her off the “list.” Diana was interested in Charles because he was pursuing her. And she was besotted. She had no experience.
Oh we know they’re not superhumans, the problem is though, they seem to think so.
No, capepopsie, we (or some of us) expect them to be without faults. They are human with everything they do in the public eye. How many of us would bear such close scrutiny? And remember, Charles did not have the happiest of childhoods either. He was looked down on by his father and had a very unhappy time at Gordonstoun. Despite what many think, I believe he was a lot better father to his sons than Philip was to him. Also having to shake hands with the mother you hadn’t seen for months at the age of around 5 is not the norm.
I think Charles blames others for his own flaws. I don’t have any pity for him other people have had bad childhoods but Charles still fusses and whines over it plus his school. It did not excuse him for his horrible treatment of is first wife. And his sense of entitlements that he was apparently surprised that Diana did not like having Camilla around as his “good friend.” I don’t see him as a “better” father. He protected the “heir” and threw his younger son to the wolves. I think unfortunately he put Camilla first and spent his time on promoting Camilla and even used his sons to try to get her accepted. After some photo ops with his sons after Diana died, less than a year later off he was promoting Camilla full speed ahead. The worst thing is that he cooperates with Penny Junor (and she said he and Camilla fully cooperate) on books that include trashing the boys’ mother. A good father would not ever do that to his children. IMO.
Style for soldiers sounds like a great charity. Similar ethos to Meghan’s patronage SmartWorks but for returning veterans. I do like learning about charities I might not know of through the royals’ work.
Many years ago, he was the commencement speaker at Harvard and began his speech with: “I stand before you a living anachronism, tailored into invincibility.” Charles likes clothes.
Yes esp tailored clothes and he always look dapper.
He wears Edwardian suits. He’s behind the times IMO.
Charles has wonderful style and has been voted best dressed by GQ. It is a pity that his sons do not seem to be interested in looking stylish. I don’t know who is worse William or Harry. Living in Canada now means that Harry can care even less about clothing. I wonder what will happen to all his military uniforms?
Cute
I don’t care for the Royals very much but I do have a soft spot for Charles, despite everything. His Prince’s Trust gave us Idris Elba. For that I am grateful.
The documentary “Charles at 70” completely changed my mindset on Chucky. I encourage all Royal Watchers to see it.
@BAY, yes, the documentary was so interesting to me as well. It showed how very hard-working he is, both as a Royal, as well as a landowner. I loved seeing him fix his own fence and engage with his community to work his land. Seeing William and Harry talk about his work ethic, to the detriment of his own enjoyment or relationships, was really insightful as well. He is SO bound and driven by duty; that helped me understand his behaviors and why he seems distant to his own family at times.
You fell for the propaganda.
@Lowrider, can you elaborate on what you think was propaganda in the documentary? Coming out of watching it, I had a new appreciation for how hard he works and why he works, but it still was sad to see his sons say that they missed out on a relationship and presence with their dad because he was always working. I felt a nuance there that isn’t portrayed in a single photograph or press release. I felt a bit more compassion for him, but on the same token, it was apparent how his duty stripped him of familial connections, often by his own choice. Maybe he avoided those connections and blames “duty” because it’s easier than the truth, which is that he chose his job and role over his children? Or, that he had little interest in his children and “duty” was a convenience excuse? I am interested in your take…
I agree with low rider. Whatever you see with the Christmas pudding photos and photos of Charles pushing William in a wheelchair giggling with glee; know and understand you are being played. Charles and William can’t stand each other and have always had issues. They live a lie.
He has bought land and a traditional house in the countryside , in my country (Romania) and he is very involved with the community there, encouraging tourism, making wine, honey and god knows what. While young people in Romania have fled into big cities, Charles is quite the peasant in that small village with the few other people that still live there. He seems to love it there, but he has so many commitments that he can’t really do what he loves most of the time. I ‘ve always seen these modern royals as trapped, him especially.
Or perhaps they are more open minded?
I like Charles, he is far from perfect and yeah he’s done not so nice things but he’s also done some very great things such as the Princes Trust and the work he’s been doing for years on sustainability/the environment and religious tolerance.
I feel like Charles is a good aristocrat and Prince of Wales and that he’ll be a good King. He understands his duty, noblesse oblige, he uses his position to help others, give back, and promote and make fashionable the causes he cares about like organic and sustainable farming and gardening. I think he’s smart, hardworking, and I think he cares about people and the world in an abstract, big picture kind of way.
