Windsor uniform
Encyclopedia
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
worn by male members of the House of Windsor
House of Windsor
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
. The uniform was introduced by George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in 1779.
The first Court Uniform was the Windsor Coat or Uniform, dating from c.1778. This is now an evening tail coat of dark blue cloth, lapelled, with scarlet collar and cuffs. There are three buttons on each front two at the back of the waist, and two at the end of each tail, and also two on each cuff and one above. The gilt buttons bear a design of a Garter star
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
within a Garter, surmounted by the imperial crown. It is worn with a white single-breasted waistcoat with three small gilt buttons of the same pattern, and with plain black evening-dress trousers. When the court is in mourning a black waistcoat and black armband are worn.
The full-dress, which had a good deal of gold braid about it, did not survive beyond 1914 and it is the undress form which is worn today. Since the reign of King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
it has been worn only as evening dress. The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
have dinner-jacket versions which they wear at Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
and elsewhere, and after 1977 the Prince of Wales wore the Windsor Coat while hunting.
The undress version of the Windsor uniform is a dark blue jacket
Jacket
A jacket is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear...
with red at the collar and cuffs.
It is a reversal of the well known livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
colours for The House of Windsor, red jacket with dark blue at the collar and cuffs.
In 1820 King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
introduced a Court Uniform based on the Windsor Uniform, modified by the dress of the French Marshals. It had a blue tail coat (or "coatee"), lined with black silk, faced and laced scarlet, gilt buttons, waistcoat , breeches or trousers. Soon only the Royal Household wore scarlet cloth facings, and all others had black velvet facings , collar and cuffs. Later the facings, collar and cuffs became blue velvet.
From 1898 a Household Evening Dress Coat was described. This comprised dark blue cloth evening dress coat (tails), black velvet collar and lapels, three flat gilt buttons engraved with the royal cypher and crown, on each side, two at back, two at bottom of tails, three on cuffs. In 1908 this was worn with a double-breasted white marcella waistcoat (changed to single-breasted 1912), with same buttons but smaller in size, without long pointed fronts, plain black evening dress trousers or black evening dress or stockinet breeches. With breeches court shoes with bows and black silk stockings, and with trousers boots or plain court shoes with bows. White necktie, winged collar, gloves 1908 only, completed the suit. No crepe band when in mourning. Members of the Households of the Queen and the royal dukes have special buttons.
The appearance is very similar to that of the Windsor Uniform. The latter only differs in having lapels, scarlet cuffs and collar, and a crape band when in mourning. Gentlemen of the Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
's Office and the Master of the Household
Master of the Household
The Master of the Household is the operational head of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
's Department wear similar suits.
Household Uniform (1937 pattern)
Full dress was worn at Courts, Evening State Parties, Drawing Rooms, State Balls, State Concerts, etc. Full dress coat was worn with trousers at special occasions. Levée dress was worn at levéesLevée (ceremony)
Lever , adopted in English as levée—initially the simple act of getting up in the morning—has traditionally been a daily moment of intimacy and accessibility to a monarch or leader...
, and other ceremonies where full dress was not worn. Neither were worn after retirement, without special permission. Officers in possession of superior military, naval or air force uniform may wear this as an alternative.
Full Dress
- Coatee- (Privy CounsellorPrivy Council of the United KingdomHer Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes) dark blue cloth, single-breasted, stand collar. The collar and gauntlet are of scarlet cloth, and the pocket flaps of blue cloth. Nine buttons up the front, showing between the two embroidered edges (which are made to hook), two at the waist behind, and two at the bottom of the back skirts. White silk linings. A white collar may be worn inside the collar of the coat.- Gold oakleaf embroidery on the fronts as follows- Privy Counsellors not more than 5" wide at the base of each front; 1st class, not more than 4½"; 2nd class, not more than 4"; and 3rd class, not more than 3", but to spread across the chest according to figure.
- The collar, pocket flaps, back, skirts, back skirts, and side edges are also embroidered.
- The embroidery on the cuffs should not exceed the following widths- Privy Counsellors 5"; 1st class, 4½"; 2nd class, 4"; 3rd class, 3". Privy Counsellors have purl edging, 1st class wavy edging worked with rough purls, 2nd and 3rd class saw edging.
Full dress coatee is optional. Levée coat may be substituted for it, at the choice of the wearer.
- Buttons- gilt, mounted, the Royal Arms with supporters.
- Coatee for 4th, 5th classes as levée.
- Breeches- white kerseymereKerseymereKerseymere is a fine woolen cloth with a fancy twill weave. In printing fine work during the mid-19th century, the blankets that lay between the tympans were either fine kerseymere or superfine woolen cloth...
, with three covered buttons at the knee. - Hose- white silk.
- Shoes- black patent leather.
- Hat- Privy Counsellors- Black beaver cocked hat, black silk cockade , treble gold bullion loop and tassels, with hangers (these by 1912 no longer hang, and now take the form of ornaments fixed on the top of the tassels, which do not hang). White ostrich feather border. 1st class- as above, but without hangers to the tassels. 2nd class- as above, with double gold bullion loop, gold tassels without hangers. 3rd, 4th and 5th classes- as above, with plaited gold bullion loop, and black ostrich feather border. No tassels.
- Sword- of regulation pattern with black scabbard and gilt mountings.
- Sword knot- gold lace strap with bullion tassel.
- Sword belt- white web, with white cloth frogFrog (fastening)A frog is an ornamental braiding for fastening the front of a garment that consists of a button and a loop through which it passes....
. Blue cloth frog in levée dress. - Buckles (knee and shoe)- gilt, rose, shamrock, thistle pattern (by 1912).
