Royal Experts Decoded A Hidden Detail In This Video Of Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen’s video was prerecorded for the COP26 climate change conference in the United Kingdom. The original plan had been for the monarch to be at the event in person, as many other royal family members ended up doing. But unfortunately, a medical issue got in the way.

A week before the summit was to take place, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen had been “following advice to rest” and that as a result of a hospital stay, she remained at home as a “sensible precaution.” The Palace didn’t provide further information about what she’d been suffering from.

The Palace also made it clear that the Queen was regretful about not being able to attend and hoped that the conference would go well. She was clearly passionate about the cause of environmental protection because she not only took the time to record the video but also made a much more personal speech than usual.

And even beforehand, the Queen had been overheard talking about climate change and her annoyance at other world leaders for not acting on the problem. She would probably have never said this if she’d known the camera was recording, but she admitted, “It’s really irritating when they talk, but they don’t do.”

The Queen also mentioned this in the COP26 speech, but in a much more diplomatic way. She said, “For more than 70 years, I have been lucky to meet and to know many of the world’s great leaders. And I have perhaps come to understand a little about what made them special. It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics. But what they do for the people of tomorrow — that is statesmanship.”

And the late monarch continued, telling the attendees, “It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit — written in history books yet to be printed — will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity and that you answered the call of those future generations.”

She ended the speech with the touching words, “Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: none of us will live forever. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.”

Charles, Camilla, Kate, and William also put work into the all-important summit. Many people noticed that Camilla was wearing green when she arrived; obviously, a nod to the themes of the conference and the same color the Queen wore in her video. She also carried a handbag very similar to Queen Elizabeth’s favorite Launer ones. Was she trying to emulate the monarch, knowing that she was, in a way, the stand-in for her?

King Charles III, then still prince, spoke during the ceremony to mark the beginning of COP26, and he didn’t pull any punches. He’s advocated for the environment for many decades and told the audience that “we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing” to save the planet.

“Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, many of your countries I know are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, and wildfires,” Charles informed his fellow delegates. “Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention.”

Charles concluded, “So, I can only urge you, as the world’s decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people.” And later, William was making statements along the same lines.

Prince William stood on stage with one of the competitors in the Earthshot Prize, a clean technology enterprise he supports. He and the youngest entrant, 15-year-old Vinisha Umashankar, who’s created a solar-powered ironing device, gave a speech at the conference's Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation & Deployment segment.

The prince told the audience, “We are still at the start of our journey together. I am honored and proud to be working alongside you all to achieve this goal.” But plenty of people didn’t think William was really doing that at all — that none of the royal family were.

There have been mixed views about whether the royal family are doing enough for the environment, considering that they speak so much about the importance of everybody playing their part. Before COP26, an anti-monarchy group called Republic even put up a series of huge posters accusing William and Charles of double standards because of their private jet use.

The CEO of Republic, Graham Smith, said to Newsweek magazine in October 2021, “The royals have jumped on this environment bandwagon. They need to be called out on it… The biggest thing is that they are incredibly hypocritical. They routinely, at taxpayers’ expense, fly by helicopter and private jet, and they maintain at least two dozen large homes which are heated and staffed all year round even if they only go there a few times a year.”

But other people think the royals are doing plenty to combat climate change. It’s been widely reported that the King has installed solar panels at his homes and adapted his car to be fuelled by, of all things, wine. And, to get to COP26, he used a military plane that ran on sustainable fuel, while William and Kate reportedly also tried to travel in an eco-friendly way and took a train.

Some people think the royal family should “rewild” their extensive gardens and turn them into plant and animal habitats. British TV wildlife expert Chris Packham told BBC Radio 4’s World at One in October 2021, “Prince Charles has been speaking out on behalf of the environment all my lifetime, and I’ve grown up welcoming that. I think, however, at this point we need more grand and meaningful action.”

“The royal family are global celebrities, they have a great reach and a great influence,” Packham added. “I think that at this point, while they’ve been talking the talk for some time, and we’ve listened keenly to that and welcomed it, at this point, we need a real demonstration of some action.”

