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The lipsticks the royals wear: From Kate's favourite to the Queen's classic shade

Shop the favoured lipsticks of the royals for National Lipstick Day

Favourite lipsticks of the royals
Carla Challis
Commerce Partnerships Editor
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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.

The Queen, 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 ahead of National Lipstick Day on July 29.

Meghan Markle

For the royal wedding, Meghan shunned lipstick to stick a more natural lip duo; she layered Dior Lip Glow in Coral Glow, a sheer balm that enhances your own lip colour, with a lip crayon underneath. Meghan's fave? Honest Beauty Truly Kissable Lip Crayon in Sheer Chestnut Kiss.

meghan markle lipstick
Meghan loves Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks

Wedding aside, Meghan is said to love Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria, a spicy brown shade created for Victoria Beckham.

The Princess of Wales

Kate is a Bobbi Brown fan, and relies on the brand for her lip colour too. Princess Kate always, always wears a nude, natural lip with Bobbi Brown's Sandwashed Pink Lipstick her handbag essential.

kate lipstick
Kate Middleton is never without her Sandwashed Pink Lipstick from Bobbi Brown

For her wedding to Prince William, she is believed to have popped a swipe of Bobbi Brown’s Sheer Colour Lip Gloss over the top for extra shine.


Princess Diana

Princess Diana did, on occasion, wear a reddish-orange tone, with hints of brown (a good copy would be NARS Audacious Lipstick in Jane) but more often than not, it was a much more natural lip that Diana sported.

diana lipstick
Princess Diana was a fan of natural lipstick shades

One colour we know she did wear, on an engagement shoot for Vogue, was Max Factor’s Tint of Pink Lipstick. Although discontinued, Max Factor's Colour Elixir Lipstick in Pink Brandy is a similar shade.

The Queen 

Her Majesty was rarely spotted without her signature shade – she's been photographed many times reapplying.

queen applying lipstick
The Queen was a fan of Elizabeth Arden lipstick

As well as having her own personalised shade of red from Clarins (to match her ceremonial robes), HRH was said to favour Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Colour Lipsticks. We're hazarding a guess that it’s the Electric Pink shade she was a fan of.

Zara Tindall

For her wedding day to Mike Tindall, Zara is said to have worn Bobbi Brown make-up, including the brand's Shimmer Lip Gloss - we're taking an educated guess that she's a fan of the Bare Sparkle shade for a subtle yet shiny glow.

zara tindall lipstick
Zara Tindall favours a pale, shiny lip

Lady Kitty Spencer 

Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, always hits the best-dressed lists. Perfectly complementing her blonde locks is her perfect pout.

kitty spencer fave lipstick
Lady Kitty Spencer often mixes and matches lipstick shades from Charlotte Tilbury

Lady Kitty actually used two lipsticks to create her own bespoke lip shade - Charlotte Tilbury's Lipsticks in Super Cindy and Pillow Talk. We think she's onto something – if you can't find your perfect nude, mix them up!

Charlotte Casiraghi 

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.

charlotte c wearing red lipstick
Charlotte Casiraghi often combines a dark eye with a bold red lip

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.

Princess Grace of Monaco 

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.

grace kelly red lip
Princess Grace of Monaco was famed for her love of Rouge Dior

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.

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