This article was originally published on Kueez
If we have learned anything from the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry saga, it's that being a part of the Royal family is much harder than it looks. Every family member must abide by the rules put in place by previous monarchs, including Her Royal Highness. The most standard behaviors like taking food or posing for pictures are scrutinized, all under the excuse that is just a part of the job. We gathered the most surprising and lesser-known rules of the royal family, and you won't believe that they still put up with these rules even in modern times.
The Children Are Not Allowed To Say "Mom" Or "Dad"
While saying "mom" and "dad" to our parents only seems natural, it is forbidden for the royals. In England, people say "mum" and "dad," but the royals must address their parents differently. The royals call their parents "mummy" and "daddy" regardless of their age.
It must be strange to hear Prince William calling his father "daddy" even though he is 38-years-old. We wonder if he has to call Camilla "mummy" even though she is not his birth mother. There must be a separate rule because that was such an unusual event.
Nicknames Are Mostly Forbidden
One thing you certainly won't hear among the royals is nicknames. You will never hear someone call the Queen "Lizzy," and everyone in the royal family addresses Kate Middleton as Catherine, but there is one exception to this rule that you probably never realized.
Prince Harry's real name is Henry, but everyone addresses him as Harry. Kate was a name bestowed upon the Duchess of Cambridge by the press, but Prince Harry's parents chose to call him Harry, so it was acceptable with the Queen.
There Are Guidelines For Dressing In Casual Clothes
You will rarely see the royals dressed down very often, but they still have guidelines to follow when they dress more casually. The royal dress codes are all about modesty; therefore, men should keep things casual with a blazer or collared shirt with khakis or jeans on rare occasions.
Meanwhile, the women should go with a day dress or pants with a cardigan or jacket. That is far from our idea of casual, but then again, we aren't representing a monarch that goes back centuries before our time.
Saying "Pardon"
Whether you are a royal or not, interrupting a conversation is always considered rude. However, there are more polite ways to do so by saying "excuse me" or "pardon," but the royals are not allowed to say that no matter who they are talking to.
If someone in the royal family needs to interject in the middle of a conversation, they must say "sorry." This might be due to the fact that "pardon" has French origins, and the royals like to keep themselves separate from the French.
They Must Have Natural Looking Nails
Although it is hard to spot their nails, you might have noticed that Queen Elizabeth has been wearing the same Essie "Ballet Slipper" shade of pink since anyone can remember. This is because there is a royal rule about nails and polish color.
Women in the royal family must have natural-looking nails, limiting them to shades of subtle pink or clear polish. Most of the time, we saw Princess Diana without any nail polish except for a rare occasion when she wore red nails, which was a big no-no.
They Can't Simply Say "Cheers"
If there is one thing to know about the royal family members, they certainly know how to make a toast. Therefore, when they have dinner guests over, they are expected to say more to everyone than a simple "Cheers!"
Imagine going to a dinner at the palace, and Prince Charles raises his glass and utters a short word. That just doesn't seem grand enough for the royals, which is why this is one of the few rules that actually make sense to us.
Hats Are Not Allowed At Night
Fancy and extravagant hats are one of the most exciting parts of royal fashion. They wear them to all kinds of events, from birthday parties to weddings, and it is always entertaining to see who has the best hat, but after a certain hour, they are forbidden.
After sunset, all hats must be traded for tiaras for married members of the royal family. To be fair, it would be strange to see someone wearing one of these extravagant hats in the evening because there is no sun to keep out of their eyes.
They Can't Mention The "Toilet"
Can you imagine the Queen saying, "I have to go to the bathroom?" That would be like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs. The royals like to beat around the bush when it comes to talking about the bathroom or toilet, so they have a different saying for it.
In proper British and royal fashion, the family will say they have to use the "loo" or "lavatory." It sounds more polite than talking about the bathroom openly, but we have to admit the "loo" still sounds like a funny word, so this is one thing we won't be trying.
They Have Very Specific Names For Each Room
When the royals are not in public, it is possible that they are at home relaxing. While we don't know what their version of relaxing is, we do know that it usually happens in what we would call the living room; however, that room is nowhere to be found in the palace.
