King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Sydney today on the first leg of their Australian tour, and were welcomed with very British drizzle (and a light show, with their images projected onto the Sydney Opera House).
Camilla emerged on the steps wearing a royal blue dress by Fiona Clare and carrying her rather gorgeous taupe Charlotte Elizabeth Bloomsbury handbag. But it was another accessory we were more interested in here at GH HQ: the clear Fulton Birdcage umbrella.
Loved by the late Queen Elizabeth II as it allowed people to still see her (and her outfit) during rainy days on parade, the Birdcage brolly has a robust design, with the birdcage rounded hood meaning you'll be protected from splashes and spray.
An umbrella fit for a Queen (the brand has a Royal Warrant) for less than £25? We're sold.
The umbrella has hundreds of five-star reviews online, with users praising the sturdy construction, comfortable, ergonomic handle and smooth opening mechanism. One reviewer says they would never buy any other brolly.
We're also fans of the vintage, 1960s-inspired design – perfect with this year's shorter skirt lengths, suede jackets and tactile fabrics.
Now, we have said it's the only umbrella you'll ever need, but it does come with a choice of six coloured trims, so if you want one to match every outfit, we totally understand. Bundles are available – we love this one, which includes an option inspired by the London skyline.
Fulton Birdcage 1 Red Women's Umbrella Red & Birdcage 2 Dome Shape Umbrella London Icons
With the autumn weather proving particularly unpredictable right now (as I write, I'm currently looking out at blue skies with sunshine streaming through my window, but “explosive” wind and rain are predicted for the weekend), a hardy umbrella is always a good idea. (We also suggest one of our fashion director's favourite waterproof jackets.)
Just make sure you don't leave it on the train.
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
