Prince Harry and Meghan Markle [1] have gone full steam ahead with their wedding plans [2]. They've picked a wedding cake maker [3] and they've sent out their wedding invitations [4]. Our invitation must be lost in the post, but if you're on the list, or you're one of the 2,640 people [5] Kensington Palace is inviting into the grounds to watch the wedding, you might be a little bit confused about the strict dress code [6]. Harry and Meghan's invite states clearly "Dress: uniform, morning coat or lounge suit / day dress with hat." But what exactly do all of these options mean? Let us break it down for you.
Uniform
There are going to be a lot of people polishing their medals the night before the wedding. Uniform is on the dress code, so if you're highly decorated in the military, like Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, you're good to go.
Morning Coat
Most formal British weddings will request morning coats for gents, which have tails, and always look incredibly dapper (Harry and William wore them to Pippa Middleton's wedding). The addition of top hat is optional (turning the look into "morning dress") but when else are you going to get the chance to wear one?
Lounge Suit
This is where dress codes get tricky for men. Basically, it just means "wear a nice suit." Dark-colored, too. If you'd wear it to a smart business meeting, you're good to go. If you'd wear it in the countryside, think again. Don't be under the impression that lounge means casual, it does not. Follow Harry's lead here.
Day Dress With Hat
Pay attention to the "with hat" part, ladies. Much like Royal Ascot, you're not getting in with a cute little fascinator. A flower hairband isn't going to cut it. Hat means hat, so go big or go home!
Closed Toe Shoes
It's not expressly stated on the invitation, but you're going to be doing the YMCA dance with Queen Elizabeth and that means, no matter how energetic things get on the dance floor, your outfit should take this into account. You'll notice that both Kate and Meghan favor closed-toe pumps [7] when they're on royal engagements, and that's because the queen would never approve of bare toes! Sheer hosiery is also the norm (though Meghan herself has broken this rule! [8]).
And Keep It Modest
You might love that little mini dress, but it's not suitable for a royal wedding. It is not the occasion to get those pins or your cleavage out. Those who do will end up in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons. Look to Kate for an idea of what's expected of a royal wedding guest: pretty, proper, and on or below the knee is best!