The red block: The royals’ initial reaction to “Harry & Meghan” is so lousy

And suddenly everything was a matter of color. When Harry and Meghan cried for three hours about themselves and their role as royal outcasts last Thursday, the rest of the company went to the Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey that evening. And did exactly what Meghan had complained about: they not only showed togetherness, but also a fashionable form of equality that Meghan said should not exist.

Several women wore wine red. Or, as the English say: Burgundy. Or, as the French say, who recognize more subtle nuances than others in their red wines: Bordeaux red. “Several” means: Princess Kate, her daughter Charlotte, her sister Pippa, a few lesser-known relatives – not to mention William’s tie.

According to the British fashion press, they all wore the same shade and not just any, but a minimally muted version of the “color of the year 2023”, or at least that’s what the color bible Pantone decided. It is called “Viva Meganta” or “Pantone 18-1750”. Of course, Viva Magenta also has a purpose, it’s “cheeky, fun and inclusive,” says Pantone, “a color that vibrates with panache and panache that shows a new signal of strength that we all need for a more optimistic future.” “. 2023 should be a single “Magentaverse”.

An all-encompassing signal of strength thus ended with the somewhat sickly purple (or “Very Peri”) of 2022. And this after Meghan again said it was sacrilegious for the ladies of the company to wear the same color as their executive floor (in this case Kate). That she, Meghan, with the exception of her farewell tour, always quietly chose non-colors. And now? “A sea of ​​burgundy,” as The Guardian put it. And hugging, kissing, singing, smiling faces, all supposedly relaxed and nice to each other.

The company may be inadequate in many ways, but it has always been good at symbolic actions. Instead of criticizing the two nervous birds – or even themselves – they showed celebratory love. And the question of whether anything can fundamentally shake the royal family – Diana-Gate, Andrew-Gate, Harry & Meghan-Gate – can again be answered with a fundamental no. Or with: Maybe, but they don’t show anything. Because that’s what they learned from the Queen: the private should never get in the way of the public, and when it does, you should sit it out and show your strength in a burgundy coat.

Incidentally, wine red has been considered the color of the upper class for centuries. And for a very long time – even says Pantone unashamedly – it was an animal color, obtained from dried and boiled cochineal scales. Incidentally, their red is still found in natural cosmetics and food dyes, for example in lipstick, jam, gummy bears, sausage products or red drinks such as Campari. You just have to look for the additive E 120.

The technique, originally from South America, was brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The red of the lice was much brighter and more durable than European dyes. And it was Queen Elizabeth I who, as a proponent of colonial practices (expansion, slavery), was particularly enthusiastic about the lousy red.

On that fateful Thursday, the royal ladies in red agreed not only on a classic Christmas color or the latest trend for the upcoming season, but also on the most traditional color the company had to offer. They demonstrated their staunch family unity in the Burgundian bloc.