The morbid reason royal family members always pack a spare outfit when traveling abroad

When members of the royal family travel abroad, they are required to pack a spare of one type of outfit -- and the reason why is incredibly morbid.

When Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip took a trip abroad to Kenya in 1952, they received heartbreaking news that her father, King George VI, had passed away. If you're a fan of Netflix's "The Crown," this scene was re-enacted in one of the episodes.

Because Elizabeth didn't have an all-black outfit in her possession at the time, she had to wait on the plane for one to be delivered so that she didn't arrive to the somber mood of country wearing unsuitable clothing.

RELATED: Photos from the latest royal tour:

Similarly, when Diana's father died while the Waleses were on a skiing trip to the Alps, they put on their black clothes and then got on a plane back for England.

Now, whenever a royal leaves the country, an all-black ensemble is always packed in their suitcase just in case someone from their family dies while they are away. Unsurprisingly, it's not just the royal family who follow this tradition -- it's part of diplomatic life for every head of state. They either pack mourning wear or be prepared to quickly buy something suitable.

For more on the royal tradition, watch the video above.

RELATED: Where the royal family heads to for vacation:

Advertisement