Most people assume the Prince Albert knot is a namesake of the mid-nineteenth century prince consort. Yet, strange as it seems, there’s no evidence linking this tie knot to Prince Albert. Some people believe its name comes from its similarity to the Victoria knot, and since Prince Albert was married to Queen Victoria, the name caught on. Although we can’t say for certain where the name Prince Albert knot comes from, we do know that this elegant tie knot is fit for any member of the royal family.
You may also hear this knot called the Double Four-in-Hand in the men’s fashion community. The reason is that it’s quite similar to the Four-in-Hand, just a little bulkier because the wider end is wrapped around the narrow end twice. Despite the extra steps, the result is a medium-sized knot that’s easy to make, especially when you have the right tutorial to help you.
If you’d like to learn everything there is to know about the Prince Albert tie knot, this article is for you! Keep reading to decide if this knot is the right choice for your next big event, learn some tips for wearing it with style, and step-by-step instructions to help you master it.
When to Wear the Prince Albert Knot
With a name like Prince Albert, this knot sounds fancy. It’s no surprise that you can wear the Prince Albert knot to formal occasions just as you would a Four-in-Hand. It’s elegant but not so formal that you have to reserve it for special events. It’s the perfect choice for a day at the office or a casual look.
One of the benefits of the Prince Albert knot is that it doesn’t require a lot of fabric to create. This is good news for tall men who struggle with tie length, especially when creating elegant styles like the Full Windsor knot. The Prince Albert tie knot is a good alternative, especially when you don’t have any long ties in your wardrobe.
On the other hand, shorter men may also find the Prince Albert knot helpful for getting the right length since it loops around once more than the Four-in-Hand knot. That extra loop uses a bit more fabric, which you can use to your advantage when trying to get your tie right above your belt buckle.
Since the knot is quite slender, skinny ties are not the best option for the Prince Albert knot. Rather, it should be worn with full-size wool or silk ties. These heavier-weight fabrics give the knot a little more body and shape, making them the best types of ties for an elegant knot. If you want to experiment with this knot, try wearing neckties with bold patterns and colors. Doing so will make your Prince Albert tie knot stand out and creates a statement.
Like other knots, the Prince Albert style is best worn with narrow collars due to its slender shape. Normal collars may work fine, especially if you use a wool or thick silk tie, but spread collars will have a very large gap between the knot and the collar, which may look awkward.
How To Tie a Prince Albert Knot
Learning to tie the Prince Albert necktie knot isn’t too complicated, especially if you’re already familiar with the regular Four-in-Hand. Whether you know how to make other knots or you are an absolute beginner, these steps should be easy to follow!
Before you begin, drape your tie around your shoulders, placing the wide end of the tie on your right (if you’re right-handed) and the narrow end on your left. If you’re left-handed, feel free to do the opposite, just remember to account for this difference in the following instructions. Either way, you’ll only be moving the wide end of the tie in this tutorial. The narrow end should be stationary, with the tip resting around or above your navel. Now let’s get to work!
- Start by taking the wide end in your right hand and moving it to the left so that it crosses over the narrow end.
- Now wrap it underneath the narrow end so the tip is again on your right-hand side.
- Cross the wide end over the narrow end again. It should now be on your left side.
- Wrap the wide end back under the narrow end, just as you did in the second step.
- Cross the wide end back over the narrow end once more. If you’ve followed all the steps correctly so far, it should be on your left-hand side.
- Take the wide end in your left hand and pinch the newly formed knot you’ve created by wrapping the tie around in the previous steps. Hold it in place with your right thumb and index finger.
- Pass the wide end of the tie underneath the neck loop so it comes out under your chin.
- Maneuver the wide end through the loose knot you’ve been pinching with your fingers.
- Now it’s time to tighten the tie! Pull the wide end to do this. Then slide the knot upwards. If needed, adjust the knot gently.
It may take a couple of tries, but if you’ve successfully formed the Prince Albert knot, you should see the two loops you formed, the first showing just slightly underneath the second loop.
Some people find it difficult to secure the knot during the final steps. If you run into this problem, it’s likely that you tightened the loops too much when wrapping the tie over and under. Go back through the steps, this time keeping the loops loose during the process. If they are a little too loose, you can always tighten them at the end, but if they are too tight, you’ll have to start over!
Remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t give up if you don’t get the knot you wanted on the first try. Stand in front of the mirror and keep trying!
Successfully Tie Any Knot with PRIME Neckwear’s Collection
The Prince Albert knot is a great style to learn because of its versatility, but it’s also a fun way to switch up your look and experiment with new necktie knots. With the help of this guide, you can wear it in style, but before you get to work on the Prince Albert knot, you’ll need to have the right tie!
Silk ties are the best choice because they look great and are easy to work with, allowing beginners to create the best tie knots. Although many people assume silk ties are expensive, that’s not always the case — PRIME Neckwear offers a wide variety of silk ties at low prices, making them accessible to everyone.
We invite you to browse our collection of best-seller ties or search by color, pattern, or size! Then, check out our selection of accessories, such as pocket squares and tie bars that will take your outfit to the next level!
