For working members of the British royal family (aka Kate Middleton, Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry), it's technically not against royal protocol to have a tattoo (as far as we know), but it's probably not encouraged—they have rules about pantyhose, for goodness' sake!
Over the years, plenty of royals have shown off some nifty tattoos; including Princess Eugenie who showed off her subtle ink while stepping out to a royal event in 2022.
Debunking Rumors: No, Kate Middleton Does Not Have a Tattoo.
Royal tattoo
Many other royals throughout history have been tattooed. In 1862 Albert, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, had a Jerusalem Cross tattooed on his arm on a visit to the Holy Land.
The royal family has very strict rules and protocols when it comes to appearance, which begs the question—are the royals allowed to have tattoos? The royal family has a long history of getting their skin inked. The royals have been getting tattooed since King Edward VII got a tattoo in 1862.
If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.
For working members of the British royal family (aka Kate Middleton, Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry), it's technically not against royal protocol to have a tattoo (as far as we know), but it's probably not encouraged—they have rules about pantyhose, for goodness' sake!
Meghan Markle
And like other royal ladies have done, she got a traditional henna tattoo, which is made from natural plant dyes and is not permanent. Yes, it fades after a while. (Hey, it's something!) One of the house mothers at the school made the design on her left arm and hand.
Unlike most royals, Sofia has ink including a butterfly on her ribcage and a sun figure on her upper back.
Pocahontas is the only Disney princess with a tattoo.
He writes in book 'Spare': “By the time the sun was dipping over the mountains, I was in rough shape and filling up with . . . ideas. “I need something to commemorate this trip, I decided – something to symbolize my sense of freedom, my sense of carpe diem.” So Harry decided he would get a tattoo on his foot.
Michael Jackson's eldest son Prince Jackson will always have his father's with him — especially now that he's gotten a new tribute tattoo of the King of Pop on his leg. The 20-year-old showed off his new ink on Instagram, explaining that he sat 9 hours for the “incredibly and beautiful tattoo” on his right calf.
Charles thus remains the only Royal for whom we have reliable evidence of circumcision,2 but if he was circumcised it is possible that his grandfather and great uncles (George VI, Edward VIII, and the other sons of George V) were also done, and conceivably some lesser royals and aristocrats, as reported by Dr. Sifman.
Sit like a royal
One of the worst things a woman in the royal family can do—as far as etiquette rules go—is sit with her legs crossed at the knee. Legs and knees must be kept together, although crossing at the ankle is fine.
Yes, it's Camilla with a tattoo! While in Zanzibar back in 2011 with her husband Prince Charles, the Queen Consort visited a henna tattooist and had her own ink creation painted on her hand.
It's been reported that members of the royal family are encouraged not to smoke, due to the known health risks, but some royals have smoked in the past. Some have since given up, whilst others get papped with a ciggie in hand on the reg.
Princess Eugenie, to our knowledge, is the only major British royal with a visible tattoo, though it's almost always hidden by her hair due to it being super tiny and right behind her ear.
Touching up makeup in public is not permitted
It is unlikely that you'll ever find a member of the royal family pulling out a lip gloss for a hasty touch-up in the backseat. While it is mandatory for royals to appear put-together in public at all times, quick touch-ups are out of the question.
Royals like Middleton, Markle, and Queen Camilla often opt for more understated makeup, including nude or light-pink lipstick. But there's no official ban on bright colors like red. It's more about adhering to a level of decorum and avoiding anything too flashy or attention-grabbing.
Officially, there is no rule on piercings amongst British royalty, although senior members of the royal family are expected to keep their look conservative. Keep scrolling to discover which royals have braved the needle in the name of glam…
The criteria for a tattoo to be deemed “classy” is highly subjective. However, there are styles that are more aesthetically pleasing to even the most highfalutin eye. You will want an artist that specializes in black and grey styles, and/or a tattooist with a penchant for clean minimalist lines.
A tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity using sterile needles and ink that is not reused.
Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including: Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.
While MRIs can cause tattoo irritation, this happens only in rare cases. If you are getting an MRI, let your doctor know if you have any tattoos so they can figure out the best way to image that area and ensure you have a good experience.