With that in mind, it’s interesting to note one of the other things the late Queen mentioned in her COP26 speech. She specifically talked about her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in the spring of 2021, aged 99, and the work that he’d done to combat climate change.

The Queen said that speaking at COP26 was “a duty I am especially happy to discharge, as the impact of the environment on human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.” She even used a snippet of Prince Philip's speech about climate pollution.

Back in 1969, the Queen related, Philip had told a group of academics, “If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time… If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.”

The monarch compared Philip to her son and grandson who were at COP26, saying, “It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son, Charles, and his eldest son, William. I could not be more proud of them.”

And the speech wasn’t how the late Queen used to pay tribute to Prince Philip. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed some details in the setup of the video. First, she was seated near a big photo of her late husband. The image showed him in the exact sort of place the COP26 attendees were fighting to preserve — a monarch butterfly habitat in Mexico.

And what the Queen wore was even more important if you knew what you were looking for. She was wearing green, the obvious choice for an appearance at an environment convention. But of even more interest was her brooch. It was in the shape of a butterfly, matching the photo of Philip — and it was also a gift related to Philip himself.

The brooch, made from diamonds and rubies, was given to the Queen on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Philip. It was a gift from the Countess of Onslow, a pal of hers, so it’s often called the Onslow Butterfly Brooch. And it was a clear tribute from the Queen to her beloved husband.

This wasn't the first time Queen Elizabeth II signified her feelings via her choice of brooch, either. For example, one of the pieces she sometimes wore was a creation called the True Lover's Knot Brooch, which belonged to her grandma Queen Mary. The Queen wore it to Prince William's and Princess Margaret's weddings, and the meaning there was obvious.

In the past, the Queen’s brooches were used for diplomatic reasons. When visiting a country, she liked to wear a brooch associated with it. Take the Maple Leaf Brooch — it was presented to Elizabeth by her father on a trip to Canada, and she wore it on occasions connected to that nation for the rest of her life.

The speech at COP26 wasn’t the only touching address Queen Elizabeth gave that year about the crushing loss of Prince Philip. Her traditional Christmas Day speech in December 2021 was all about him, and once again, she mentioned his love for the environment. And the Queen wore a significant brooch for that occasion, too.

Queen Elizabeth began her Christmas Day speech with a personal statement. With a photo of herself and Philip propped up next to her she said, “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why.”

The Queen continued, “But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work — from around the country, the Commonwealth, and the world. His sense of service, intellectual curiosity, and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation — were all irrepressible.”

“He was also an early champion of taking seriously our stewardship of the environment,” the Queen added. “And I am proud beyond words that his pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son, Charles, and his eldest son, William — admirably supported by Camilla and Catherine — most recently at the COP climate change summit in Glasgow.”

As for the brooch the Queen wore for the Christmas Day speech, the significance of it was explained to the Daily Express newspaper by royal expert Ingrid Seward, Majesty magazine’s editor-in-chief. She stated that the monarch had her brooch on what appeared to be the “wrong” side — in honor of Philip.

“When someone has died and you have connections to the military, they change the side the medals are worn,” Seward told the newspaper. “So she changed the side of her brooch, which was also another very moving tribute [to Philip].” And then there was the history of the brooch itself.

The sapphire brooch wasn’t actually a gift from Philip — she was given it before she married him, upon launching a ship called The British Princess — but it’s still closely associated with him. That’s because Queen Elizabeth wore it on their honeymoon, and also on both their 2007 and 2017 wedding anniversaries.

Queen Elizabeth ended her Christmas speech on a hopeful note. She said, “And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.”

These young children, and kids in general, were also referred to when King Charles penned an article about climate change for Newsweek in January 2022. He said that at the COP26 conference “the focus appeared, as it should, on the impact of inaction for our children, grandchildren, and generations beyond.”