Where I think he struggles is in his personal life, and I imagine that it’s in part because of the way he was raised. I wonder if it’s possible to raise someone who has a very strong sense of duty to an entire country, who believes that they are very special and important and have a historical role to play, to teach them to relate to people on a very aloof, surface level (they type of very polite yet reserved relating that one uses with the public and with ones staff and patronages that makes people like and respect you while also still thinking about you as someone who is definitely above and aristocratic) and yet have them also be a warm and fuzzy family man who can carry on close and intimate relationships with the people in his inner circle? Just based on the hundreds of years of BRF history, it seems like it’s difficult to do. They seem to breed people who are good at their duty but very cold and distant when it comes to their own family. Like they have a hard time switching between their public persona/role and their private/family persona and role. And when they’re also working as much as Charles does and not ever needing to get caught up in the day to day household chores and child rearing, it’s probably even harder. Even when they’re at home, they’re still “HRH Prince So and So, the boss” to all of their household staff, the nannies, the gardeners, and their secretaries and courtiers. So many of them run their royal business directly out of their homes or the queen’s home. If you’re constantly running into staff at home, it’s probably hard to relax and just be “Dad.”
I wonder if that’s also why so many of them have affairs. They get to escape their home and work and be someone else, drop the Princely facade for their mistresses. They’re sneaking around, meeting in secret locations alone where they’re not being treated as “HRH,” because they’re undercover. I wonder if it’s one of the only times they’re actually alone (Accept for the mistress) and not surrounded by people who work for them. If their homes are a place of work, and their wives are also their coworkers and chosen in part for their ability to play the part of an HRH, then maybe it’s easier for them to let go and be themselves when they’re not at home and not with their wives. Still though, seeing other people is something that should only be done with the full and un-coerced consent of both people in the marriage. Sneaking around behind your partner’s back, marrying a teenager and pretending like you’re going to be a monogamous husband when you know you have no intention of doing so, is complete gross and unacceptable. Lying about it is nasty. Neglecting your family and leaving the other partner to do all of the child rearing and housekeeping because you’re off galavanting isn’t right. Expecting your partner to be monogamous when you’re not is unfair
“I wonder if that’s also why so many of them have affairs. They get to escape their home and work and be someone else, drop the Princely facade for their mistresses. They’re sneaking around, meeting in secret locations alone where they’re not being treated as “HRH,” because they’re undercover.”
Except for calling your bf/lover “Sir” all the time (and it’s not because you’re into BSMD role playing!)
I don’t think Charles is a super hero. He did not invent concern about the environment. Earth Day began in 1970 way before Charles spoke of it.
Tessa, I’m with you. And no pr documentary will change my mind. If you have issues with how William has behaved then you must have an issue with Charles. Because I don’t believe William is doing anything without Charles’ consent. The stories about his temper tantrums when he was younger and the demands he makes when he travels and his canoodling with oligarchs is no different. It’s all just spun a different way. They have slowly been delicately and purposefully shaping his image And therefore changing how the public perceives him.
Now be fair, Charles has spoken out about the environment long before most did, and got pilloried for it.
Agree with you RoyalBlue. From everything I’ve read about him, he has lived his life in a very selfish, demanding way. His private expenses are enormous. They say he is short fused and his temper is formidable. Not only that, when you are in his presence it is always his way and his choices that have priority. One is never ever to forget who he is: Ex-girlfriends say he demanded they call him sir, walk 2 steps behind him always, and call him Arthur in bed. This guy is all about control and entitlement. He is also very whiny — even his friends have gone on record saying it is a real flaw. The PR team he brought in to get public on board with accepting Camilla is a formidable one and they have done a hell of a job revamping his image. I think he is also hard working, creative, an amazing Organic gardner, and has done much good. I just think in his personal, private life he’s a real piece of work and probably difficult to work for and live with.
Charles did not invent Earth Day. So credit should be where credit is due for that. Charles was coddled by his Grandmother to think himself “special.” He blames others and is very self pitying. Anna Wallace had the guts to stand up to him after he ignored her and spent time with Camilla. She said ” nobody treats me that way, not even you.” He tends not to like people criticizing him and some reported they get the cold shoulder from him when they do.
We get it Tessa, you don’t like him. 😆
You mean you get it –right?
I think credit should be given where it is due. It’s like Al Gore saying he invented the Internet. I don’t care for Charles. In fact I am disappointed in the whole bunch of them now.
Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States created Earth Day in April 1970. ( giving credit where it’s due). Before that year Arbor Day was recognized here in the US every April ( I remember my elementary school planting a sapling each year for that). I don’t think PC has ever claimed he is responsible for Earth Day. He most certainly was an environmentalist before it became trendy though.
