Skip to main contentSkip to footer
king charles in blue jacket © Getty Images

King Charles gets fans talking with latest appearance

The monarch paid a visit to an offshore turbine factory on Thursday

Phoebe Tatham
Content Writer
February 14, 2025
Share this:

King Charles sparked a sweet fan reaction on Thursday when he paid a visit to SeAH Wind's offshore turbine factory in Middlesbrough.

For the wintry outing, His Majesty, 76, adhered to strict safety measures and stepped out wearing a velcro high-vis jacket and a gleaming white hard hat. He wore the safety gear layered over his smart winter longline coat crafted from caramel-hued wool.

two men walking in factory © Getty Images
The monarch paid a visit to Middlesbrough

Ever the thrifty royal, Charles also rewore his 'Cat and Owl' printed silk tie from Hermès - a firm favourite in his wardrobe.

The plant, located in Teesside, manufactures 120m long turbine bases and is the largest of its kind in the world, spanning a whopping 14 football stadiums.

During his visit, the monarch was shown a calibration roll machine which shapes the steel sheets into cylinders as part of the manufacturing process.

man smiling in high-vis and hat © Getty Images

All smiles

His new look prompted a flurry of comments on social media, with one writing: "It's the high-vis vest that does it for me," while a second noted: "I love a man in a hard hat." 

king charles in hard hat © Getty Images

Charles's trip to Venezuela

This isn't the first time that Charles has put safety first during royal engagements. Back in 1978, the then-Prince Charles donned a flaming red hard hat as he toured a steel plant in Caracas, Venezuela. 

In stark contrast to his typically dapper aesthetic, Charles also opted to wear a stone-hued utilitarian outfit with rolled-up sleeves.

Other members of the British family have also followed suit…

prince william in hard hat and high-vis jacket© WireImage

Prince William's visit to Auckland

In 2010, the Prince of Wales was a fluorescent delight dressed in a tangerine jacket complete with bold yellow stripes and a sunshine yellow hard hat.

He wore the bright ensemble on a visit to view developments at Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

princess kate in high-vis jacket © Getty Images

Princess Kate's visit to Sunderland

The Princess of Wales looked the part in 2018 as she stepped out to visit the Northern Spire, a new bridge over the River Wear in Sunderland. 

Eschewing her typically sleek style, Princess Kate spruced up her sophisticated forest green coat with a lime-hued high-vis jacket, a pair of slender safety goggles and a white hard hat. It's giving construction chic! 

LISTEN: A Right Royal Podcast

ROYAL FAN? JOIN THE CLUB

Welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club, where thousands of royal fans like you get to delve deeper into the wonderful world of royalty every day. Want to join them? Just click the button below for a list of club benefits and joining information.

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information please click here.

More Royalty

See more