But this 96-year-old great-grandmother has a job to do, and much of that job entails public duties and engagements. This means the queen is often out and about in the country she rules over: Great Britain. Where it rains. A lot. Naturally, on such occasions one requires an umbrella. Not just any umbrella—one that is perfectly color co-ordinated to one’s outfit. And, of course, one must be able to see one’s adoring crowds on the other side of it.
What umbrella does the queen use?
Enter Fulton’s, a brand of umbrella that has become synonymous with the royal family’s rainy-day engagements since 1988, when the Queen Mother commissioned the family business to create a special see-through umbrella for her. Royal women who have since stepped out with what Nigel Fulton, CEO of the business, describes as a “clear domed birdcage umbrella” include Duchess Kate and Duchess Meghan. But it’s Queen Elizabeth II who is by far the brand’s biggest fan, who owns over 100 of the iconic brollies! The monarch is known for her love of color-blocking outfits (meaning she’ll dress entirely in fuschia, or turquoise, or lime-green from head to toe) and has a custom-made umbrella to match every possible ensemble. Although the umbrellas are made of transparent plastic, each is given a pop of color by a colorful handle and rim. Nigel Fulton told Vanity Fair that their model of umbrella is “sturdy and very good for standing up to the elements.” He went on, “The point of the birdcage is that the royal can see out and people can see them.” Fulton’s was awarded the royal warrant in 2008, and says that they are supplied with color references by the queen’s team before she wears her outfits. In making the custom umbrellas, he says, “We match the trim, the handle, the tips, and the ferrule (the pointy bit at the end) in the desired fabric or color. The umbrellas are understated—we don’t want the umbrella to be the part of the outfit that shouts the loudest.” Check out some of the queen’s most eye-catching outfits accessorized with the famous umbrellas in the slideshow!
