The Price Of Being A Princess: Rules Kate Middleton Has To Follow
Kate Middleton was born into a normal British family, but when she married Prince William, everything changed. Even though from the outside it may seem like the royal life is all glitz and glamor, Kate Middleton is actually bound to several strict rules now that she and Prince William are officially husband and wife.
All of these rules and regulations come directly from Queen Elizabeth II herself. Kate is constantly in the public eye, and if she breaks one of these rules, the queen is going to hear about it. Keep reading to find out if you have what it takes to be a British princess.
Kate, Sit Up Straight
Women in the royal family all have to sit a certain way. They aren't allowed to cross their legs, and instead, they must sit with their knees together. Women are allowed to cross their knees, but only if their knees are still together, tilted to one side.
Also, good posture is an absolute must. Kate, Meghan, and the queen herself all have to sit up very straight. There's absolutely no slouching allowed in Buckingham Palace.
Kate Has To Know Several Different Languages
Marrying into the royal family means becoming a public figure and an ambassador of sorts. Kate often travels and meets with important people from different parts of the world. It's important for her to be well versed in different cultures, practices, religions, and languages.
Every time she visits a new country, she has to learn about the history of the place she's visiting, as well as the local culture. Also, everyone in the royal family has to learn several languages.
Garlic Is Not Allowed At A Royal Dinner
Queen Elizabeth II is not a fan of garlic, which means that no dish made inside Buckingham Palace can have garlic in it. It doesn't matter if everyone else in the room likes garlic, if the queen doesn't like it, it's not allowed.
If Kate is eating dinner in her own home, though, she can have as much garlic as she wants. Who doesn't like garlic? Garlic is delicious. Those royal dinners must be pretty bland.
Nicknames Are A No-No In Buckingham Palace
We call her Kate Middleton, but when she's in Buckingham Palace, she's known as Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Members of the royal family are not allowed to use nicknames within palace walls.
That means William can't call her Kate, or "babe," or "honey," or any other name other than her full name. The Queen always refers to Kate as Catherine. If her children are in the palace, they are allowed to refer to her as "mum."
Kate Is Not Allowed To Sign Any Autographs
Being a member of the royal family is a lot like being a celebrity. Even though Kate is in the public eye and she's a beloved personality, she is forbidden from signing autographs (even if fans ask really, really nicely).
Kate is not allowed to sign anything other than official documents that have been previously authorized by Queen Elizabeth II. This is because the royals don't want to make it too easy for anybody to falsify documents with Kate's signature on them.
If The Queen's Not Eating, Nobody Eats
Kate Middleton (and everybody else in the royal family) mustn't eat until the queen eats. When the queen picks up her fork, that's everyone else's cue to dig in. When the queen stops eating, everybody else has to stop eating too.
We hear that the food at those royal banquets is absolutely delicious. Imagine having to stop eating a perfectly made beef wellington or Yorkshire pudding just because Queen Elizabeth has had enough of hers.
Kate Can't Earn Any Money
It may seem kind of backward for a modern woman to not be allowed to make her own money, but that's just how the royal family works. Kate is allowed to volunteer and work wherever she'd like, but she can't make a profit from her work.
Kate Middleton is quite a talented photographer, and if she weren't married to Prince William, she'd be able to sell her photographs for a profit. Now that she's a duchess, she is financially supported by the public.
Mussels And Oysters Are Off Limits
As a royal, Kate is no longer allowed to eat mussels or oysters. While these shellfish are delicious to those with refined palettes, they do pose some health risks if they aren't prepared or stored properly.
Royals are very important people, and they can't risk getting food poisoning. We just hope that Kate had a huge seafood feast before she and Prince William tied the knot. Or maybe she doesn't like oysters, in which case, this would be an easy rule to follow.
Keep Those Nails Neutral
Even clear nail polish lovers opt for a pop of pink every now and again. Not Kate Middleton, though. As a member of the royal family, she's not allowed to wear bright colors on her fingernails.
Kate's manicure is usually either in the shade Soft Pink 28 Rose Lounge (Bourjois) or Nude 423 Allure (Essie). Queen Elizabeth also keeps her nails a neutral color. In fact, she's been wearing the same color nail polish since 1989.
