Speaking to Express.co.uk, fashion coach Miranda Holder, who is known for her viral TikTok-style videos posted under the username @themirandaholder ‘Your Feel Good Fashion Coach’, explained why she is ‘expecting’ Kate Middleton and other royal women to wear some form of mourning veil during service. He said: “During the funeral, I anticipate that mourning veils will be worn, although it is not absolutely required, it is the royal tradition.” Mourning veils date back hundreds of years and serve both a practical and aesthetic purpose. Mourning veils were popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. After her husband Prince Albert died in 1861, she chose to wear a mourning veil and some form of mourning dress until her death in 1901. READ MORE: ‘Fateful’ royal rift ‘caught on camera’ but Kate tries to save the day “This is simply a head covering with a piece of towel or net that comes down to partially hide the face, which allows the royal family member to have a little more privacy at this emotional time. “They have to remain as emotionally neutral as they can at all times, and it’s obviously very difficult for them right now. And it also helps shield them a little bit, which is obviously very nice for them.” More recently, at Prince Philip’s funeral, his daughter Princess Anne opted for a more modern take on the mourning veil. Miranda said: “We saw Princess Anne wearing a sort of mourning veil with a hat for Prince Philip’s funeral, although we didn’t see the Queen in one.” For the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, Princess Anne was photographed wearing a large black hat with a black net veil. Although her face was visible through the fabric, the netting hung low over the edges of her hat to create a thin barrier. Kate Middleton also wore her own mourning veil to the funeral. The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge chose a small black hat by designer Phillip Tracy, with mesh detailing that hung down the front. Queen Elizabeth II herself previously chose to wear a veil at the funeral of her father, King George VI, in 1952. In contrast to the shorter, modern veils worn by royal women, Her Majesty opted for a more traditional veil. The black veil was made of chiffon material and was long enough to hang below her waist. As was traditional, the veil covered both the front and back of her head.
