I remember when Charles and Diana got married. Not because I watched the ceremony – or cared about it for that matter, despite my Canadian roots and my memories of singing “God Save the Queen” in elementary school.
I remember it because I traveled through Europe that summer and the news was everywhere. It was a big deal at the time. Everyone heralded a new era for royalty – a more relaxed, casual atmosphere in the palace and among the families. It was deemed a breath of fresh air, a chance to adjust to the times.
Yet I’ve recently noticed something interesting. While the English royals may have broadened their outlook in terms of whom they welcome into their family, in other ways they have returned to a time of yore. And while Megan Markle may be in the news at the moment, I think it’s Kate’s clothing that everyone is watching and admiring. There’s even a website – www.whatKatewore.com. I don’t think it’s just because she’s pretty. I don’t think it’s just because she’s thin. I think it’s because she carries herself with dignity. She dresses in a conservative, elegant fashion and we are drawn to it.
And I have a (totally unproved and unresearched) theory. We find it attractive. We find it refreshing. We welcome it. We want to dress like her because she exudes femininity. We want to dress like her because she looks like royalty – not like Cinderella at the ball but like someone who knows who she is and where she belongs and has a strong inner sense; like someone who has dignity.
The Torah teaches us that all the Jewish people are royal. We are all the children of the King. We should all hold our heads high. We should all carry ourselves with dignity. It should infuse how we walk, how we talk, how we eat and, yes, how we dress.
I don’t know how modern-day princesses speak but when I think about talking like a princess, I don’t imagine vulgarities and expletives leaving my mouth. I haven’t had dinner with any princes or princesses but I imagine they don’t shovel food into their mouths, they don’t talk with food in their mouths and they don’t eat until they are “beyond full” (as I seem to say every night at the dinner table). I do notice that she walks erectly and again, that she dresses in a way that says “I am a princess.”
Shouldn’t we who are the daughters of the King of Kings try to do the same? I don’t follow Kate on Instagram (or anyone else for that matter) or go to the website I referenced. But I confess that when she pops up on my news feed, I check it out. And I notice her outfit, not infrequently thinking I would wear that (with a shell underneath!). Because she knows she’s regal and she projects it.
And so should we.
(4) Anonymous, May 7, 2019 11:30 AM
good message, bad examples
great message about modesty, dignity and self-esteem. however the people who are brought as examples are not to be a role models in any way. kindly research the character, including but not limited to the attitude towards Israel as the right to exist and especially as a Jewish state, before admiring their styles
Rachel, June 24, 2019 3:11 PM
The Duchess has Jewish ancestry
Her maternal grandmother was Jewish and I have not heard of her making any anti-Israel remarks. Expressing compassion for the plight of Palestinians is not anti-Israel.
Anonymous, November 22, 2019 5:53 PM
Jewish?
Doesn't that make her Jewish? Why is that not more public knowledge?
(3) Anonymous, May 6, 2019 4:48 AM
Great article. We need to highlight people in the media who exudes dignity and modesty for our young girls to feel comfortable and not different for dressing with thes qualities in mind. Thank you for sharing.
(2) Anonymous, May 6, 2019 1:20 AM
I think the outfits shown in the article describe exactly what you saying, feminine and elegant. I would like to add that Megan, has also shown herself walking with dignity and elegance, and has handle so much bad/pressure in the media with the same dignity. I think both women are doing their best to do job that comes with their respective choices of marriages.
(1) Anonymous, May 5, 2019 7:06 PM
Royal Dress
When Princess Kate married, there was a time when her skirt picked up because of the wind. Queen Elizabeth told her to put weights in her skirt since, "royal flesh need not be flashed."
How much more so us, the Jewish children of the King, should care about the way we dress.