Sophie Wessex appears to be smashing through established royal protocols regarding fashion and beauty and this time around it's her manicure, which would have left the Queen a little miffed.
- Sophie Wessex' red nail polish is totally against royal protocol as the Queen had very specific rules regarding what color ladies chose.
- The hardworking royal stepped out with the vampish shade in yet another break from tradition.
- In other royal news, Queen's secret battle with illness in final months revealed in new book.
If Sophie Wessex leather dress wasn't indication enough that she's fond of a little vampish glam, then her scarlet talons are flying the flag for the iconic, sexy color palate. Sophie Wessex red nail polish may not seem like a big deal but according to the strict rules that female royals are expected to adhere to - the shade of choice is a big faux pas.
The Countess debuted her gorgeous shade of pinkish-red polish during her day out, which was for a very important cause. The hardworking royal has a history of taking special interest in charitable interest and her recent engagement was a visit to a charity called Step By Step, which is based in Aldershot. The charity is a young persons charity, which supports young people who are going through hard times, including homelessness. They provide accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services to empower young people and prevent homelessness.
We were honoured to receive a visit from HRH The Countess of Wessex. She took a tour of our Aldershot Foyer, speaking to members of staff about our plans to launch a new fostering agency. It was fantastic for the young people to meet her. #HRHCountessofWessex #Homelessness pic.twitter.com/Pxq3qU3DJNNovember 29, 2021
The color of choice isn't the shade preferred by the late Queen, who favored a more minimal approach, focussing on clean-looking, plain, healthy nails with a more natural finish. Essie's Ballet Slippers is said to have been the late monarch's favorite shade and if you look at the fingernails of other female Royal Family members, it appears that they've taken her nail care tips to heart.
So much so that choosing a more understated color palette at the nail salon has become somewhat of a tradition for the female members of The Firm. Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Lady Louise Windsor, and the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton shy away from bright or dark nail colors.
The list of royal protocols regarding matters of style and beauty among the Royal Family's women appears to be slightly endless, and it must be difficult to adhere to them at the best of times. From the appropriate length for your hemline, to if and when you can remove a jacket, and the shade of lipstick permitted - there's an awful lot to be considered.
Perhaps Sophie Wessex' red nail polish is a sign that these protocols and permissions are on the way out and we're totally here for it!
-
Who says knee highs aren't for spring? Sienna Miller's trending tan boots rework everything you thought you knew about this season's footwearSienna Miller has shown that you can still get plenty of wear out of knee high boots this season styled in a different way.
-
Confirmed: Sofia Vergara relies on this 'amazing' shampoo brand to keep her strands in tip-top conditionWave goodbye to damage and quickly fading colour, this lineup of shampoos is A-list approved
-
Forget-me-not blue is the pastel Duchess Sophie always comes back to - it might've overtaken pistachio as our favourite this seasonThe royals love wearing a range of colours for engagements and visits, but there are a few hues that each of them gravitate towards the most.
-
Don't let white jeans daunt you - Duchess Sophie's recent outfit shows they're just as versatile as blue denimBlue jeans are a wardrobe must-have for so many of us but white denim has a reputation for being a lot more challenging to style.
-
Duchess Sophie’s added a dainty Missoma bracelet to her jewellery box and we're buying the exact sameDuchess Sophie wore one bracelet on repeat during her visit to Nepal and this stunning Missoma design is in our basket.
-
Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie prove that buying items you love in multiple colours can really pay offThey've shown that having your favourite pieces in several shades can be so handy if they're true to your signature style
-
Duchess Sophie means business in powder blue power suit and reminds us tailoring can be fun as well as sophisticatedIf you always thought tailoring was a little too corporate you might re-consider after seeing Duchess Sophie's fabulous pastel co-ord
-
Snake print wedges with lemon-drop-yellow? Duchess Sophie just showed us how it's doneThe Duchess of Edinburgh has brought back one of her favourite dresses for the first time in 2025 and styled it with snake print shoes
-
Duchess Sophie's soothing sage walls and cream cabinets in Bagshot Park kitchen create a sense of calm cosinessThe Duchess of Edinburgh's royal kitchen is a calming space with soft green and cream tones and she once shared a glimpse of it
-
Duchess Sophie brings royal style to New York with chocolate brown blazer and pink satin shirtThe Duchess of Edinburgh was the epitome of smart sophistication in New York in her tailored blazer and contrasting shirt
