Key Takeaways

• In the UK, the royal family must "echo the monarch's behavior throughout the meal."
• When entering a room or an event, members of the royal family should keep handbags or briefcases in their left hand.
• Two direct heirs to the throne are not allowed to take the same flight and must travel separately.

Introduction

Findings

Dress Code

• The royals are only allowed to wear black during a funeral since the color is associated with mourning. Princess Diana had reportedly caused a stir when she wore a black dress to a fundraising concert in 1981.

 

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• According to Insider, there are only two types of women in the royal family who may wear a tiara: those who are married, and those who are born princesses. A woman can wear a tiara on her wedding day, or if she is married, it can be worn to any white tie event. Hence, single royals who were not born with the title of princess don't wear a tiara. In addition, tiaras are not to be worn before 6 p.m., although weddings are an exception.
• The royals are only allowed to wear natural-looking nail polish to official events since dark or bright colors are considered to be "vulgar." However, it appears that this rule gets broken quite frequently. It has been reported that the "royal rule-breaker" Princess Diana frequently wore red nail polish in public.
• Boys must wear shorts until they turn 8 years old. This is an aristocratic practice that dates back to the 16th century when young boys dressed in gowns and then shorts.

Food and Dining

• There are restrictions on ordering certain foods at restaurants. One of the main foods that should be off the menu is shellfish due to its higher risk of food poisoning. They are also advised against eating rare meat, spicy food, and drinking tap water in foreign countries. Other foods such as garlic, pasta, and oyster have also not been served in the past in order to respect the Queen's preferences.
• One key rule that the royal family is expected to follow while dining is that they must "echo the monarch's behavior throughout the meal." For example, if the Queen stops eating, everyone else must put down their knife and fork as well.
• Royals wearing lipstick must touch the same spot on the cup each time to prevent smearing makeup on the glass more than necessary.

Travel

•  Two direct heirs to the throne are not allowed to take the same flight and must travel separately. This rule was enforced at a time when air travel wasn't as safe as it is today. The Cambridge family has frequently flown together with their children in the past with special permission from the Queen. However, Prince George (currently second in line to the throne) will have to fly separately from his father Prince William (first in line) when he turns 12.
• Furthermore, each royal family member must pack a black outfit whenever they go on vacation. This is to ensure that they are dressed appropriately in case of someone (such as a dignitary, politician, or a royal family member) dies unexpectedly. This rule was introduced by Queen Elizabeth after her father King George IV passed away while she was vacationing in Africa.
• When female royal family members exit a plane, they must keep their chin parallel to the stairs. This is to maintain posture and to create a good first impression (chin pointed down shows lack of interest).

Legal Rights and Freedom

• The royals are expected to remain politically neutral at all times. Hence, they are not allowed to vote. Although voting isn't illegal, it is considered inappropriate for the monarch. According to the Royal UK, "by convention, The Monarch does not vote or stand for election, however, they do have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the government of the UK."
• CBS News states that according to the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, the first 6 people in succession to the throne must obtain consent for marriage from the reigning monarch. Failure to do so would immediately disqualify them as well as their descendants from the line of succession.

Public Behavior

• The royal family is forbidden to appear in selfies even if they did not take them themselves. It has been reported that the Queen has an aversion to selfies, finding them "disconcerting" and "strange."
• They are also not allowed to sign autographs. This had remained a long-standing rule due to the risk of forgery.

 

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• The act of shaking hands is strictly regulated. The royal handshake "should consist of two to three pumps, with your palms open and thumbs down."
• When entering a room or an event, royal family members should keep their handbags or briefcases in their left hand. This is so that the right hand is free to wave and greet the public.

Household Rules and Traditions

• One of the more surprising findings is that according to royal tradition, each member of the family must get weighed before and after Christmas dinner. If they have gained weight, it is taken as a sign that they have truly enjoyed themselves (with 1.4 kilograms considered the preferred amount to have put on). It is said that Queen Elizabeth II carried on this tradition started by her great-grandfather, King Edward VII.
• Another such rule is that the Queen banned the royal family from playing the board game Monopoly. According to Prince Andrew, the reason behind this rule is that when the family tries to play the game, "it gets too vicious." 
• According to the royal family's gift policy, all items received must be recorded in a log. The royals are also not allowed to accept unsolicited gifts and are expected to refuse gifts in instances where there are concerns about the donor or the gift itself. It has been reported that Meghan and Harry had to return about $9.3 million worth of wedding gifts because of this rule.
• The royal family "must mirror the monarch's actions when it comes to bedtime." Therefore, no one is allowed to go to bed before the monarch.
• According to author Kate Fox, there is a list of words that have been banned from the royal family's vocabulary. Examples include dessert (pudding), Lounge (drawing room), mum and dad (mummy and daddy), and perfume (scent).

• The monarch, who is also the head of the church, requires all royal family members to be baptized. Due to this rule, Meghan Markle got baptized before getting married to Prince Harry in 2018.

Research Strategy