Psst! Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales relies on these underwear tricks to stay supported and avoid malfunctions

If you’re an avid follower of the Princess of Wales and her fashion choices, you’ll know that there’s never a wardrobe malfunction in sight. So just how does she do it? Well, it's partly down to some nifty styling tips.

The Princess of Wales is well known for her immaculate style and with a steady stream of engagements, keeping up appearances is no mean feat. If you're wondering how Kate Middleton manages to remain so composed, whatever the occasion, it's worth taking note of both the royal style protocols she adheres to and these clever underwear hacks. 

We've been coveting Kate Middleton's dresses for years now, and have watched her style evolve. With a naturally elegant and feminine aesthetic, whether she’s navigating windy runways on a royal tour, or making an appearance at a charity event, the Princess of Wales uses particular underwear tricks to make sure she's dressed in a way that’s appropriate for a senior member of the Royal Family.

Never letting her style slip, such is Kate's sartorial prowess, anything the Princess of Wales is spotted in often sells out within hours. The one thing that guides all of Kate's choices however, aside from her well-honed personal style, is of course royal protocol. This code of conduct includes wearing skirts and dresses of a particular length - to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions, as well as appropriate silhouettes.

Although color is not governed by royal protocol, the Queen was well known for wearing bright colors to ensure she was noticeable, and Kate remains a fan of a punchy hue, helping her stand out in a crowd. But, clothing and accessories aside, we all know that great outfits start with the right foundations and being a royal is no different. But wearing the right underwear and employing clever tricks and shapewear to disguise any visible lines is also important in getting a polished final look, something you can replicate too. Whether you're after a hack to ensure that tights never fall down, or simply want to banish unsightly lingerie lines, getting a smooth silhouette is easier than you think.

Royal etiquette expert Myka Meier told Fabulous, "Underwear and bras are also considered private intimate wear, and for royals to put intimate apparel on display would simply not be done."

The Royal-approved underwear tricks the Princess of Wales uses

1. Strapless shapewear

Myka revealed the tricks that Kate Middleton relies on to avoid underwear lines and visible bra straps.

“There are a few options to hide bra straps, with one option being a bra that is actually sewn into the piece," she explained. "A second option is strapless shapewear, which is one piece that either snaps at the bottom or has legs attached.”

Available in a variety of different colors to work with a whole host of outfits, the best shapewear can be worn under pretty much any clothing. Fitting close to the body, shapewear helps to streamline your silhouette. Usually crafted with bonded seams, it's ideal for streamlining. 

2. Barely-there tights

There is some debate as to whether wearing tights is part of the royal dress code, however, it is quite common for members of the royal family to wear tights for public engagements and the Princess of Wales almost always dons a pair with heels ensuring her legs look subtly sunkissed without the need for fake tan (and any accompanying streaks). Some hawk-eyed fans have even spotted the exact brand of tights that she wears.

The product in question is reportedly the Barely There Tights from John Lewis & Partners. The main draw is the non-slip grip on the sole, helping to keep Kate steady on her feet regardless of shoes and shoe size, making these ideal if you find you're slipping in your shoes. If that wasn't enough, the anti-ladder technology ensures there are no awkward mishaps, as these tights shouldn't snag or ladder. 

Shoppers on the John Lewis & Partners website are big fans of the tights, too. "Sheer, Strong, Ladder resist, perfect finish to my daily wardrobe," writes one happy reviewer. "Your legs look like they are bare and smooth."

3. Static clothing

When stepping out in a dress, especially in the UK, there’s always the risk of blustery weather causing an embarrassing moment. Naturally, the Royal Family wants to avoid this at all costs.

The answer to this particular problem again lies in underwear tricks and specific clothing. While static is something we usually consider irritating, it's actually very beneficial in the Royal books.

"Often [the Royal women] wear bodysuits and clothes that actually increase static so it’s much harder for something to fly up," Myka told The Sun in 2018. 

“When I went to finishing school, we were taught that when you are on the tarmac, if you do not use weights or heavy weighted material, you make sure it will not fly up by wearing undergarments that keep the fabrics connected to your body.”

Cotton clothes create the most static, but a bodysuit made predominantly from nylon can also help to keep even the most flyaway dresses in place. You can also consider the shape of your dress, as slimmer fit dresses, such as shift or pencil styles won't have the same ability to fly up as a fit and flare midi dress. 

4. Seam-free underwear

According to Myka, if the Princess of Wales isn't clad in smoothing shapewear, she turns to seamless underwear to avoid a dreaded visible panty line (VPL) instead.

Suitably subtle, they ensure that one's lingerie stays perfectly concealed, without having to wear a full body suit. Essentially, you're looking for lingerie items made from one piece of fabric, or with bonded seams that are invisible under clothing. 

5. Weighted hemlines

It's likely that Kate Middleton adds concealed weights to her outfits' hemlines, in order to reduce the chance of a mishap on an airport runway or windy day - something that was reportedly a practice used in the Queen's wardrobe.

Royal couturier Stewart Parvin, who dressed the Queen for many years once told MailOnline, “I just popped a couple of weights into the hemline of her dresses and coats and it made them hang beautifully. If there was a flap in the coat, then I would sew in one on each side of the split to even it up."

He added, “Sometimes if she was wearing a lightweight chiffon skirt I would sew in a smaller lead weight the size of a pea, or even a length of chain.”

Getting royal style is easier than ever, and armed with these handy tips you can banish wardrobe mishaps and look and feel utterly regal.