And, like his mother had done in her own speech, he mentioned Prince Philip’s work for the environment. Charles said, “Sixty years ago, my late father identified the damage humankind was inflicting on the planet and helped to found the World Wildlife Fund. A decade later, when I first spoke publicly about the environment, many wondered if my sense of urgency was misplaced.”

Charles added, “As a father, I am proud that my sons have recognized this threat. Most recently, my elder son, William, launched the prestigious Earthshot Prize to incentivize change and help repair our planet over the next ten years by identifying and investing in the technologies that can make a difference. And my younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero.”

Charles concluded his article by saying, “The eyes of our children and grandchildren are judging us. Let ours be the generation that can. And does. As we enter a new year, there is not a moment to lose.” And just because Kate didn’t deliver a speech or write an essay, it didn’t stop her from sending her own message. Well, that’s what fans think, judging by her outfit choice.

When Kate made her appearance at the COP26 reception, she was wearing a color Diana had often worn: royal blue — with the emphasis on the “royal” part, of course! Diana had actually worn a very similar-looking outfit to Kate’s while on an engagement with her sister back in 1992. What’s more, she’d looked great in it.

When Diana was out and about, she wanted the focus to be on the people she was helping, rather than what she was wearing. Eleri Lynn, curator of a Diana fashion exhibition, told Vogue Italia in 2017, “Following the separation from the Prince of Wales, she said she didn’t want to be known as a clothes horse but as a workhorse.”

The curator went on, “She was very active in the creation of her image and she used fashion to convey the messages, to communicate, and use it to do the job at hand.” And famous designer Jasper Conran also told the magazine, “Whenever the Princess discussed her clothes with me, part of it was always, ‘What message will I be giving out if I wear this?’ For her, that became the real language of clothes.” Kate seems to be following in her mother-in-law’s footsteps.

People think that Kate was doing the exact same thing at the COP26 reception. Stylist Rochelle White told the Daily Mail newspaper’s Femail magazine at the time, “I feel that Kate has opted for this look so that the focus isn’t necessarily on her and her outfit, but more for the event.” And there was certainly a lot of controversy surrounding the climate summit.

The royals got a lot of praise for what they actually said and did at the conference. During their day out with the Scouts, Kate and William helped return a piece of land at Alexandra Park in Glasgow to nature, plus they tried out some vegetarian burgers and had a go at mending bicycles.

Volunteer Eddie O’Rourke said on the official North East England Scouts website that Kate and William were “a real inspiration to all the Scouts that are working hard to make changes to protect the planet. It’s great to see the Duke and Duchess work with our young people.” He went on to observe that their efforts helped show that everyone could do their bit in the battle against global warming, and every little effort could make a difference.

Meanwhile the website Royal Central noted, “No one expects any of the Windsors to start barracking world leaders as they chat at receptions or listen to speeches. But the fact that the monarch and her two direct heirs have been heard to express their own views… shows that, in this area at least, the royal attitude to what counts as intervention is changing.”

And just after COP26, royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills wrote on broadcaster Sky News’ website, “It is easy to be cynical about soft power; the whole point of it is that it’s meant to be subtle, but this has been one of those weeks where we were supplied with an abundance of pictures to illustrate it.”

She continued, “What I’ve found most interesting this week is the conviction with which the royals have delivered their messages… You cannot doubt their ongoing determination to use their position to make sure the world wakes up and acts now.” And one of Kate’s messages was delivered via her wardrobe.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s royal-blue coatdress was made with the environment in mind. She got it custom-made from a London fashion brand called Eponine, which is devoted to creating pieces from locally-sourced fabric makers and recyclables. Its official website goes into detail about how the clothes are created.

It states on the site, “Our collections are made using wool from the finest British mills, digital prints designed in our studio, wax fabrics from Africa and hand-embroidered cloth sourced from around the world. Wherever possible this cloth is vintage, as we believe that beautiful things should be recycled rather than forgotten. We also take great pride in supporting the artisanal crafts of various talented communities globally.”