Al Gore NEVER SAID he invented the Internet. He said he sponsored legislation that funded the research that led the military to invent the Internet, which is true. It irritates me when people claim he said that, because he never did. He gave a nuanced, factual accounting of his contribution to the endeavor, and he had the foresight to promote that legislation because he realized the importance of the research and the invention that came from it.
I don’t think that Charles is a bad man, he has made a much more meaningful impact on British society than his mother, and he deserves to be King. But like his mother he puts his work and duty before the needs of his children.
Charles is doing more than just the natural fiber donations – he’s sponsoring a capsule collection of his own, designed by Italian fashion students, to be manufactured by students in his program at Dumfries House.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/11/prince-charles-fashion-collection-net-a-porter
I thought I’d read somewhere that he’d asked Meghan if it was okay if he copied her idea of a capsule collection, but can’t find the reference, and I might be mistaken.
As a person who sews, I can appreciate fine fabrics and quality tailoring. But I really don’t think the length of his double breasted jacket is very flattering.
And the width makes it look very old fashioned–not a current double breasted jacket at all. I think Diamond Rottweiler’s explanation of it below is spot on.
He looks so much like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit that I apparently mix them up because my first thought when I read the headline was, “Maybe he should stop eating so much cheese.”
This made me lol 😂
Think you should have gone to specsavers! 😆
Gotta respectfully disagree with folks who say he hasn’t aged well. He was one funny looking guy growing up and into his early middle age. I remember seeing the royal wedding and thinking how this beautiful girl was marrying this homely guy. But I think getting older has softened his features somewhat, filled him in a bit, made his less angular. I actually think he’s handsome for his age group now. And yes, love his clothes, and I think it’s cute for him to acknowledge that age and diminishing metabolism has paid a toll.
I agree with you. I prefer the grayed, filled-out Charles to the the skinny, gawky Charles.
Charles is not filled out. He looks rather gaunt and his face is too red. He looked OK when in his thirties. Also his wife although just a bit older looks a lot older than Charles. None of the Windsor men have aged well. IMO.
You can only age so well when you start out so homely.
While I love the bespoke, slouchy, double breasted suit–how beautifully made it is, the hand of the fabric, the virtuosity of the jacket’s draping–I don’t think Charles has ever been tall enough to pull it off really well. And the boxiness of double breasted isn’t a great choice for someone worried about carrying weight in the middle. A more structured, elongating suit would be more flattering. BUT it does send the right signal, which is basically a kind of pre WWII sense of uber posh, aristocratic fashion that very very few mortals can afford. So while not the most flattering style for him, more importantly, it is v British and v princely. The most perfect version of this suit was worn sometimes by Cary Grant back in the day, who had both the money *and* the figure for it.
I agree–its like he’s dressing out of the 1940s. No current double-breasted men’s suit is shaped like that. Your reasoning of it being British and princely makes perfect sense.
Charles has effortless style and panache, and this makes whatever he chooses to wear look elegant.
I’ve always liked how dapper Charles is. I thought I saw a show or something that said he wears his suits for up to 25 years. He has his suits “refurbished” if they look worn in certain areas. He probably replaces his shirts more often though.
I would imagine, ties, shoes, pocket squares would last the longest if they are good quality and the pattern doesn’t go out of style. But I’m not an expert by any stretch, so correct me if I’m wrong. Always happy to learn!
He has shoes made for a lifetime and he gets them re soled. Someone once made fun of Camilla and Charles having a conversation and banging on about the astronomical cost of getting ones shoes re heeled. Charles also has a fabulous old coat, that has been well patched and darned, I also believe that he wears some clothes that belonged to his grandfather and the Duke of Windsor. If you want to talk about style, you really have to appraise the Windsors.
Why hello, Mr. Wootten!
Things I didn’t think I would ever say about Charles Mountbatten-Windsor: yeah, that’s relatable. Lol.
I sadly have rosacea, since I was 18 the redness on cheeks, nose and chin became permanent. Before that I blushed and went red easily. I’ve sort of accepted it now but it does make me look gross. My features aren’t conventionally attractive but I would look so much better without the redness…
Kat, I’m sure you do not look gross!! I have rosacea as well and had a similar experience as you. Blushed easily as a teen, and started with permanent broken capillaries early twenties, in addition to just getting generally red all over whenever I’m too warm, stressed, nervous or sometimes for no reason at all !! I had a series of laser treatments a few years ago and it was one of the best things I’ve ever spent my money on! If you can I would recommend it to anyone. But the correct skin care can also do much to help
Thank you rosa! I’ve got a decent skimcare routine down – it has to be super basic otherwise my skin freaks out. Ideally I’d also get laser treatment but not sure I’ll ever be able to afford it.