15 Most Bonkers Rules The Royal Family Must Follow
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We have to admit, at one point in our lives – we all dreamt of being royals.
We all had dreams of wealth, fame, happiness, style and social influence and so on. Who doesn’t want that life that looks like it was taken straight out of a Disney movie, right?
However, we also know by now that being part of the royal family is no walk in the park.
From fashion and dining to social graces and disciplining children (and even their pets), there are some pretty strict – and rather strange – etiquette guidelines and traditions that the Royal Family must adhere to.
Here are some of them.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images.
When the Queen stands, everyone does too.
Being the head of the Commonwealth is a big crown to bear, that is why everyone must pay their respects when the Queen herself graces them with her presence.
Everyone in the Queens' presence is required to rise when the Queen is standing, or when she enters or exits a room.
And when the Queen is done eating, everyone is too.
The same rule goes at a royal dinner. If the Queen is finished eating, you must fold your napkin in half and set aside everything you got from the table.
Credit: Getty Images.
The royal diet does not include shellfish…
Members of the royal family are not allowed to eat shellfish during meals, especially when they're dining outside their homes or while on the road, visiting foreign countries. It is viewed as something that could more likely lead to food poisoning and allergic reactions.
…and garlic, potatoes, and spaghetti bolognese.
The Queen is also not a fan of pungent veggies like garlic, and therefore the ingredient is left out of all preparations for dinners that she attends and hosts. Her Majesty is not a fan of potatoes and messy food like spaghetti bolognese as well (okay, now we aren’t interested in the whole Royal family thing at all).
Credit: Getty Images.
Hats are a rule.
The royal dress code states that women must always wear hats for formal events.
According to Diana Mather, a senior tutor for The English Manner etiquette consultancy, it was deemed unseemly for both royal and upper-class women to show off their hair in public back in the 1950s.
Nowadays, however, the younger generation of royals do go hat-free when attending non-official occasions.
At 5 pm, all married ladies wear tiaras.
According to the royal family dress code, all married women must wear tiaras at 5 pm. Tiaras are traditionally worn during formal events, especially when the code is evening dress.
According to Etiquette expert Grant Harrold, tiaras are worn so gentlemen would not dare to “make advances toward the lady in question”.
“For married women, it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband,” he said.
There is a strict dress code.
Speaking of dress codes, members of the Royal Family are also expected to dress modestly and never overtly casual. Meaning, they can’t be seen in public wearing just a tee and a pair of sweatpants.
Credit: Getty Images.
They always bring an all-black ensemble with them.
And while we’re on the topic of dress codes, did you know that the royals always travel with a set of respectable all-black outfits, in case there's a funeral they need to attend or they need to be unexpectedly seen in mourning.
Chin placement is very important.
According to etiquette experts, royal women are instructed to always stand and walk down the stairs with their chins parallel to the ground, with their hands always at their sides as well.
Not only does this gesture ensure good posture at all times, but it also helps indicate that the royal women are paying attention and interested in what's happening around them.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images.
Two heirs cannot fly together.
Speaking of tragedies, two royal heirs are not allowed to travel together without special permission from Queen Elizabeth II.
Since Prince William and his son, Prince George, are both closest in line to the throne, the two will have to start travelling separately once the younger prince turns twelve.
No politics allowed.
By tradition, it is considered unconstitutional for members of the royal family to vote or even publicly express their opinion on political matters.
Like her father and all the kings before her, Queen Elizabeth II is expected to be completely neutral on political matters. Other senior royals – believed to extend down to at least Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – do not vote in elections either.
No PDA allowed.
Although there is no formal law that forbids future monarchs from showing affection, it's rare to see royals do more than hold hands, engage in a side hug or share a quick peck in public.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on the other hand, clearly were not under as much pressure to adhere to this protocol.
No selfies and autographs allowed.
The Royal Family does not approve of selfies. Generally speaking, royals politely decline photographs as they are often focused on an engagement when out in public, and in their working capacity.
They also aren’t allowed to sign autographs because it would increase the risk of having their signatures forged.
Credit: Getty Images.
Marriage proposals require permission.
According to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, royal descendants were required to obtain permission from the monarch before they could marry. And if that permission wasn't granted and they married anyway, the marriage was considered void.
The Queen approved all the unions of her children and grandchildren – from Prince Andrew and Fergie to Prince Charles’ proposals to Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles.
More recently, she gave her seal of approval when William proposed to Kate Middleton, and when Harry asked Meghan Markle for her hand in marriage.
Royals were not allowed to marry a Roman Catholic – until 2011.
Speaking of marriages, members of the royal family used to be forbidden from marrying a Roman Catholic as per the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Now, royals are allowed to marry someone of any faith, so as long as the Queen approves. However, they are not allowed to convert to Catholicism.
