Why did Her Majesty the Queen not wear black to visit Aberfan in 1966 after the horrific tragedy that killed 116 schoolchildren ?

Question

Instead, she wore a burnt red fur-trimmed ensemble to meet with grieved family members and rescue workers. Hardly mournful. Why would this choice of clothing have been made, given that Her Majesty usually is spot-on in how she dresses for the occasion at hand?

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

She explains that she wore red so that the people in the distant crowd around her could easily identify her and feel her support, since everyone around her was wearing black. She wanted to be clearly seen. You should also notice that the Royals wear 'red poppies' pinned to their clothing when remembering the war dead or others killed in tragedies on specific dates, so they consider the color to be appropriate for remembering 'the fallen' at such events and also so that the people can clearly see this special remembrance since red stands out against any background or clothing. 

Answer 2

Possibly her black clothes were at the cleaners and so unobtainable.

Answer 3

The Queen wears bright colours in order to be easily recognised.

Answer 4

That was over 50 years ago, seems like you are really reaching for something to criticize the Queen for.

Answer 5

The only time the Queen or any other member of the Royal Family ever wears black is when a member of the Royal Family passes away. When they travel abroad (on official trips or for pleasure), they all always carry some black clothing with them, in case a member of the family passes away while they're abroad. 

Answer 6

Perhaps she wanted to wear something to cheer up or comfort the crowds for a little bit? Black is worn for funeral and memorial services; if this had been the official memorial services, the Queen would have worn black.

Answer 7

She decided that black would have been upsetting to the aberfan people, and they said later that they quite agreed, they were just glad that she came to see the disaster.

Answer 8

Nearly sixty years later and with all that's going on in the world today, THIS is what you have a problem with?

Answer 9

As most people would have been watching her on black and white television it hardly mattered. She does have to dress to be seen otherwise people would complain.

Answer 10

Someone’s been watching The Crown... The Queen is human. She makes mistakes all the time. It’s just that people tend to forget the mistakes and think she’s perfect.