Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

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See Again

© NL Beeld

0 / 27 Fotos

Family and non-family rules - When outsiders are introduced to the King or Queen, they naturally follow certain etiquette out of respect. However, the monarch is so high-ranking that even their own family must follow the same rules in their presence.

© Shutterstock

1 / 27 Fotos

Stand when they stand -

Everyone who met Queen Elizabeth during her life was informed of this basic protocol. When she stands, you stand.

© Getty Images

2 / 27 Fotos

Curtsy and nod -

When greeting the King or Queen, women are required to curtsy and men must bow their heads (even their own family).

© Getty Images

3 / 27 Fotos

They walk away first -

The King or Queen must always be the first person to turn around and leave when a conversation is over. You should always see the back of their head and they should never see yours.

© Reuters

4 / 27 Fotos

Handbag signal #1 -

It's rumored that the Queen used the position of her handbag to send a private message to her staff. If she moved her bag to her right hand, that meant they needed to come and rescue her from a conversation!

© Getty Images

5 / 27 Fotos

Dinner conversation -

In the past, the Queen followed the same procedure at every dinner party. For the first part of the meal, she would speak to the person on her right. When the second course was served she would switch to the person on her left. Very diplomatic! Will King Charles do the same?

© Getty Images

6 / 27 Fotos

The Queen takes the last bite -

At formal dinners, the Queen would decide when the meal was over. Everyone else had to stop eating once she'd taken her last bite.

© Getty Images

7 / 27 Fotos

Handbag signal #2 - When the Queen put her bag on the dinner table, it was a signal that the meal must come to an end within five minutes.

© Getty Images

8 / 27 Fotos

Philip walked behind the Queen -

Since their marriage in 1947, Prince Philip was obliged always to walk a few steps behind the Queen. Will Camilla have to walk behind Charles?

© Getty Images

9 / 27 Fotos

Driver's license - The Queen was the only person in the UK permitted to drive without a driver's license, and now King Charles will be the new exception. This is because British driver's licenses are issued in the monarch's name.

© Getty Images

10 / 27 Fotos

No shellfish -

It's said that royals are banned from eating shellfish, most likely because of the risk of food poisoning.

© Shutterstock

11 / 27 Fotos

No garlic -

It's rumored that there garlic was banned at Buckingham Palace because the Queen didn't like it. For the sake of the rest of the royal family's palates, hopefully King Charles will change that rule!

© Shutterstock

12 / 27 Fotos

Monopoly is banned - It's rumored that the game Monopoly is banned at the palace. Prince Andrew once revealed to the press that they were no longer allowed to play it as it became "too vicious." Oh, to be a fly on the wall during a family game of Monopoly at Buckingham Palace...

© Shutterstock

13 / 27 Fotos

Christmas presents - Unlike most British families, the royal family opens their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve instead of early on Christmas day.

© Getty Images

14 / 27 Fotos

No fur - King Edward III banned the royals from wearing fur in the 12th century and technically the rule hasn't been changed, but it has definitely been breached on several occasions!

© iStock

15 / 27 Fotos

Approval for marriage - Members of the royal family must ask the permission of the monarch, formerly Queen Elizabeth and now King Charles, before making a marriage proposal. This rule was created in the Royal Marriages Act of 1772.

© Getty Images

16 / 27 Fotos

Myrtle bouquet -

Traditionally, royal brides always carry a sprig of myrtle in their bouquets. The flower is thought to symbolize love and marriage.

© Getty Images

17 / 27 Fotos

The royal wedding party -

A royal wedding party must always include a gaggle of young children to act as flower girls and page boys. Adorable!

© Reuters

18 / 27 Fotos

No PDA -

Royal family members are discouraged from engaging in public displays of affection. No kissing, or even hand-holding while in the public eye.

© Getty Images

19 / 27 Fotos

Accepting gifts -

Royals are obliged to accept all gifts graciously, no matter what they are. Here Kate Middleton accepts a blow-up yellow duck with a delighted smile.

© NL Beeld

20 / 27 Fotos

No autographs or selfies -

The royal family members are not supposed to act like celebrities and sign autographs or take selfies with their fans. Obviously, Meghan Markle found it a bit difficult to break her old habits!

© Getty Images

21 / 27 Fotos

Non-royals shouldn't touch royals -

It's rumored that people outside of the royal family aren't supposed to touch the royals. LeBron James is breaking all the rules here!

© NL Beeld

22 / 27 Fotos

No nicknames - Members of the royal family are not allowed to have nicknames, even though they're widely used by the media. For example, Kate Middleton goes by Catherine within the family.

© Getty Images

23 / 27 Fotos

No voting -

Royals are not allowed to vote or express political opinions publicly.

© NL Beeld

24 / 27 Fotos

No political careers - They also aren't allowed to hold any kind of political office.

© Getty Images

25 / 27 Fotos

The exception to the rules -

The only royals who are completely above the law are the family dogs. They can do as they please.

Sources: (Harper's Bazaar) (Marie Claire)

See also: If King Charles dies first, what will happen to Camilla?

© Shutterstock

26 / 27 Fotos

© NL Beeld

0 / 27 Fotos

Family and non-family rules - When outsiders are introduced to the King or Queen, they naturally follow certain etiquette out of respect. However, the monarch is so high-ranking that even their own family must follow the same rules in their presence.

© Shutterstock

1 / 27 Fotos

Stand when they stand -

Everyone who met Queen Elizabeth during her life was informed of this basic protocol. When she stands, you stand.

