King Charles dons controversial satin pants for Buckingham Palace gathering

King Charles has finally got to display a striking, and previously unseen, look that was rejected at last year’s coronation. See the photos.

They were the subject of much discussion in the Palace last year: should the King wear his traditional breeches at his coronation service or something more suitable for the modern age?

Charles discarded the breeches worn by kings of the past and opted for a pair of Royal Navy trousers for his crowning at Westminster Abbey.

However, the King’s traditional black breeches, complete with matching silk stockings, got their outing at a Buckingham Palace reception earlier this week for the Diplomatic Corps.

Around his left leg was a garter inscribed with the words: “Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense.”

It comes from the motto of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry, and translates as “Shame on he who thinks ill of it”.

King Charles III, wearing his traditional satin breeches and bespoke shoes created for his coronation, arrives with Queen Camilla for the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty Images

Queen Camilla wore an aquamarine and diamond tiara that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth. Picture: Getty Images

The phrase has featured on coins and surrounds the shield on the royal coat of arms. For Charles, it was a link with the past. The oldest order of chivalry is connected to both history and legend.

In medieval times, Edward III created his own group of honourable knights in the Order of the Garter after being inspired by the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Prince William was also at the reception, but chose to wear trousers and white tie. Picture: Getty Images

Charles was invested into the Order of the Garter by his mother on June 17, 1968, in the throne room at Windsor Castle. His son William, now the Prince of Wales, became the 1,000th knight to be invested into the order in 2008.

The King welcomes Canadian dignitaries to Buckingham Palace, meeting with Joan Marie Aylward, the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and her partner Carl Thompson. Picture: Getty Images

The King was in a jovial mood as he met Joan Marie Aylward during an audience at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty Images

Each year in June for Garter Day, the knights of the order take part in a procession through Windsor in grand velvet robes and plumed hats.

At this week’s reception at Buckingham Palace the dress code for men was national dress, white tie or court dress, which historically involves knee breeches for male members of the royal family. An “alternative court dress” option was brought in by George V in 1924 alongside the first Labour government but even then the breeches remained.

Happily for Charles, who was crowned the world’s best-dressed man by Esquire magazine in 2009 and who has long called for more sustainability in the fashion world, the reception was also an opportunity to rewear the bespoke shoes created for his coronation.

Britain's King Charles III meets with Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Edith Dumont and her partner Tony Viscardi. Picture: AFP

The King shares a joke with Edith Dumont during an audience at Buckingham Palace. Picture: AFP

The opera pumps with “family buckle” were made for the King by Tony Gaziano of Gaziano & Girling, a company from Kettering in Northamptonshire.

Gaziano visited the King several times in the run-up to the coronation and later described his feet as “delicate”.

William was also in attendance at the palace reception, where 1,500 guests came from 130 countries. He, however, chose to wear trousers and white tie.

For the Queen, who wore a blue velvet gown by Fiona Clare, it was a first chance to wear an aquamarine and diamond tiara that had belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth. Camilla wore it with a matching necklace and earrings from her own collection.

There was also the King’s new “family order”. The award, given to senior royal women by the monarch, features a portrait of the King. First seen at the inward state visit of the emperor and empress of Japan this year, it differs from other family orders as it is painted on synthetic polymin rather than ivory.

As for the King’s choices, there will be those who think he should ditch the breeches and move with the times. If he enjoys them, however, he might find there is a good riposte in the motto of the Order of the Garter.