Jewellery of Male Royals

[m4816k]

What do they wear? I'm new to this forum and see in pictures that jewels are always worn by female royals, so except army medals and similar honors, do male royals wear any jewellery nowdays? I know they used to wear lots of jewels in the past, but can't see any on recent (20th century) pics.

[Madame Royale]

Not in Europe, but I think perhaps in some parts of Asia they may.

[rebbevb]

Yes thats sad that they dont i think they should wear a crown

[Warren]

The Sultan of Brunei and the King and Sultans of Malaysia wear jewelled headdress on ceremonial occasions.

[PrinceOfCanada]

Originally Posted by rebbevb

Yes thats sad that they dont i think they should wear a crown

It would be singularly uncomfortable to wear a crown every day.

The basic reason that the royal men don't wear jewels while the women do is sociological: in the Western world women historically wear jewels and more richly ornamented clothing because women were seen as property of their husbands, and vehicles for displaying their husband's wealth. It's also, in a reversal of what happens in many other species, because women ornament themselves (again, we're talking historically, which is often grossly sexist) to attract mates. While it's true that men used to be just as ornamented as women (observe 18th century France, especially), that fell out of fashion. Or, rather, men became much more subtly ornamented, while women (and this is still very true today) are much more overt. For an interesting contrast, take a look at the gay and lesbian communities, where those stereotypical gender roles are often reversed.

[EarlOfDawleyMagna]

It seems quite odd that he chose not to have one.

[Pranter]

Not really? My DH hasn't worn one in years due to the job (military)...he used to wear one when he was off work but after so long he just got out of the habit of it and it really doesn't bother me either. Due to the job I have now I can't wear one to work either. I generally only wear one for certain things.

LaRae

[luisianna]

I believe it's something of a family tradition. If I recall correctly, Prince Charles doesn't have a wedding ring either.

[EarlOfDawleyMagna]

I understand fully that there may be times such as at work where it's not practical to wear one but I just feel he could have had one for the ceremony at least. Oh well I guess he will be wearing enough rings when he is King :-)

[NGalitzine]

Charles, Andrew, Edward all have wedding rings so it is not a tradition it is a personal preference.

[Roslyn]

I don't read any more into it than William didn't want to wear one. No biggie. Most men of my acquaintance don't. Not all women do, either, these days.

[GracieGiraffe]

Sometimes, when a man or woman chooses not to wear a wedding ring, it's to have someone else believe they are not married.... However, because you'd have to be living under a rock not to realize Will is married, that's not the case here.

So, my two cents is that I don't know why he doesn't wear one or really care.

[cepe]

Some people (either gender) don't wear rings because of their job - my husband never wears any jewellery at all and it goes back to his time in the Parachute regiment. In the UK it is only in very recent years that men have had wedding rings. None of my family had them.

If you dont wear jewellery (and William doesnt, unlike Harry) and you are a pilot as well, it just makes sense.

No reason at all to look for some sub-text. ITs about personal choice

[Grandma828]

It is a cinch that William is not trying to hide the fact that he is married.

[EarlOfDawleyMagna]

I don't think he's trying to hide the fact he's married I just think why not just have one anyway? As surely it was more hassle to have to make a public announcement to say he wasn't going to have one.

[Lumutqueen]

He's got one from what I heard, he just doesn't wear it. Personally I don't get it but it's a military thing apparently. There was no public announcement, it was done through the press apparently.

[Pranter]

Well when on duty he probably is prohibited from wearing it for safety reasons.

I don't think he wears any rings...some people just don't like them.

LaRae

[cepe]

Originally Posted by EarlOfDawleyMagna

I don't think he's trying to hide the fact he's married I just think why not just have one anyway? As surely it was more hassle to have to make a public announcement to say he wasn't going to have one.

It would have been worse to have had a ring at the wedding ceremony and then not worn it. That would have caused all sorts of waves. He said he wasn't, he hasn't and thats ok.

[Roslyn]

I really don't know why anyone cares. It's a non-issue, IMO. He doesn't have a wedding ring; so what?

[Anna Catherine]

In America, most men (or at least a lot I come into contact with) do. So it confused me too when I first found out he didn't want one. Just honest...