There's A Ban On Social Media
Nobody in the royal family is allowed to have a private Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram account. Basically, all forms of social media are forbidden. Websites like Facebook aren't exactly known for keeping data safe and secure, and the royal family doesn't want to risk sensitive information being leaked to the public.
There are official social media accounts that belong to royal institutions, but those are managed by trained professionals. All photos posted on those pages are selected very carefully.
Kate Has To Follow A Strict Dress Code
The members of the royal family are somewhat restricted when it comes to what they're allowed to wear. Before Meghan and Kate joined the ranks of the royals, they could wear leather boots, vibrant patterns, and bright colors.
Now that these ladies are married to princes, they can't wear leather anymore— at least, not real leather. The same thing goes for fur coats. The queen is a real animal lover and she won't allow her family to wear anything that caused harm to an animal.
Kate Can't Cast A Vote
Kate, Meghan, and all other members of the royal family are not allowed to vote or run for office. All monarchs, princes, and princess must remain politically neutral. They also aren't allowed to campaign for political candidates or publically support one candidate over another.
This rule isn't a law, because it's unconstitutional to prevent people from voting. Everyone in the royal family just agrees that this is what's best for the country and for themselves.
She Must Dress Modestly
Kate has a very distinct sense of style nowadays. She wears, elegant, conservative clothing and often opts for a monotone color palette. When she wears patterns, she wears understated patterns in neutral colors.
She never shows too much skin, and she is hardly ever seen in public wearing pants. As a royal, it's important for Kate to dress modestly and respectfully. The same goes for Meghan Markle. These ladies need to dress like they always have somewhere important to be.
No Black Clothing In The Daytime
Members of the royal family may wear black on occasion to nighttime events, however, they should avoid wearing black during the day. Kate and Meghan are really only allowed to wear black during the day if they're attending a funeral.
The royals have to carry a black outfit with them in their suitcase if they're traveling to another country, just in case they unexpectedly need to attend a funeral or appear to be in mourning when they fly back to the UK.
No Public Displays Of Affection
If it seems like William and Kate don't like each other all that much when they're spotted at public events, that's because they're actually not allowed to hug or kiss in public. The Queen finds PDA exceptionally untasteful, and if she doesn't like it then it's not allowed.
This same rule also applies to Meghan and Harry and Camilla and Charles. None of the royal couples should even be seen holding hands in public places.
Royals Aren't Allowed To Play Monopoly
Monopoly wasn't always banned at Buckingham Palace. This game has only been off limits since 2008 when The Duke of York defined it as a "vicious" pastime. He had been present when a game of Monopoly got a little too heated during Christmas.
Anybody who's ever played Monopoly knows that this game really can stir up real feuds. It's better to just leave the game in the cupboard if we want everybody to get along.
Heirs Can't Travel On The Same Plane (Or Boat...Or Train...)
When Kate and William's family goes on vacation, Prince William and his son Prince George are not allowed to travel on the same plane together. The same goes for Prince Willian and his father, Prince Charles. That means that there are a lot of planes in the sky when the royals decide to travel abroad.
This rule was put in place for a pretty morbid reason. If a plane carrying all of the British heirs crashes, their won't be anybody left to take over the throne.
She Must Keep Her Hair And Skin In Tip-Top Shape
Kate Middleton and her sister-in-law Meghan Markle always have to look their best. Meghan had lived her life in the public eye long before marrying Prince Harry, but before meeting Prince William, Kate Middleton was just like the rest of us. She wasn't used to being photographed whenever she was out in public.
Now, these ladies could be photographed at any moment, so they always keep their nails, hair, and skin looking perfect. Some magazines in England claim that Kate visits a beauty salon three times a week.
There's Not Much Choice When It Comes To Religion
When it comes to the British royal family, only one religion will do. All of the royals are Protestant Anglican, so Kate and Meghan also have to be Protestant Anglican. One day, when Prince William is king, he is also going to be the head of the Protestant Anglican Church.
It would be pretty awkward if his wife belonged to a different religion. When Kate Married William in 2011, she went through a religious confirmation ceremony at the Anglican Church.