Instead of calling it a living room, the royals refer to that room as the "sitting room" or "drawing-room." Maybe this has to do with British English, but we don't see the problem with calling it a "living room." It doesn't affect us, but it is strange.
Fur Is Strictly Forbidden
Most people today will opt for faux fur instead of real fur because they care about the welfare of innocent animals. This includes the royals because they are strictly prohibited from wearing real fur, and that rule dates back to the 14th century.
In the 14th century, King Edward III banned all royals from wearing fur, but this rule is often broken. Members of the royal family have faced backlash from anti-fur activists when they are seen in public wearing it, and they should set a better example.
Driving Without A License
You might think that the royals never have to get a driver's license because they have people to drive them around all the time, but that is not the case. The royals are all required to take a driving test to get their license except for one person.
The Queen is the only person in the United Kingdom who can drive a car without a driver's license. She has been driving since she was 19, and she does not need a license because they are issued in her name; therefore, she gets to enjoy the rights that exclude her from the law.
They Don't Call It A "Couch"
The royals have to call the living room something else, so it is no surprise that they have to call the furniture by a different name as well. A royal does not simply sit in the living room on the couch. Instead, they say something more proper.
The royals sit the the "sitting room" on the "sofa." According to the rules, the couch should always be referred to as the sofa. Why this is such an important rule is just as confusing to us as it probably is to you, but the royals are not ordinary people.
They Don't Ask For Dessert
Although they aren't ordinary people, the royals still succumb to their cravings for sweets. However, instead of asking for dessert, they request "pudding." When we think of dessert, pudding is not at the top of our list, but it is not what you think.
Dessert is still on the menu, but the course itself is called pudding because the words "sweet," "afters," and "dessert" are all deemed unacceptable to the royals or upper class. Some very posh people even shorten the word to "pud."
Young Boys Have To Wear Shorts
For Prince George and Prince Louis, it is always summer. There is a tradition among high society and the royal family that little boys should wear shorts until they reach a certain age. Pants are strictly reserved for boys and men.
This rule explains why you always see pictures of the little boys donning shorts with high socks; they have to stay warm somehow. Prince George must have reached the required age for pants because we have recently seen him sporting some khakis and slacks.
They Can't Ask For Another Portion
Some of these rules don't make much sense to commoners like us, but this is probably why we aren't royals. According to the rules, when someone in the royal family wants more food, they do not say they would like another "portion."
They do not eat "portions," but a "helping." When asking for more food, the royals must say they would like another helping. We think the word portion sounds more polite, but they would know better because they go through etiquette training.
They Aren't Allowed To Wear Black
While a classic black lool will never go out of style, the royals strictly reserve black for evenings and funerals. The Queen made a rule that all family members must have a black outfit with them wherever they go, though, in case of a sudden death while they are traveling.
Even the children are restricted from wearing black except for the military suit Prince George wore as a page boy for his uncle's wedding. Black is such a staple in our wardrobe, so we don't know how they pick outfits without wearing black.
They Shop For "Scents" Not "Perfume"
When most of us spray on a fragrance, we call it "perfume," but that is no what the Windsors would say. The fragrance they apply to themselves is called a "scent." Anywhere else, saying scent seems very unnatural because it is not what we grew up learning.
The only person we can think of that would say, "I like your scent," is a creepy stalker. Maybe if you say it enough, it sounds more normal. We wonder if that is something all British people say or reserved to the royals.
Show Cleavage Is A No-No
Modesty is the number one rule for fashion in the royal family, which means showing cleavage is off-limits for royal women. However, Princess Diana's fashion choices didn't always fit the rules, but she had a way to bend the rules with a special accessory.
When Princess Diana wore something with a less modest neckline, she would use her clutch to cover up her chest as she climbed out of the car. We are sure the Queen disapproved, but she marched to the beat of her own drum.
Slow Eaters Shouldn't Have Meals With The Queen
If you are a slow eater, it's a good thing you aren't eating with the Queen. Slow eaters must decline invitations to eat with the Queen because the rule stands that nobody should be eating once Her Royal Highness has finished her meal.
People know the mean is over when she places her bag on the table. We wonder what she thinks of people who finish long before her. Is everyone supposed to keep eating pace with the Queen? If you have been to a meal at the palace, please give us the answers we need.
