The lipsticks the royals wear: From Princess Kate's go-to to Queen Elizabeth's classic shade she loved to wear
Hello! Canada··4 min read
Favourite lipsticks of the royals
The lipsticks loved by the royals, including Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Queen Elizabeth and more ahead of World lLipstick Day. Shop Princess Kate lipstick fave and more.
You might not know this but National Lipstick Day is coming up on July 29, so what better time than now to delver into the lipstick secrets of our favourite royals? If you've ever wondered what Princess Kate's fave lipstick is, or what exact shade Queen Elizabeth wore while on royal duty, I've got the details.
You might think a lipstick is pretty innocuous but when you're a royal, it comes with its own rule book. While you won't find the royals swatching an entire lippy range on the back of their hand, you will find most of them following protocol – that means sticking to a neutral, natural shade to avoid any makeup mishaps.
Queen Elizabeth, though, never followed such a rigid routine and loved to wear a much brighter lip than her younger counterparts. Other royals have since followed suit and have been known to experiment with a bolder lip, or a super shiny finish. From Princess Kate's never-without-it nude to Lady Kitty Spencer's lipstick mash-up, you might find your new favourite shade in a royal makeup bag. I've taken a deep-dive into the lipsticks favoured by the royals.
HELLO!'s Karen Silas is a big fan of this lip product as well, saying: "In the summer it's the perfect hint of colour with a subtle, gentle plumping effect (but it's not tingly or irritating to my sensitive skin) for an effortless beauty look. During the colder months the nourishing ingredients really get to work to keep chapping at bay and keep my lips soft and hydrated."
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Queen Elizabeth II putting on lipstick
Queen Elizabeth's Lipstick
Her Majesty was rarely spotted without her signature shade and was photographed many times reapplying.
As well as having her own personalised shade of red from Clarins (to match her ceremonial robes), HRH was said to favour Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Lipsticks, £25 / $30. We're hazarding a guess that it’s the Electric Pink shade she was a fan of.
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Meghan Markle lipstick
Meghan Markle's Lipstick
For the royal wedding, Meghan shunned lipstick to stick a more natural lip duo; she layered Dior Lip Glow in Coral Glow, £33 /$42 , a sheer balm that enhances your own lip colour, with a lip crayon underneath.
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Diana, Princess of Wales during the Queen Mother's 87th birthday celebrations on August 4, 1987.
Zara Tindall attends day 3 'Ladies Day' of Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot Racecourse on June 22, 2023 in Ascot, England
Zara Tindall's Lipstick
For her wedding day to Mike Tindall, Zara is said to have worn Bobbi Brown make-up, including the brand's Crushed Oil Infused Gloss Shimmer, £27 / $33 - we're taking an educated guess that she's a fan of the Bare Sparkle shade for a subtle yet shiny glow.
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Duchess Sophie 'relieved' as strict royal rule finally changes after new title
Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh's Lipstick
The Duchess of Edinburgh is believed to be a big fan of Trish McEvoy products, including the brand's lip colours. She often wears a rose pink or berry toned lipstick, and I am hedging a bet its the brand's Dusty Rose shade.
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Lady Kitty Spencer attends the amfAR Gala Milano 2019 at Palazzo Mezzanotte on September 21, 2019 in Milan, Italy
Lady Kitty Spencer's Lipstick
Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, always hits the best-dressed lists. Perfectly complementing her blonde locks is her perfect pout.
Stylish Charlotte, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and Stefano Casiraghi, is definitely one of the coolest royals – and her makeup game is a lesson for us all in effortless chic.
She's been quoted as saying her go-to look is "red lips and a bit of black around the eyes", the red lip in question being Gucci's Iconic Red Lipstick, £37 / $49.
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Grace Kelly Lipstick
Princess Grace of Monaco's Lipstick
The grand dame of timeless chic, Grace Kelly was all about her iconic red lip – and was said to be faithful to Dior for her beauty as well as her style.
Since she was a muse for the fashion house, it was only right that she championed their makeup too; she was a fan of Rouge Dior, the exact shade we don’t know but we can guarantee you’ll find a similar darker, soft rouge in shade 999 Satin, £39 / $49.