© Getty Images

2 / 27 Fotos

Curtsy and nod -

When greeting the King or Queen, women are required to curtsy and men must bow their heads (even their own family).

©

Getty Images

3 / 27 Fotos

They walk away first -

The King or Queen must always be the first person to turn around and leave when a conversation is over. You should always see the back of their head and they should never see yours.

©

Reuters

4 / 27 Fotos

Handbag signal #1 -

It's rumored that the Queen used the position of her handbag to send a private message to her staff. If she moved her bag to her right hand, that meant they needed to come and rescue her from a conversation!

©

Getty Images

5 / 27 Fotos

Dinner conversation -

In the past, the Queen followed the same procedure at every dinner party. For the first part of the meal, she would speak to the person on her right. When the second course was served she would switch to the person on her left. Very diplomatic! Will King Charles do the same?

©

Getty Images

6 / 27 Fotos

The Queen takes the last bite -

At formal dinners, the Queen would decide when the meal was over. Everyone else had to stop eating once she'd taken her last bite.

©

Getty Images

7 / 27 Fotos

Handbag signal #2 - When the Queen put her bag on the dinner table, it was a signal that the meal must come to an end within five minutes.

© Getty Images

8 / 27 Fotos

Philip walked behind the Queen -

Since their marriage in 1947, Prince Philip was obliged always to walk a few steps behind the Queen. Will Camilla have to walk behind Charles?

©

Getty Images

9 / 27 Fotos

Driver's license - The Queen was the only person in the UK permitted to drive without a driver's license, and now King Charles will be the new exception. This is because British driver's licenses are issued in the monarch's name.

© Getty Images

10 / 27 Fotos

No shellfish -

It's said that royals are banned from eating shellfish, most likely because of the risk of food poisoning.

©

Shutterstock

11 / 27 Fotos

No garlic -

It's rumored that there garlic was banned at Buckingham Palace because the Queen didn't like it. For the sake of the rest of the royal family's palates, hopefully King Charles will change that rule!

©

Shutterstock

12 / 27 Fotos

Monopoly is banned - It's rumored that the game Monopoly is banned at the palace. Prince Andrew once revealed to the press that they were no longer allowed to play it as it became "too vicious." Oh, to be a fly on the wall during a family game of Monopoly at Buckingham Palace...

© Shutterstock

13 / 27 Fotos

Christmas presents - Unlike most British families, the royal family opens their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve instead of early on Christmas day.

© Getty Images

14 / 27 Fotos

No fur - King Edward III banned the royals from wearing fur in the 12th century and technically the rule hasn't been changed, but it has definitely been breached on several occasions!

© iStock

15 / 27 Fotos

Approval for marriage - Members of the royal family must ask the permission of the monarch, formerly Queen Elizabeth and now King Charles, before making a marriage proposal. This rule was created in the Royal Marriages Act of 1772.

© Getty Images

16 / 27 Fotos

Myrtle bouquet -

Traditionally, royal brides always carry a sprig of myrtle in their bouquets. The flower is thought to symbolize love and marriage.

©

Getty Images

17 / 27 Fotos

The royal wedding party -

A royal wedding party must always include a gaggle of young children to act as flower girls and page boys. Adorable!

© Reuters

18 / 27 Fotos

No PDA -

Royal family members are discouraged from engaging in public displays of affection. No kissing, or even hand-holding while in the public eye.

© Getty Images

19 / 27 Fotos

Accepting gifts -

Royals are obliged to accept all gifts graciously, no matter what they are. Here Kate Middleton accepts a blow-up yellow duck with a delighted smile.

©

NL Beeld

20 / 27 Fotos

No autographs or selfies -

The royal family members are not supposed to act like celebrities and sign autographs or take selfies with their fans. Obviously, Meghan Markle found it a bit difficult to break her old habits!

©

Getty Images

21 / 27 Fotos

Non-royals shouldn't touch royals -

It's rumored that people outside of the royal family aren't supposed to touch the royals. LeBron James is breaking all the rules here!

©

NL Beeld

22 / 27 Fotos

No nicknames - Members of the royal family are not allowed to have nicknames, even though they're widely used by the media. For example, Kate Middleton goes by Catherine within the family.

© Getty Images

23 / 27 Fotos

No voting -

Royals are not allowed to vote or express political opinions publicly.

©

NL Beeld

24 / 27 Fotos

No political careers - They also aren't allowed to hold any kind of political office.

© Getty Images

25 / 27 Fotos

The exception to the rules -

The only royals who are completely above the law are the family dogs. They can do as they please.

Sources: (Harper's Bazaar) (Marie Claire)

See also: If King Charles dies first, what will happen to Camilla?

© Shutterstock

26 / 27 Fotos

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

Will King Charles adhere to the same customs as his mother?

Inside the quirky rules and traditions of the British royal family

© Getty Images

08/11/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Royals

All royal families must have some sort of rules to ensure they live up to the gravitas of their roles. Dignity and privacy are of the utmost importance to the British royals, and there are many protocols new members have to learn. It must have been a real culture shock for Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle!

After Queen Elizabeth II's passing on September 8 2022, Prince Charles became the next King of the United Kingdom, now called King Charles III. Elizabeth's reign started in 1952 and lasted 70 years, so naturally, the crown continued to operate as it had in the 20th century in many ways. Will the new King Charles follow the rules in place, or shake things up?

Many of the royal traditions followed up until now make perfect sense, but some are totally bizarre and archaic. Click through the gallery to see some of the most interesting customs of the British royal family.

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