Former royal butler on dress code

Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, said the British royal family’s private dress code is more relaxed than its public-facing wardrobe but still follows clear standards. Harrold’s comments resurfaced this week after InStyle shared them on X on May 21, 2026, reviving interest in how royals dress when they are off duty. (theroyalbutler.co.uk) His account describes a household that favors polished daywear at home rather than either ceremonial clothing or casual loungewear. ### Who is the former butler making the claim? Grant Harrold says on his website that he served as a butler to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in the Cotswolds. He says his duties also included service for the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, and that he occasionally served Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. (instyle.com) Highgrove House is central to Harrold’s authority on the subject because it was the country residence where he says he worked inside the royal household. In recent years, Harrold has built a public profile as an etiquette commentator and royal media guest, with more than 53,000 followers on X, according to his website. ### What did he say the family wears at home? Harrold said royals at private family gatherings would wear “nice daywear,” giving the example that “the King would wear nice chinos and a shirt.” He described the atmosphere as family-oriented and relaxed, but not informal in the way many people might imagine. (theroyalbutler.co.uk) AOL’s March 18, 2026 report, citing Harrold’s earlier remarks, said members of the royal family tend to dress more casually in private, while still keeping to a standard that is more formal than ordinary home clothes. (theroyalbutler.co.uk) That account said the private code does not disappear entirely when official duties end. ### What counts as too casual? Harrold said a palace barbecue would still call for “a pair of nice chinos and silk shirt, or formal shirt—not a T-shirt.” He added that men might wear a jacket if the event leaned formal, or an open-neck shirt if it did not. (theroyalbutler.co.uk) For women, Harrold said a cocktail dress could be appropriate in good weather, while beachwear would be suitable for a beach setting. (yahoo.com) His broader rule was that clothing should match the occasion and the host’s expectations. ### Was this described as a fixed royal rule? Harrold framed the guidance less as a written palace rule than as a host-led standard. He said “it’s always up to the host to decide on the dress code” and advised guests to check in advance. (aol.com) That point aligns with his other repeated line that “it’s always better to overdress than underdress.” The comments, as presented in the March 2026 and August 2025 coverage, describe etiquette expectations for private gatherings rather than a formally published royal protocol. (yahoo.com) ### Why did the comments resurface now? InStyle’s earlier article on Harrold’s advice was recirculated on X on May 21, 2026, according to the social post referenced in the briefing. (yahoo.com) The renewed attention appears to have come from that repost rather than from a new palace statement or a newly issued royal dress-code document. As of May 22, 2026, the guidance in circulation remains Harrold’s account of how royal family members and their guests dress at private gatherings. The most direct source for any updated version would be Harrold’s own social channels or comments in new media interviews. (theroyalbutler.co.uk) (instyle.com) (aol.com)