Diplomats refer to it as “soft diplomacy” – the art of saying things without actually uttering a single word. Another definition is of it is “saying without saying”.
On the 24th of February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Media around the world have covered the facts, and have talked about the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding by the hour. Over 2 million people have already left the country, mostly women with young children, and many more seem to be trapped in cities under siege without the chance of escaping.
Royals are generally positioned above politics. They never take part in the partisan discussions that are part of the daily life of a country. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t know what is going on, or that they are not making their position known when they feel it is appropriate.
A case in point is Ukraine. Besides a few statements, it has mostly been in the form of silent and conspicuous donations that the Royals have shown their support.
But, if we look closer, messages about their position on the issue have been crystal clear – just not verbalised.
The most talked about was The Queen’s flower arrangement. Just one picture of Her Majesty meeting Canadian prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stopped at Windsor Castle during a tour of Easter Europe, was enough to showcase a rather significant moment. The two were strategically positioned so as to highlight the flower arrangement in the background. Blue hydrangeas and yellow tulips blossoms emerged from a simple glass vase, in a powerful message reflecting the colours of Ukraine’s flag.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London on Wednesday, bringing brownies and granola bars for the volunteers packing aid supplies headed to Eastern Europe and managing the ever-growing influx of refugees. The Duchess was wearing a blue jumper, one of the two colours of the Ukrainian flag. On her left side, a pin with the Ukrainian flag and a white heart in the middle. The Duke of Cambridge wore the pin, too.
In the rest of Europe, the tributes to the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people have been just as touching and abundant.
On the 6th of March, Queen Sonja of Norway watched the Homlenkollen ski competition wearing an outfit that was generally seen as an homage to the Ukrainian flag: a yellow sweater paired with a blue scarf with golden details, as well as a blue and yellow ribbon appointed to her jacket.
The Luxembourg Royals have also been out and about, and, since the beginning of the conflict, they have also used clothing to send a message of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. During a dinner with Government members on the 7th of March, both Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie were dressed in blue with gold jewellery, while during a visit to an exhibition on the 9th the Grand Duchess was wearing a yellow coat. But it was the black outfit that she wore during an audience with Ukrainian refugees on the 9th that drew the attention of the public, because it was decorated with a motif that resembled traditional Ukrainian clothing.
Likewise, on the 3rd of March, Queen Letizia handed out the Loans for Projects of Social Help awarded by the Mutua Madrid Foundation, and she was wearing a typical Ukrainian top, paired with simple black trousers. It made an impact, and it was seen as a clear message on where the Spanish Monarchy stands when it comes to the conflict.
In short, lots of unspoken support for the Ukrainian people in their difficult fight against an unprovoked attack that has now entered its third week and that has targeted civilians and soft targets like hospitals and schools, causing an immense amount of damage and pain.