The Royal Family Must Spend Christmas Together
Every Christmas, the royal family gets together to celebrate at Sandringham Palace in Norfolk. They don't open gifts at midnight or on the morning of December 25th, though. The royals do things a little differently. They exchange presents at tea time on Christmas Eve.
On the night before Christmas, Santa delivers his presents to the young royals. That way George, Charlotte, Louis, and now Archie have presents to open on Christmas morning. What's your Christmas tradition?
Crying In Public Is Not Allowed
Kate, Meghan, and the rest of the royals are not supposed to cry in public. Exceptions are made for funerals, but even then, crying is supposed to be understated and quiet. Royals need to be calm, cool, and collected, even when speaking at emotionally charged events.
It can be difficult to control your emotions, but if you marry into the royal family, that's exactly what's expected of you. Kate Middleton always has her emotions in check.
Kate Always Walks Two Steps Behind William
It may seem sort of backward or anti-feminist, but that's just the way things work in the royal family. Kate always walks two paces behind Prince William to show respect for the family that made her royalty. Kate doesn't always have to walk behind William, though. This rule only applies when the pair attend official public appointments.
When they're just going for a stroll together, Kate can walk wherever she'd like. The same goes for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Queen Has A Secret Code
Queen Elizabeth II is always polite, but sometimes, being polite means leaving some things unsaid Instead of speaking, Elizabeth flashes some secret signals when she wants to leave a dinner party or when she wants to stop talking to somebody.
Kate has to be attentive to these signals. For instance, when the queen puts her bag on the table, that means dinner is over in five minutes. When she's tired of talking to somebody, she moves her bag to her other arm.
The Wedding Bouquet Is Always Myrtle
Most brides get to choose from a wide variety of flowers and foliage when coming up with a design for their wedding bouquets. Not Kate Middleton. All royal brides must enter the wedding ceremony with a branch of myrtle. Myrtle is a symbol of good luck and happiness. Apparently, the royals are superstitious that way.
This tradition began with Queen Victoria, who received a myrtle as a gift from her groom's grandmother. She must have really liked that gift.
All Dinners Have To Be Carefully Planned
Royal dinner parties aren't like ordinary dinner parties. If Kate is planning a dinner party for the royal family, she has to be extra attentive and careful. The royal family always uses the same company to help them throw these elaborate shindigs. The Marshal's Office is responsible for helping organize the dinners.
Seating arrangements are taken very seriously to make sure everyone at the event feels comfortable and at ease. Well, as at ease as they can be at a royal dinner party.
Kate Must Accept All Gifts From The Public
Kate and Meghan aren't allowed to refuse gifts from fans who meet them on the street. They have to accept the gift with a smile, no matter how weird or wacky it is.
In 2015, the Queen received a throne from the Game of Thrones miniature series. Prince Charles once received a doctoral thesis, while Prince Andrew got a CD of the Arctic Monkeys. Most of the time, the royals don't actually keep the gifts they've accepted.
Royals Can't Wear Hats After 6 PM
If you've ever seen a royal wedding or any kind of formal royal event, you've probably noticed that women must wear hats or fascinators. This is just for daytime events, though. After 6 PM, has are no longer allowed. For evening events, female members of the royal family wear tiaras or crowns.
A lot of the tiara's in the royal collection have been passed down from generation to generation. Some of the tiaras are over 100 years old.
Nobody Turns Their Back On The Queen
It is considered extremely impolite for anybody to turn their back on the queen. Kate Middleton is not immune to this rule even though she's a royal herself now. If anything, this rule now applies to her and Meghan even more.
Queen Elizabeth II must always be the first member of the royal family to leave any given location, and then the rest of the royals follow her out. They must have their faces to the queen at all times.
There Are Rules About Pregnancy Announcements
Pregnant royals can't just go around announcing their pregnancy whenever they feel like it. There are rules about these things. Usually, when a member of the royal family falls pregnant, that pregnancy is announced after the first 12 weeks. Kate was an exception, though
She experienced some pretty severe nausea when she was pregnant with George, so the family had to explain why she was absent from official events. It would have seemed rude if she was absent without explanation.
The Baby's Gender Is Kept Secret Until He Or She Is Born
The British Royal Family does not usually reveal the sex of the baby until that baby is born. The pregnant couple can choose to find out the sex of the baby earlier, but they aren't allowed to share that information with the public. Everything is kept very secret and confidential.