- Gloves are not worn.
Levée Dress
- Coatee- dark blue cloth, single-breasted, stand collar. The collar and gauntlet are of scarlet cloth, and the pocket flaps of blue cloth. Nine buttons up the front (which button), two at the waist behind, and two at the bottom of the back skirts. Black silk linings. A white collar may be worn inside the collar of the coat.
- Privy Counsellors, 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class, gold oakleaf embroidery on the collar, cuffs, pocket flaps, and between the buttons at the waist behind, the same as the full dress coat.
- The 4th and 5th classes have embroidery on the collar, cuffs, back and pocket flaps. The embroidery for both classes is the same on cuffs and pocket flaps, 1" wide, within a saw edge. The back embroidery is also identical in both classes. The collar of the 4th class have saw edge and front embroidery 3" long, and that of the 5th class a saw edge only.
- Buttons- gilt, mounted, the Royal Arms (without supporters) surmounted by the imperial crown.
- Trousers- dark blue cloth, with stripes of gold oakleaf lace on the side seams. The width of lace as follows:- Privy Counsellor, 1st class, 2nd class 2½" wide. The 3rd class 2" wide. The 4th and 5th classes 1¾" wide.
- Boots- plain military, patent leather.
- Hat, Sword, Sword knot as full dress.
- Sword belt- white web, with blue cloth frog.
- Gloves are not worn.
- Great coat or cloak- dark blue cloth of any substance.
Viceroys
Viceroys and some colonial postings continued to use the uniform into the 20th century. The practice has gradually phased out and most office holders have opted to wear business suits instead. However, this uniform is still used by some Canadian viceroys and others could choose to wear it again at any point.- In CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
:- Roland MichenerRoland MichenerDaniel Roland Michener , commonly known as Roland Michener, was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 20th since Canadian Confederation....
was the last Governor GeneralGovernor General of CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
(1967-1974) to wear the Windsor uniform. - George Francis Gillman Stanley was the last Lieutenant Governor of New BrunswickLieutenant Governor of New BrunswickThe Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick or Lieutenante-gouverneure du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the viceregal representative in New Brunswick of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada...
(1982-1987) to wear the Windsor uniform. - Grant MacEwanGrant MacEwanJohn Walter Grant MacEwan, best known as Grant MacEwan was a farmer, Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Dean of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba, the 28th Mayor of Calgary and both a Member of the Legislative Assembly and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada...
was the last Lieutenant Governor of AlbertaLieutenant Governor of AlbertaThe Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the viceregal representative in Alberta of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the nine other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
(1966–1974) to wear the Windsor uniform. - William Ross MacdonaldWilliam Ross MacdonaldWilliam Ross Macdonald, PC, OC, CD, QC , served as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1968 to 1974, and as Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1953.- Early life :...
was the last Lieutenant Governor of OntarioLieutenant Governor of OntarioThe Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
(1968-1974) to wear the Windsor uniform. - Frank Bastedo was the last Lieutenant Governor of SaskatchewanLieutenant Governor of SaskatchewanThe Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
(1958-1963) to wear the Windsor uniform. - Onésime GagnonOnésime GagnonOnésime Gagnon, PC was a Canadian politician and the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Québec.-Background:He was born in Saint-Léon-de-Standon, Quebec on October 23, 1888 and was the son of Onésime Gagnon and Julie Morin. He was a Rhodes scholar and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1912...
was the last Lieutenant Governor of QuebecLieutenant Governor of QuebecThe Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
(1958-1961) to wear the Windsor uniform. - James Duncan McGregorJames Duncan McGregorJames Duncan McGregor was a Canadian agricultural pioneer and office holder. He served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba between 1929 and 1934....
was the last Lieutenant Governor of ManitobaLieutenant Governor of ManitobaThe Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
(1929-1934) to wear the Windsor uniform. - Frank Richard HeartzFrank Richard HeartzFrank Richard Heartz was a Canadian politician who served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island.He was born in 1871 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the son of Benjamin Heartz and Henrietta Davison...
was the last Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward IslandLieutenant Governor of Prince Edward IslandThe Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island is the viceregal representative in Prince Edward Island of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her...
(1924-1930) to wear the Windsor uniform. - Steven PointSteven PointSteven Lewis Point, is the 28th and current Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.From 1975 to 1999, Steven Point served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation...
, the Lieutenant Governor of British ColumbiaLieutenant Governor of British ColumbiaThe Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
continues to wears the Windsor uniform at state occasions. - Mayann Francis, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova ScotiaLieutenant Governor of Nova ScotiaThe Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
wears the Windsor uniform at state occasions.
- Roland Michener
- In the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- David Wilson, Baron Wilson of TillyornDavid Wilson, Baron Wilson of TillyornDavid Clive Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, is a retired British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. Lord Wilson of Tillyorn was the penultimate Commander-in-Chief and 27th Governor of Hong Kong...
was the last Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong KongThe Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
(1987-1992) to wear the uniform
- David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
Prime Ministers
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
:
- Sir John Sparrow Thompson - at Buckingham Palace
- Sir John Alexander Macdonald - official portrait
- William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
- at Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in Ottawa
External links
- http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4041.asp gov.uk page describing Windsor uniform
- http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/books/titman37.htm Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical SocietyCambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical SocietyThe Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society was formed as the result of the merger in 1957 of a previous Heraldic Society with the Cambridge University Society of Genealogists .-Foundation of the society:...
- http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/office/uniform.htm Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia
- First Nations drums welcome B.C.'s new lieutenant-governor, Lt Governor of British Columbia wearing said uniform on 1 October 2007