The Eponine brand has long been a favorite of Kate’s, and she especially seems to wear its creations for important events when the work, not the fashion, is the focus. For example, she wore a green Eponine dress in 2019 when visiting a primary school for Children’s Mental Health Week.

Kate also made sure that her outfit for the Scouts event at COP26 was an environmentally-friendly one. The recycled plastic jacket she got from Ganni wasn’t cheap — it would set you back you or I at least $310 — but again the company which made it is very dedicated to sustainable fashion.

Ganni founder Nicolaj Reffstrup told the website A Good Company in 2021, “I’ve come to realize that staying in the [fashion] industry and working to become more responsible is better than the alternative of opting out and doing nothing. Fashion is not going away. We need to solve the issues we are facing through growth and innovation.”

Asked what his vision was for the future of his brand, Reffstrup said, “The ambition has always been to one day become a truly sustainable fashion brand and the dream is still that ultimately this will not differentiate us from other fashion brands.” You can see why Kate chose a Ganni outfit for COP26, and also many thought she looked fantastic in the outdoorsy clothes.

But what about the other COP26 outfit, the more “professional” one? Some thought that Kate’s blue coatdress was dull… but dull on purpose. The New Zealand Herald newspaper said after COP26, “Rather than drawing attention to herself with some show-stopping frock or turning to any of the numerous, exciting British labels who would kill to dress her, she opted instead for the fashion equivalent of NyQuil.”

The article went on, “If she had turned up in something colorful or interesting, anything really that would have given the fashion writers of the world even the most bare of somethings to cover, that would have detracted from the main event here, namely addressing climate change.” In other words, Kate didn’t want the spotlight to be on her.

One thing the media did pick up on, though, was that Kate’s dress was from the 2020 fashion season rather than the 2021. She might well have bought it for a different event — one which had to be canceled due to the 2020 pandemic — and decided to wear it to the climate-change convention instead. And that can only be a good thing.

Many people are trying to dress more sustainably, now that it’s known what a major detrimental impact the fashion industry has on the environment. As per website Fashion Beans, every year a colossal number of garments end up as landfill, and if that’s not bad enough, water is constantly being polluted by clothing dyes and bleaches.

One of the ways we can reduce this waste is by simply, well, caring a bit less about always being seen in the latest fashions. Sustainable fashion designers hope that customers will start buying clothes planning to keep them for years, if not decades, and alter or upcycle them if they go out of style.

And guess who was an absolute champion at this? Yep, Diana. Throughout her royal life she upcycled her outfits constantly. For example, she was once spotted wearing a rather fussy ruched-waist gown on a trip in the ’80s. A decade later, once that style had gone out of fashion, she was seen wearing only the top part of the dress, with a different-colored and sleeker skirt.

And sometimes she just plain re-wore a dress with no regard to what the media might think. In 1986 she wore another polka-dot one — clearly Diana really liked polka dots — during an important trip to Japan. A mere month later she wore the exact same outfit for the annual Trooping the Color ceremony.

And now it seems Kate may be emulating her late mother-in-law in this way, too. She’s recycled more and more in recent years. Take her maternity wear: in 2014 while pregnant with Princess Charlotte, Kate debuted a lacey gown by Diane von Furstenberg. Then, while pregnant with Prince Louis three years later, she wore it again.

Kate’s been known to recycle some of her more “basic” pieces as well. Some of her coats have made multiple appearances throughout the years. She likes one blue Alexander McQueen coat so much she wore it twice in the year 2014 before giving it a third outing in 2016 and a fourth in 2019. Hopefully, she still has it in a wardrobe somewhere, ready to wear again.

It’s important to see her doing this, because the Duchess of Cambridge has a massive impact on fashion trends worldwide. The “Kate Middleton Effect” is so powerful that whenever she is photographed wearing a dress it often sells out right away. So if the royal moves towards sustainable fashion, many others will follow.

All in all, the royals sent some important messages during COP26, and their choices in clothes were a big part of that. Never underestimate the importance of using fashion to easily get across a statement.