By Abdul Lauya
In a symbolic move reflecting his efforts to modernize the monarchy, King Charles III has officially scrapped a 100-year-old royal tradition requiring players to wear all-white attire while playing tennis on the private court at Buckingham Palace.
The dress code, established in 1919 during the reign of King George V, echoed the strict standards of Wimbledon, mandating white apparel to maintain a refined, sweat-concealing aesthetic. For more than a century, royals, palace staff, and guests had adhered to the unwritten but strictly enforced rule.
However, according to multiple UK media outlets including The Times and People, the palace has now relaxed the requirement. White clothing is no longer mandatory, only “preferred”, for those using the Palace court.
The change follows similar efforts by King Charles to make royal life less formal and more environmentally conscious, including lowering the palace pool’s heating.
Royal aides say the decision is in line with the King’s broader vision of a streamlined and modern monarchy that reflects 21st-century values.
“The monarchy must adapt to survive,” said one royal commentator. “Small as it may seem, a rule about tennis attire tells a larger story about shifting royal culture.”
The change does not affect the All England Club’s rules at Wimbledon, where players are still required to wear predominantly white outfits. That regulation has only been slightly eased in recent years to allow for more inclusive policies, such as permitting women to wear dark-colored undershorts.
By quietly overturning an entrenched dress code, King Charles III signals a new era, one less concerned with formality and more attuned to contemporary sensibilities.
