US Press Upset with Royal Dress Code Decree, White House Says Journalists Can Dress as Usual for Prince William’s Visit

The three-day royal visit of Prince William and Kate Middleton to the United States that started on Monday requires the attendant press corps to be dressed appropriately if they want to come near the royal couple.

This royal decree was not received well by the press in the US. A New York Daily report was scathing about the edict and called it a "tyranny." in its denouncement .

"Smart attire for men includes the wearing of a jacket and tie, and for women a trouser or skirt suit," the palace insists.

"Those wearing jeans or trainers will not be admitted and casually dressed members of the media will be turned away. This also applies to technicians." This means that those behind the cameras will also have to lug equipment in jackets and ties.

"Why should the United States' press corps - who barely bother to brush the muffin crumbs off their polo shirts before lobbing questions at the President of the United States - schlep extra pieces of clothing to work just so they can make small talk with a (perfectly nice-seeming) British air ambulance pilot in training and a former chain-store accessories buyer," the New York Magazine wrote.

The royals have 10 official engagements and one of them sees Prince William visiting Barack Obama at the White House.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the Guardian that the White House can determine appropriate attire.

"It will be down to the White House, as the host, to set the dress code for what media should be wearing," the spokesman said. He confirmed that reporters wearing jeans or informal footwear would not be turned away. "Of course they're not," he said.

The White House does not have a dress code for journalists and a spokespersons said things would not be any different for the Prince's visit.