Time for a royal wardrobe warning

PING! an email arrives from a publicist concerning an important matter of state — Prince harry’s jumper. Upon arriving in australia, harry was photographed in a grey zip-up woollie: hold the front page.

The PR wants to know if I could mention the make, and provide a link to the manufacturer’s website ASAP?

actually, no. Prince harry is very far from being in a commercial relationship with this famous cashmere house, but it does show how impertinent brands are becoming; just desperate for some royal cachet in this super-age of commercialism. however, have they have been egged on by the behaviour of some of our more pushy royal ladies?

On Instagram, the Duchess of York posted a pic of herself and thanked French fashion house Ungaro for the sumptuous gown she wore to one of Princess Eugenie’s wedding parties.

and back in australia, the Duchess of Sussex is being very generous by wearing her friends’ designs on her first major commonwealth tour. Especially as the oversized jacket by Serena Williams and the frocks by Misha nonoo have done her few favours. Yes, these women might be good chums, but shouldn’t Meghan be rather suspicious of how quick they have been to take advantage of her royal position?

Yes, she may have dutifully worn outfits by local aussie designers — and also a pair of jeans made by cambodian sex traffic survivors — but isn’t this just a bit too deliberate?

While the Duchess of cambridge remains unimpeachable in her promotion of British designers, it would be good if others reined in their quasi- commercial activities. Using the affection and interest of the British public for their own commercial ends feels wrong.