King Charles turns heads in 40-year-old coat for final outing before leaving UK
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King Charles made his final UK appearance today before an overseas trip, attending a Sunday church service in Norfolk while sporting a decades-old tweed coat.
The 76-year-old monarch arrived at St Mary the Virgin church near his Sandringham estate, greeting well-wishers with smiles and waves.
His double-breasted Anderson & Sheppard coat, a staple in his wardrobe since the late 1980s, features a classic herringbone design.
Queen Camilla was noticeably absent from the service, having last accompanied her husband at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral the previous weekend.
King Charles turns heads in 40-year-old coat for final outing before leaving UK
PA / Getty
The King appeared in high spirits despite the grey and overcast day, stopping to shake hands with members of the public.
It marked his final outing in the UK before heading to Poland on Monday, where the monarch will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
King Charles's distinctive coat features large pockets and a wide peak lapel, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to classic British tailoring.
The monarch has worn this particular garment on numerous notable occasions, including Christmas Day in 2009. He was also photographed wearing it in 1988 while visiting Sandringham with his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
King Charles wearing the same coat alongside Queen Camilla on Christmas Day in 2009
PA
The coat's four-decade presence in the royal wardrobe exemplifies Charles's well-known preference for maintaining and reusing quality garments rather than frequently replacing them.
The King paired his vintage coat with another recycled favourite - a distinctive £180 Hermès silk tie featuring blue owls and white cats on a blush pink background.
This whimsical accessory was last seen in February 2023 during an audience with Baerbel Bas, President of the German Bundestag, at Buckingham Palace.
The monarch's choice of attire reflects his passionate advocacy for sustainable fashion, which he has championed throughout his public life.
King Charles attending church in Norfolk today
PA
For today's church service, he completed his outfit with a light blue shirt, grey trousers and tan dress shoes.
Charles has been a long-time advocate for sustainable fashion, launching The Campaign For Wool in 2010.
"A major part of the change has to be moving from a linear system to a circular one," the King said at the time, emphasising the importance of sustainable textile production.
King Charles greeting onlookers outside the church in Norfolk
PA
His commitment to eco-friendly fashion continues through The King's Foundation, which recently collaborated with Net-A-Porter on a sustainable clothing line.
The collection, created by six fashion graduates during a residency at Dumfries House, featured 13 pieces including slip dresses and knitwear, all emphasising responsible materials and natural dyes.
The project showcases what education director Jacqueline Farrell called "His Majesty King Charles III's vision of harmony."
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