Royal Swifties embrace the friendship bracelet trend – even King Charles
The King, Prince George and Princess Charlotte have all been seen wearing the colourful accessories made trendy by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
The royal family has access to a treasured private collection of jewellery, including historic tiaras, brooches and bracelets.
There’s also the priceless Crown Jewels, seen last week when the King wore the Imperial State Crown for the state opening of parliament. Made for the coronation of George VI in 1937, it features no fewer than 2868 diamonds, not to mention hundreds of pearls and a clutch of sapphires, emeralds and rubies. It travelled to Westminster in its own carriage.
The latest accessory worn by senior members of the royal family, however, appears to be far cheaper: a friendship bracelet.
Prince George wore one in the photograph released by his parents on Monday to mark his 11th birthday. Taken by the Princess of Wales in Windsor this month, the black-and-white image shows the prince was also wearing a smart suit but no tie and smiling up at the camera.
His sister, Princess Charlotte, nine wore several friendship bracelets when she appeared alongside her mother to watch the men’s final at Wimbledon.
More surprisingly, perhaps, the trend has been adopted by the King, who wore one on his visit to Jersey and Guernsey last week: a small red and white bracelet visible beside his cufflinks. On the same trip, the Queen wore a homemade beaded friendship bracelet spelling out the words “You’re a bright star” alongside her usual – pricier at £4800 ($9350) – Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet.
Fashioned with coloured thread and beads, the homespun accessory and long-time playground craze has had something of a resurgence thanks to Taylor Swift fans. In her song You’re on Your Own, Kid, from the album Midnights, she sings: “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it, you’ve got no reason to be afraid.”
Fans have adopted this as a literal instruction, taking bracelets to gigs to swap with fellow “Swifties”. This appears to be the source of the Queen’s friendship bracelet, which was given to her in Guernsey by Lola Burdett.
Lola’s mother, Kelly Hindmarch, said: “Lola’s a huge Swiftie and spends most of her time making the bracelets that you see being exchanged at Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. She decided she wanted to give the Queen one that said ‘you’re a bright star’ on it.”
Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start 🇬🇧🇺🇸🤠@KensingtonRoyalpic.twitter.com/VlD6V0PiEL
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2024
It is far easier to make the Swift link with younger members of the royal family. The Prince of Wales, George and Charlotte, posed for a selfie with the singer when they went to see her perform on William’s 42nd birthday. The singer posted on her social media channels the following day: “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start.”
Prince William, who does not wear a wedding ring, is yet to embrace the bracelet trend – in public, at least. Yet his Swiftie credentials are well known. He joined her on stage at a charity event in 2013 when they joined Jon Bon Jovi for a rendition of his band’s song Livin’ on a Prayer.
The King also appears to be partial to the odd Swift tune. To mark the arrival of the Eras tour in London last month, which was sold out months in advance, the military band played the hit Shake It Off during changing of the guard.
When Charles visits Australia in October on his first visit to the Commonwealth as monarch he is likely to find common ground with Swifties. In Brisbane there have been reports of “the great bead shortage” as fans scour craft shops for material.
The online marketplace eBay reported a 15,200 per cent rise in sales of friendship bracelets. The scale of the phenomenon is such that the Victoria & Albert Museum has hired four “Taylor Swift superfan advisers” to help chart the culture of the fandom and artisanry around handmade signs, friendship bracelets and Swift memorabilia.
Like the security surrounding the Crown Jewels, the royal friendship bracelets are something of a state secret. Buckingham Palace refuses to be drawn on such a hot topic. Nor do courtiers wish to indulge in speculation as to the King’s “Swiftie” status (although he is understood to be “pro").
However, a source close to the Palace said: “It is safe to assume that the bracelets are to do with them all being big Taylor Swift fans.”
The Times
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