Hair Must Be Kept Tidy
Looking prim and proper is part of the job as a royal, and that means that their hair should be in place without a flyaway in sight. The royal household even recommended hairnets for women to keep their updos in place for royal engagements.
We wouldn't blame the women for not wanting to wear hairnets because they are so old-fashioned. We also understand how hard it is to keep all your hairs in place, and even though they are royal, they are still human. Meghan's hair still looks nice despite the flyaways.
Showing Too Much Leg
Modesty comes into play for many rules regarding attire for the royal family. According to the rules, royal women are not supposed to show too much leg to keep their modesty. To avoid a wardrobe malfunction, the women are encouraged to wear tights or sheer pantyhose to keep their legs covered.
This reminds us of when we could only wear fingertip-length shorts, skirts, and dresses in grade school. We wonder if their clothes also have to be fingertip length to keep their modesty or if everything has to be at least knee-length.
Royals Shouldn't Wear Linen
If you are a fan of wearing linen because it is light and breathable, you will know how easy it wrinkles. Therefore, this fabric can look untidy, which is why the royals are discouraged from wearing it. They want to look pressed and polished whenever they are in public.
Royals are always supposed to look clean and tidy, so all of their clothes are pressed and made of durable materials that won't crease easily. We can't say the same for ourselves, but we think this is appropriate for the royal family.
No One Can Reprimand The Queen's Dogs
Like the Queen herself, the royal corgis are just as powerful. They might not have opposable thumbs or the ability to make new rules, but they do have some kind of power. The dogs have free reign to do whatever they please, and no one can stop them.
No one in the palace is allowed to yell at the Queen's dogs, no matter their behavior. We thought our pets were treated like royalty, but this is taking that to another level. This means even if they bite someone, no one can yell at them to stop.
The Royals Are Advised To Avoid Garlic
Garlic is one of those vegetables that makes everything smell when it is added to a dish. Some people think you can never have too much garlic, but we think it stinks up everything even when the tiniest bit is added, and it looks like the Queen has the same thoughts.
The Queen is not a fan of garlic, which means that no food served at Buckingham Palace contains it. People are also advised not to eat garlic before visiting the queen because she hates the smell so much. It seems reasonable if you ask us.
Eating Food At Unsanctioned Events
You would think that accepting food at events is acceptable because everyone else is doing it, but apparently, it is against the rules. Royals are not allowed to take food or drinks from strangers at unsanctioned events in case it is poisoned.
Royals no longer travel with tasters to protect them from being poisoned or eating bad food, so they have to big extra cautious with the food and drinks they eat. It sounds a bit medieval, but we don't know the people out to get the royal family.
Selfies Are Frowned Upon
If you saw one of the royals like Kate Middleton, wouldn't you want a selfie with her? Even though some people are sneaky and manage to snap them, the palace disapproves of posing for selfies because they are considered tacky.
We can understand why they wouldn't want bad pictures of themselves on the internet, but who wouldn't try to take a selfie with them. Selfies are the way of the 21st century, so they should update their rules to be more connected with the public.
PDA Is Off-Limits
Although the couples in the royal family might love each other dearly, they are not supposed to show public displays of affection. Marrying a prince might seem like an actual fairytale, but you can't make a big show of it in public.
Members of the royal family and their significant others are supposed to keep their composure and decency in public by refraining from getting too mushy. Some people have broken this rule, but we won't name names.
Holding Hands Is Even Frowned Upon
This rule mostly applies to the older generations of the family because the newer royals have become more relaxed about it. Like PDA, holding hands is technically against the rules, and you would rarely see the Queen and Philip holding hands in public.
Couples like Prince William and Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan are more relaxed about holding hands in public. It is an innocent act, and it shows the public a united front, so we think it should be encouraged rather than frowned upon.
Heirs Are Not Allowed To Travel Together
One thing you will never see is Prince William and his father, Prince Charles, traveling together. It is not because they don't want to, but because they aren't allowed to. The heirs to the throne will never travel together as a safety precaution.
This royal rule was put into place when air travel first began, and it wasn't as safe. Although flying is much safer now, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George will never ride in the same plane all at once.
