Traditional Garments Worn by Foreign Royals to King Charles Coronation

The coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, saw the large gathering of foreign royals in London since the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. 

The largest royal delegates to the Coronation came from Asia with the Gulf Sovereign states all represented. Reigning royal houses in Europe also sent representatives. Four reigning Kings, one Grand Duke, and one Sovereign Prince headed the European royal delegation.

Asian Queen Consorts: Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Suthida of Thailand, and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan 

In an interview with People magazine after the Coronation Day, Queen Rania of Jordan, who attended the ceremony with her husband, King Abdullah II of Jordan, recalled how impressive the event. 

Queen Rania of Jordan 

"I was very impressed with how King Charles put his own stamp on the events. Sitting in Westminster Abbey, watching history unfold before our very eyes, it was impossible not to be moved by the significance of the moment and the sense that we were bearing witness to the beginning of a new era for the United Kingdom," she said. "It was a very touching, memorable moment."

"The ceremony was beautiful and unforgettable," Queen Rania told People. "It struck the perfect balance of solemnity, spectacle, and spirituality. The many different traditions and rituals we saw were a reminder of Britain's deep respect for its history, and the link between King Charles III and British sovereigns of centuries past".

Asian royals wear traditional costumes at King's Coronation 

One of the most impressive sights during the day were the elegant traditional outfits worn by Asian royals. Most of them attended the ceremony with national pride, showcasing their country's rich cultural history and national symbols through the garments they wore.

Thailand

Queen Suthida of Thailand wore a beautiful Thai traditional dress called Chut Thai which literally means, "Thai Costume". Chut Thai has varieties in pattern, design, and style.

King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand

Queen Suthida wore the Pha Sinh in a pencil-cut design and gray pattern. Sinh is a tubular skirt made of silk and wrapped around the waist. It is a variation of Chut Thai and traditionally worn on special occasions and public events. 

The Queen paired it with a blue long sleeve silk blouse. What striking about the appearance of Queen Suthida is the set of sparkling jewelry she donned. A necklace with large amethyst stones encrusted in diamonds. And a matching pair of amethyst and diamond earrings.

Queen Suthida of Thailand in a Chut Thai ensemble 

Queen Suthida, who is the fourth wife of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, formerly worked as a flight attendant. She trained in the military and now being assigned in the King's guard division. 

Malaysia 

Malaysia's Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong (means Queen) Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah attended the Coronation Ceremony of King Charles III.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with the king assuming a ceremonial role. However, its system is largely different from other monarchies. 

Malaysia has nine royal households (states) which will take turns to provide the country with a king, chosen through a vote in a Council of Rulers, made up of the nine households, led by a sultan. The king is elected for a five-year term.

In 2019, Sultan Muhammad V, the head of the state of Kelantan, suddenly abdicated following a controversy over divorcing his Russian wife. Abdullah from the royal household of Pahang (state), succeeded him. He is expected to end his term in 2024. 

Sultan Abdullah of Pahang and his wife, Queen Tunku Azizah

At King Charles III's coronation, Al-Sultan Abdullah, wore his military ceremonial uniform, while his wife, Queen Tunku Azizah, dressed in a bright yellow modern baju kurung.

Sultan Abdullah and Queen Tunku Azizah

This yellow ensemble was a personal design of the Queen. She first wore it in 2019 when her husband was elected King. It's a lovely traditional dress with gold threads and embellishments. She paired the dress with a yellow traditional scarf.

Stunning traditional dress worn by Queen Tunky Azizah of Pahang, Malaysia

Al-Sultan Abdullah is the first Malaysian head of state to attend a coronation of a British monarch. Sultan Abdullah is on the non-executive supervisory council of the football governing body FIFA. He is also the president of the Asian Hockey Federation.

Bhutan

The kingdom of Bhutan is widely known for its deep-rooted traditions and distinct cultural scene. Carved on top of the Himalayas, Bhutan is the only country in the world with zero carbon dioxide emissions. 

It is known for its sustainability programs and developments, however, the country is also known for its unique dress code. They have national costumes that still represent the beauty of the old world.

King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema wore Bhutanese traditional costumes

Their traditional costumes, Gho for men and Kira for women were introduced in the 17th century and became part of their lifestyle to showcase their unique national identity. 

Wearing Gho and Kira among the Bhutanese made mandatory in Bhutan to promote and preserve their national heritage. 

So we often see Their Majesties, King Jigme Khesar Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema, wear the national costumes of Bhutan each time they are in public. 

The King and Queen attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, wearing Bhutanese national costumes, in a mourning version of black. 

All Bhutanese citizens including their royals follow the Driglam Namzha, the official dress code behavior in the country. 

King and Queen of Bhutan 

Ahead of the coronation ceremony, the King and Queen of Bhutan attended King Charles's reception at Buckingham Palace. The King wore Gho in a red pattern.

Gho is a knee-length cloth wrapped around the body and looked like a robe, often times it is secured with a belt known as kera. But His Majesty did not wear a kera when they attended the reception and coronation.

Queen Jetsun Pema, the youngest Queen Consort in the world at just 33, wore Kira, the national dress for women in Bhutan. It is a long dress consisting of a rectangular piece of fabric, and usually worn with a wonju (long sleeve blouse).

She wore a bright-colored Kira at King Charles's reception in Buckingham Palace on May 5 and opted for a lavender Kira on the coronation day.

Japan

The Japanese imperial family was represented by Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko on behalf of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

The Japanese emperor and empress traditionally never attend a coronation of another monarch. In 1953, Japan was represented by Crown Prince Fumihito's father, Akihito, who was still the Crown Prince at that time.

Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan 

At the coronation ceremony of King Charles III, Crown Prince Fumihito wore a three-piece morning suit but his wife opted to wear Japan's national costume for women, the kimono, and the traditional footwear, Okobo sandals.

Okobo is a traditional Japanese sandal made of wood. And often worn along with the kimono. It is often decorated with elegant embellishments to look awesome, but others just left it plain.

Crown Princess Kiko in a traditional Japanese dress 

Kimono is one of the most expensive national costumes in the world due to its layers of garments, style, and design. It cannot be mass produced and the structure of the garments cannot just be sewn in the machine but must be stitched using bare hands.

Crown Princess Kiko wore a beige Kimono in silk with an intricate pattern and design. She also wore a pair of white Okobo sandals. And kept her look simple and subtle by wearing sheer makeup.

Oman

His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman attended the Coronation of King Charles III accompanied by Oman's Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi.

Oman is the easternmost country in the Arab Middle East and shares the borders with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is an absolute monarchy headed by a sultan.

His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman (left) and Oman's Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi.

During the coronation ceremony, His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman and Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi wore Dishdasha, a collarless long-sleeved garment and a kumma, a brimless cap.

The dishdasha is a long cloth that covers a man's body from the neck to the ankle. It has a round neck and usually embroidered with eye-catching colors and a long sleeve that covers up to the base of the palm. It also has threads hanging from the chest, locally called the Farranka or the Karkosha. The edges of the dishdasha's sleeves are embroidered with thread. 

The dishdasha comes in a variety of colors. His Highness and the Foreign Minister wore gray dishdasha.

Completing their look is the headdress called Massar made with fabrics. Underneath this headdress is a piece called kumma a circular cap consisting of two pieces embroidered by hand.

The Kumma and the massar are the most distinctive part of an Omani men's costume. Their national costume is different from other Arab nations. 

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Complete list of foreign Royals who attended King Charles III's Coronation