The King has faithfully stuck to a uniform of sophisticated suits, pressed shirts, polished shoes and colourful ties for more than five decades. And finally, it has paid off.
Charles, 76, has today been crowned one of the 50 most stylish people alive in 2025 by British GQ.
He joined the likes of Bill Nighy, Justin Bieber and Ralph Lauren in the men’s fashion magazine’s annual list. The unranked guide also featured Cher, Emma Corrin and Zoë Kravitz.
The publication praised the monarch – whose favourite clothing items include a near four-decade old tweed coat from Mayfair-based tailor Anderson & Sheppard and Turnbull & Asser shirts – for being a ‘great ambassador’ for British tailoring.
His Majesty’s wardrobe was also hailed for ‘enduring – physically and aesthetically – for decades’.
Like both his ‘beloved’ daughter-in-law, The Princess of Wales, and his hard-working sister, Princess Anne, the eco-conscious King is well known for re-wearing his garments over the years.
In 2018, Charles revealed that he was still walking around in a pair of mahogany brogues that he bought in 1971, as well as a jacket from 1969.
As he told Vogue in December 2020 in its sustainable fashion issue, the King is a fan of good wardrobe maintenance: ‘I’m one of those people who hate throwing anything away. Hence I’d rather have them maintained, even patched if necessary.’
King Charles pictured during a visit to the Sandringham Flower Show on July 26, 2023
Explaining he had a team – presumably a valet and seamstresses – to help with repairs, he added: ‘I’m lucky, because there are kind people who help with these things. But yes, I happen to be one of those people who’d get shoes or any item of clothing repaired if I can, rather than throw it away.’
His linen jackets have binding added to the lapels to make them last, and new cuffs as soon as they fray, while shoes have leather patches added.
Even the Savile Row morning suit he wore to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding was from 1984. He considered something new to meet Meghan at the aisle, but said: ‘I only wear it a few times a year, so obviously you want to keep these sorts of thing going.’
Of his sense of style, the monarch has previously said: ‘I am rather like a stopped clock in terms of fashion. I seem to come into vogue about once every 25 years or so.’
British GQ’s annual list this year brought together those who have ‘personal style’ and whose ‘creativity and genuine love of clothing inspire, challenge and delight’.
Praising the King’s fashion, the magazine said: ‘There’s fittingly no greater ambassador for our tailoring than the head of state, whose reliable rotation of well-worn Anderson & Sheppard suits, Turnbull & Asser shirts and John Lobb shoes have endured – physically and aesthetically – for decades.’
British GQ’s Most Stylish People list was put together by the editors of GQ, and the King was the only royal included in the line-up.
Instead, the annual guide was dominated by actors, including Austin Butler, Bill Nighy, Daniel Day-Lewis, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Mescal, Adam Sandler, Colman Domingo, Walton Goggins, Jeremy Irons, Emma Corrin, Julianne Moore, Matty Matheson and Greta Lee.
The King during a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in July 2025
The full list unranked also included musicians Justin Bieber, Nick Cave, Cher, Steve Lacy, Damon Albarn, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna, Clairo, Playboi Carti and Tyler, the Creator.
Elsewhere, designers Marc Jacobs, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Ralph Lauren, Nicolas Gabard, Yohji Yamamoto and Richard Stark, as well as model and designer Mona Tougaard & Marc Kalman, and models Paloma Elsesser and Lucky Blue & Nara Smith also featured on the list.
Dara Allen, artist Danny Fox, influencer Emma Chamberlain, creative director Gauthier Borsarello, stylists George Cortina and Mobolaji Dawodu, filmmakers Jim Jarmusch, Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola, image architect Law Roach, editor Mel Ottenberg, artist Michèle Lamy, basketball players Paige Bueckers and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, skateboarder Sean Pablo, football player Stefon Diggs and comedian Steve Harvey concluded the list.
Read the ‘Most Stylish People’ list in the November’ issue of British GQ, on sale now