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12 rare photos of the royals in fancy dress costumes

The best photos of royals having fun while dressed up

Kate Middleton dressed up as a witch in 2007
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Just because they're royal doesn't mean they can't have fun with fancy dress! 

While people around the world often opt for royal-inspired costumes, these real-life royals show us how they play dress up.

From the Princess of Wales rocking an '80s look for a roller disco in her pre-royal days to Princess Beatrice sporting a lilac wig and unicorn horns for a Halloween party at her go-to Mayfair venue Annabel's, take a look at the best photos of the royals and their European counterparts wearing fun costumes...  

Princess Eugenie and Meghan Markle

Princess Eugenie and Meghan Markle take a selfie on Halloween 2016© Netflix
Harry and Meghan enjoyed a fun night out with Eugenie and Jack

Back when they were dating, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed a night out in Toronto with Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie and Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank. 

The foursome went incognito to a post-apocalyptic-themed Halloween party, with the group donning masks and heavy makeup. 

Harry recalled the night in his memoir Spare, saying: "For help with my costume, I'd turned to a friend, the actor Tom Hardy, before I left home. I'd phoned him to ask if I could borrow his costume from Mad Max.

"'The whole thing? Yes, please, mate!'

"The whole kit. He'd given it all to me before I left Britain, and now I tried it on in Meg's little bathroom. When I came out, she roared with laughter."


August Brooksbank

Eugenie's son August Brooksbank dressed up as a blue monster© Instagram / @princesseugenie
August got into the spooky spirit

Princess Eugenie shared a sweet snap of her then eight-month-old son August dressed up as a blue monster for Halloween 2021."Wonder what they are talking about.." she captioned the photo showing the tot playing with a yellow Minion teddy.

The Princess of Wales

Kate Middleotn dressed up for Halloween 2007© Shutterstock
Kate pictured in her pre-royal days

Taken in her pre-royal days, Princess Kate rocked what appeared to be a glamorous witch outfit for a Halloween night out at Mahiki in 2007. She donned a sparkly dress, fishnet tights and knee-high boots, along with a black cape.

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice dressed as a unicorn at Annabel's Halloween party 2018© Getty
Beatrice donned a purple wig and a unicorn horn

Beatrice was spotted at Annabel's Halloween party in October 2018, wearing a monochrome look with a bright lilac wig and a unicorn headpiece - very on trend! The royal finished off her costume with a touch of a sparkle on her accessories. 

Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Princess Madeleine and family dressed up for Halloween 2022© Instagram / @princess_madeleine_of_sweden
Princess Madeleine and her family always dress up for Halloween

Princess Madeleine and her family always go all-out for Halloween. 

For last year's effort, Madeleine and her husband Chris appear to be dressed as hippies, whilst Princess Leonore was a witch, Prince Nicolas was dressed as Tom Cruise's Top Gun character, Maverick, and Princess Adrienne was a unicorn.

Prince Harry

Prince Harry dressed as a red goblin at nursery© Getty
Harry was dressed as a red and green goblin

  Princess Diana's youngest son, Prince Harry, adorably dressed up in a red goblin costume for his nursery school's nativity play in 1987. 

The Princess of Wales

Kate Middleton wears sequin top and shorts at roller disco in 2008© Getty
Kate organised a roller disco to raise money for Place2Be in 2008

The Princess of Wales looked groovy as she stepped out wearing a disco-inspired ensemble for a 2008 Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco event in London. 

Kate made a statement sporting mini yellow shorts and a flashy emerald top, which she paired with boots and of course, glow sticks.

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice dressed up at Unicef Halloween Ball© Getty
Princess Beatrice donned a silver wig and a mask

Princess Beatrice looked purrfect for a good cause. The Princess was the cat's meow donning a feline ensemble for the 2016 Unicef Halloween Ball in London, which raised vital funds to support Unicef's life-saving work for Syrian children in danger.

King Charles and Queen Camilla

Camilla and Charles wearing animal face masks at Elephant Family Animal Ball, 2019© Getty
Charles and Camilla got into the spirit of the ball

While they might not be wearing full fancy dress costumes, King Charles and Queen Camilla proved they're up for a giggle as they donned animal masks at a reception for The Elephant Family animal ball in 2019.

The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York

Duke of York and Sarah Duchess of York in Klondike costumes during a visit to Fort Edmonton, Canada.© Getty
Andrew and Sarah during a tour of Canada in 1987

The Duke and Sarah, Duchess of York dressed up in period costumes at a replica Klondike village during their first official tour together in Canada back in 1987. 

Prince Harry

Prince Harry dressed as Conrade at Eton College play© Getty
Prince Harry dressed as Conrade

William Shakespeare would be proud! Prince Harry hid behind a mask as he played Conrade in his school, Eton College’s, production of Much Ado about Nothing back in 2003.

King Charles

Charles Wearing Joke Mask To Tease Press Photographers During A Skiing Holiday In Klosters, Switzerland © Getty
Charles wore a mask to fool photographers during a skiing holiday

The then Prince Charles donned a disguise to trick photographers during a skiing holiday in Klosters in 1980.

Are Meghan and Harry leaving Montecito? Find out in the latest episode of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast

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