People like to place bets and speculate about whether a royal couple will be having a boy or a girl. When Archie was born, we had to wait until his actual birthday to find out that he was a boy.
Royal Children Must Be Well Behaved
Kate and William are expected to raise their children well. George, Charlotte, and Louis have to be well behaved at all times. The same goes for little Archie. Meghan an Harry have to make sure that he's as polite and well mannered as his older cousins.
It's hard to grow up in the public eye, but so far, these royal parents are doing a great job keeping their kids in check. The royal boys are such little gentlemen, and Charlotte is a perfect lady.
The Correct Way To Hold A Teacup
Tea time is a huge thing in the UK. You pretty much lose your right to be British if you don't drink tea. The key is to drink tea the correct way, though. When royals drink tea, they can't put their fingers through the handle hole.
The cup should be held up with the thumb and forefinger, underneath the middle finger, and finally the little finger. Kate probably had to take tea drinking lessons before she married into the royal family.
Never Take Off A Coat In Public
If Kate is wearing a coat while out in public, she is not allowed to take off the coat until she is in a private space. This rule still applies even if it's hot outside. Apparently, it is unladylike to undress in public, even if undressing just entails taking off your outerwear.
Kate can always put on a jacket in public if it gets too cold, though. Maybe that's why she isn't seen wearing coats in public all that often.
Wedges Aren't Allowed
The royal palace has something against wedged shoes. Perhaps wedges offend the queen, or they aren't very ladylike. Whatever the reason, Kate is not allowed to wear wedges in Buckingham Palace. She does wear wedges outside of the palace, even though she probably isn't supposed to.
Kate has a bit of a rebellious side and she likes to live life by her own rules every now and again. Plus, we're pretty sure that wedges never hurt anybody.
No Baby Showers For The Royal Family
Celebrities and average citizens have baby showers all the time. These events allow friends and family to celebrate the new arrival, plus the expecting couple receive some new, useful baby gifts. Kate and Meghan aren't allowed to have baby showers.
These ladies already receive free products and gifts all the time. Queen Elizabeth II just doesn't think baby showers are necessary. Kate and Meghan could celebrate their new babies, they just couldn't be showered with gifts.
A Look Back At Kate And William's Wedding
William and Kate got married on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. It was a very high profile event, and Kate wore a stunning Alexander McQueen gown.
Royal brides have to wear long sleeves when they get married. Also, they have to wear a bejeweled tiara of some sort. Kate's dress was elegant and even a little bit sexy, while still being very modest and classy. It was the perfect combination of classic and modern.
Becoming A Fashion Icon
In 2012, Kate Middleton was selected as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time magazine. As soon as it was announced that Kate and William were dating, people became obsessed with this ordinary girl turned princess.
Time magazine claims, “her elegant wardrobe has enormous popular appeal that has boosted the British fashion industry.” Of course, we totally agree. Kate always looks amazing, and she is a perfect British role model.
Kate Is Ready To Be A Queen
Kate also made the "100 Most Influential People in the World" list in 2013. This time, Time magazine published, “the future Queen is dignified, dutiful and unflappable, with a modest reluctance to steal the spotlight from her husband, Prince William. As patron of a growing number of charities, she has embraced the royal family’s tradition of public service, whether promoting scouting around a campfire or discussing sustainable fishing with trawler owners.”
From what we've seen so far, we can already tell that Kate is going to be a fantastic queen.
Kate's Fashion Choices Appeal To The Masses
Unlike any other royal woman who's come before her, Kate wears clothes that are accessible to the masses. She wears off the rack fashion that anybody can buy at their local mall or department store.
This not only makes Kate more relatable, but it also makes her seem more down to earth. While some other royals have disapproved of her off the rack shopping habits, others have applauded her for her bold choices. Kate looks good in anything.
This Woman Is Timeless
Kate has somehow managed to maintain her own sense of style and identity while seamlessly adapting to life as a member of the royal family.
The Daily Mirror said it best. “Some critics believe that the Duchess of Cambridge’s new style proves she has 'come of age' and found her place with the Royal hierarchy. She isn't afraid to walk in her own light and out of the shadow of William and the royal family.”
