The King ends his late mother’s frugal rule and faces a surprising problem at the Royal Mews.
King Charles has reportedly run into an unexpected issue after overturning one of Queen Elizabeth’s cost-cutting traditions. The challenge centres on the ceremonial uniforms—known as royal livery—worn by staff at the Royal Mews, the department that manages transport for the Royal Family.
The Royal Mews, based at Buckingham Palace, has been in operation for over 200 years. It oversees everything from the Royal Family’s horse-drawn carriages to their modern vehicles. It’s also home to the famous Gold State Coach and the distinctive scarlet and gold uniforms used during major royal events.
According to the Daily Mail, Queen Elizabeth was famously thrifty and declined to commission new sets of these ceremonial outfits. Instead, staff members had to find ones that fit from the existing collection, some dating back to the Victorian era.
Columnist Ephraim Hardcastle noted, “The late Queen, ever frugal, refused to buy new scarlet and gold livery worn on state occasions. Staff, mainly from the Royal Mews, had to fit into existing outfits, most of which go back to Queen Victoria’s day.”
Now, King Charles has reversed that approach. New uniforms have been ordered for the Royal Mews staff, but the modern commission has come with a catch—larger sizes. As Hardcastle wryly observed, “Victorian flunkies were smaller and less portly back in the day.”