Wedges Are Usually Not Allowed
When the Queen says something, it usually goes, and according to inside sources, she hates wedge shoes. However, Kate Middleton has been photographed wearing them on several occasions. She follows the rest of the rules, so is it terrible that she wears wedges?
Inside sources have said that the women of the family only wear wedges when the Queen isn't around. We guess the queen isn't looking at gossip columns or Instagram, so she doesn't care if they wear them when she isn't there.
Royals Don't Vote
It might seem strange, but the royal family and politics do not go hand in hand. The royals do not vote because they are not supposed to express political opinions, and they are also not allowed to run for office. They are supposed to stay impartial.
This also applies to cultural affairs. For example, Prince George caused quite the stir when he was photographed in an England Lioness jersey. Critics said he was supporting one soccer team over another. They have to keep their opinions completely secret.
Eating Shellfish Is Not Allowed
Although there have been rare sightings of a royal family member eating shellfish, it is against the rules. The entire royal family, including the children, are supposed to avoid shellfish because it is the most common food to cause food poisoning.
Most children aren't fans of shellfish anyway, so we can imagine that the royal children don't mind this particular rule. The royals will do anything to stay healthy and avoid sickness. Philip lived to be almost 100, so they must be doing something right.
Closing The Car Door
Although it sounds like a strange rule (like most of these), the royal rule is that the royals should not close the car door behind them. This is in place for security measures in case they need to swiftly get back into the car and be driven away from a scene.
Clearly, Meghan didn't get the memo about most of these things, but now we understand why. Maybe she did it out of habit because no one just gets out of the car and naturally leaves the car door open. That would be hard to learn if you haven't done that your whole life.
The Queen Gets In The Car Second
While the previous car rule was for security measures, we think the Queen created this one for her own satisfaction. When someone is riding with the Queen, they have to get in the car first due to her possibly preference for sitting behind the driver.
She is the Queen, so people have to do what she says, but it does seem like something she made up. Maybe she doesn't like sliding across the back row because it is not lady-like. We guess people just go along with it because it doesn't affect them much.
No One Should Match The Queen
If you were the Queen, you probably wouldn't want anyone showing up to an event in the same outfit or something similar. Therefore, there is a rule in place so that no one will upstage the Queen in public, and her staff makes sure to enforce this.
Before any event the Queen is attending, the rest of the royal family are prepped with specifics about her outfit to avoid fashion mishaps. Can you imagine what would happen if someone showed up in the same outfit as the Queen? That would be a bad day for the royal family.
Royals Can't Refuse Gifts
If you have seen a picture of the royals greeting their subjects, you might notice that they have their arms full with bouquets of flowers and gifts. This is because they are not allowed to refuse gifts regardless of how strange they may be.
They want to appear grateful to the public, so they graciously accept everything offered to them besides food and drinks. However, for the royal children, the queen gets to decide what they are allowed to keep because they get showered with gifts.
Don't Expect An Autograph
As some of the most high-profile people in the world, the royal family is recognized wherever they go. It would be amazing to meet them, but do not expect to walk away with an autograph from a family member because it is against the rules.
They are prohibited from signing autographs as a way to prevent forgeries. Some people might try to use their signatures for the wrong reasons, which would be bad for obvious reasons. If you do meet them, you can at least take pictures of them.
They Keep Their Shoes On At The Beach
When you go to the beach, one of the first things you might do is kick off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes. However, the royal family is not allowed to do that because it breaks protocol, and there isn't a good reason behind this rule.
There have been numerous royal engagements where the royals are seen trudging through the sand in flats, loafers, and even heels. However, if they are there for a personal beach day, they can relax and take off their shoes like the rest of us.
No Baby Showers
While baby showers are customary in the United States, it isn't commonplace in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the royals don't have baby showers either. In the UK, friends wait until the baby is born to bring gifts and see the baby.
They also don't have gender reveals. The gender of royal babies is kept a secret until the baby is born, and of course, the Queen is the first one to be notified after the child's birth. She wouldn't have it any other way.
They Keep Their Maiden Names
You might have noticed that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle kept their last names after they married, and that wasn't by choice. Besides their new titles, they keep their names because the royals don't have last names to give.