We all had dreams of wealth, fame, happiness, style and social influence and so on. Who doesn’t want that life that looks like it was taken straight out of a Disney movie, right?
However, we also know by now that being part of the royal family is no walk in the park.
From fashion and dining to social graces and disciplining children (and even their pets), there are some pretty strict – and rather strange – etiquette guidelines and traditions that the Royal Family must adhere to.
Here are some of them.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images.
When the Queen stands, everyone does too.
Being the head of the Commonwealth is a big crown to bear, that is why everyone must pay their respects when the Queen herself graces them with her presence.
Everyone in the Queens' presence is required to rise when the Queen is standing, or when she enters or exits a room.
And when the Queen is done eating, everyone is too.
The same rule goes at a royal dinner. If the Queen is finished eating, you must fold your napkin in half and set aside everything you got from the table.
Credit: Getty Images.
The royal diet does not include shellfish…
Members of the royal family are not allowed to eat shellfish during meals, especially when they're dining outside their homes or while on the road, visiting foreign countries. It is viewed as something that could more likely lead to food poisoning and allergic reactions.
…and garlic, potatoes, and spaghetti bolognese.
The Queen is also not a fan of pungent veggies like garlic, and therefore the ingredient is left out of all preparations for dinners that she attends and hosts. Her Majesty is not a fan of potatoes and messy food like spaghetti bolognese as well (okay, now we aren’t interested in the whole Royal family thing at all).
Credit: Getty Images.
Hats are a rule.
The royal dress code states that women must always wear hats for formal events.
According to Diana Mather, a senior tutor for The English Manner etiquette consultancy, it was deemed unseemly for both royal and upper-class women to show off their hair in public back in the 1950s.
Nowadays, however, the younger generation of royals do go hat-free when attending non-official occasions.
At 5 pm, all married ladies wear tiaras.
According to the royal family dress code, all married women must wear tiaras at 5 pm. Tiaras are traditionally worn during formal events, especially when the code is evening dress.
According to Etiquette expert Grant Harrold, tiaras are worn so gentlemen would not dare to “make advances toward the lady in question”.
“For married women, it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband,” he said.
There is a strict dress code.
Speaking of dress codes, members of the Royal Family are also expected to dress modestly and never overtly casual. Meaning, they can’t be seen in public wearing just a tee and a pair of sweatpants.
Credit: Getty Images.
They always bring an all-black ensemble with them.
And while we’re on the topic of dress codes, did you know that the royals always travel with a set of respectable all-black outfits, in case there's a funeral they need to attend or they need to be unexpectedly seen in mourning.
Chin placement is very important.
According to etiquette experts, royal women are instructed to always stand and walk down the stairs with their chins parallel to the ground, with their hands always at their sides as well.
Not only does this gesture ensure good posture at all times, but it also helps indicate that the royal women are paying attention and interested in what's happening around them.
Credit: AFP via Getty Images.
Two heirs cannot fly together.
Speaking of tragedies, two royal heirs are not allowed to travel together without special permission from Queen Elizabeth II.
Since Prince William and his son, Prince George, are both closest in line to the throne, the two will have to start travelling separately once the younger prince turns twelve.
No politics allowed.
By tradition, it is considered unconstitutional for members of the royal family to vote or even publicly express their opinion on political matters.
Like her father and all the kings before her, Queen Elizabeth II is expected to be completely neutral on political matters. Other senior royals – believed to extend down to at least Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – do not vote in elections either.
No PDA allowed.
Although there is no formal law that forbids future monarchs from showing affection, it's rare to see royals do more than hold hands, engage in a side hug or share a quick peck in public.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on the other hand, clearly were not under as much pressure to adhere to this protocol.
No selfies and autographs allowed.
The Royal Family does not approve of selfies. Generally speaking, royals politely decline photographs as they are often focused on an engagement when out in public, and in their working capacity.
They also aren’t allowed to sign autographs because it would increase the risk of having their signatures forged.
Credit: Getty Images.
Marriage proposals require permission.
According to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, royal descendants were required to obtain permission from the monarch before they could marry. And if that permission wasn't granted and they married anyway, the marriage was considered void.
The Queen approved all the unions of her children and grandchildren – from Prince Andrew and Fergie to Prince Charles’ proposals to Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles.
More recently, she gave her seal of approval when William proposed to Kate Middleton, and when Harry asked Meghan Markle for her hand in marriage.
Royals were not allowed to marry a Roman Catholic – until 2011.
Speaking of marriages, members of the royal family used to be forbidden from marrying a Roman Catholic as per the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Now, royals are allowed to marry someone of any faith, so as long as the Queen approves. However, they are not allowed to convert to Catholicism.
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