Decisions about the types of clothing worn by royal children have traditionally been made by royal parents and nannies. While royal parents have tended to have the final say on matters of style, practical considerations such as the purchasing, laundering, pressing and mending of the children's clothing have often fallen under the remit of the royal nanny.

Of the items of clothing that survive today, ceremonial clothes, worn infrequently and stored carefully when no longer required, tend to be in the best condition. As well as adopting the styles of the day, royal parents have also, on occassion, been responbile for setting new trends in popular children's wear. Highland dress and child-sized sailor suits, for example were both popularized by Queen Victoria.