Technically, royals do not have last names. In modern times, they began adopting their titles as their last names, but when they get married, they are given new titles, so those "last names" are rendered irrelevant.
They Can't Talk To Just Anyone At Dinner
When you go to a dinner party, usually there isn't a limit on who you can and can't talk to unless you are part of the royal family. At formal engagements, the table is laid out, with guests being seated by age, interests, and gender.
Based on the seating assignments, everyone is to follow the Queen's lead and speak to the person on their right side during the first course. Then they speak to the person on their left during the second course.
They Can't Show Too Much Skin
There are many dress codes to follow as a member of the royal family, and most of them surround modesty. One of the more important dressing rules is not to show too much skin because it is not appropriate.
At certain events like Trooping of the Colour and Remembrance Day, this rule is especially stressed to make sure no one looks inappropriate. These days are supposed to be about the holiday and not about whose cleavage is showing.
Wearing A Tiara While Unmarried
While one would assume being a princess automatically means you get to wear a tiara, that would be wrong. It is a tradition that unmarried women don't wear tiaras in order to show that they are available.
This is why you never saw Kate Middleton wearing a tiara until her wedding day. Sadly, Princess Charlotte will have to wait to wear her first tiara until she is married. The movies were completely wrong about everything.
They Don't Open Presents On Christmas Day
Traditionally, people tend to open their presents with family on Christmas Day. However, some families have different traditions like opening one present on Christmas Eve or exchanging Christmas stockings. The royal family also has their own traditions that don't include presents on Christmas Day.
As a nod to their German roots, the royal family opens all their presents on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning. They gather together at the palace or in their homes and spend time as a family, which is a rare occasion with all their royal commitments.
The Queen Doesn't Allow Specific Side Dishes
As you probably could have guessed by now, the Queen is very particular about what she likes and dislikes. Therefore, the people in her life have to remember all these accommodations when they are with her. She is particularly specific about the foods she likes and dislikes.
When eating at Buckingham Palace, you won't find pasta, rice, or potatoes as a side dish because the Queen doesn't allow it. Maybe she is on a low-carb diet, or she just doesn't like those foods, but there is a strict ban on them.
No One Can Turn Their Back Towards The Queen
The Queen is the most important member of the royal family, and people have to act a certain way around her. This includes how you walk and talk around her. When someone has to leave the Queen's side, they cannot simply turn around and walk away.
If someone has to leave the Queen, they must walk backward and pivot forwards because they cannot turn their back on her. This is because showing your backside to the monarch is considered dismissive and disrespectful.
Playing Monopoly Is Not Allowed
While it may not be official protocol, Prince Andrew once said that the royal family game nights would never include Monopoly. This classic board game seems harmless (besides causing sibling arguments). Apparently, the games used to get too vicious, so they stopped playing it.
We can imagine Prince Charles and Prince Andrew as children fighting over who has the most money, and the Queen had to break up one too many fights, so she banned Monopoly from game night.
Women Can't Cross Their Legs
Have you ever noticed that women in the royal family never cross their legs? Well, they actually aren't supposed to. The women of the royal family have to master the "duchess slant" like you see in this photo. They join their ankles and slide their legs to the side.
While it is the protocol for women in the family, they are allowed to cross their legs at more casual engagements. You have probably seen Kate or Meghan crossing their legs when they aren't posing for family portraits or sitting with the Queen.
They Don't Say "Posh"
Although the royals are "posh" in every sense of the word, you will never hear them describe themselves in that way. Instead, they would use words like "smart." According to Kate Middleton, "posh" would only be used ironically in a jokey tone.
To them, the word posh is a low-class word, surprisingly. Maybe it is like a cool person calling themselves cool. It just defeats the whole meaning of the word and makes them seem less classy to other people.
They Don't Travel Light
As a member of the royal family, you have to be dressed to impress for every occasion. Therefore, when they are traveling, they have to have a fabulous outfit for every meeting, engagement, and meal. They don't wear the same thing twice, and they need to be prepared for everything.
The royals always have a ton of luggage, and it is a good thing they fly on private planes because they need it. When they are on tour they could have upwards of ten suitcases for all their outfits.