10 weird things that British royals are forbidden from doing: from eating raw meat and signing autographs, to playing Monopoly and wearing fur – so how did Meghan Markle break with tradition …
Kate isn't allowed to vote in a general election, but Meghan voted in the US election in 2020. Members of the royal family are supposed to remain politically neutral, according to the royal family website, and it's thought to be against protocol for royals to openly discuss politics in public.
The first time Her Majesty cried in public was in December 1997 when her beloved HMY Britannia was decommissioned. It was a rare sight for fans to see the normally stoic royal shed a tear. The Queen was saying goodbye to her luxury yacht, whose costs were too great to maintain.
The British monarch can't be arrested or be the subject of civil and criminal proceedings, meaning he is effectively exempt from the law. King Charles enjoys sovereign immunity, meaning he can't be prosecuted under a civil or criminal investigation.
Alex Parren told Express.co.uk: "As a Royal, Kate would have access to high quality, fresh, organic foods and this would be one reason she is able to stay so slim. "Avoiding ultra-processed foods and nourishing the body with fruits and vegetables that are as fresh as possible is one of the best ways to stay healthy.
READ MORE. The monarch isn't a fan of a deep bath either, she is said to bathe in “no more than seven inches of water”, according to royal author Brian Hoey for the Daily Mail. Seven inches is equivalent to 17.8 centimetres.
Royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, tells PEOPLE that there are no formal rules on royal couples being lovey-dovey in public — it's at their own discretion.
It's unusual for non-royals - no matter how famous - to have physical contact with the Royal Family. But it's not unheard of. "There are no official rules when it comes to touching a member of the Royal Family," says Omid Scobie, Yahoo UK's royal executive editor. "It's more down to what's acceptable in society or not.
How do royals choose their clothes? Two words: royal stylists. Obviously, royals lead very busy lives, so they don't really have much time to go shopping, which is where the stylist comes in. That said, Meghan apparently dresses herself, though she'll likely have an assistant who can call clothes in for her.
The monarchy has largely adapted to modern times and many people opt to greet King Charles, Prince William, Princess Kate and other members of the royal family without much pomp — in fact, the British royal family's official website (which hasn't been fully updated since the death of Queen Elizabeth) states that "there ...
She is not allowed to take selfies
They are also not supposed to sign autographs, despite being frequently asked for them by crowds. The Express notes that it's due to the risk of royal signatures being copied or forged. Kate Middleton and other members of the royal family must also accept gifts graciously.
Members of the royal family do not bow or curtsy to each other – it is an act reserved only for the King and Queen.
It's becoming more common for royals from around the world to get tattooed. Britain's Princess Eugenie showed off a tiny circle tattoo behind her ear at a royal event in June. Meanwhile, Princess Sofia of Sweden showed her back tattoo of a sun symbol on her wedding day.
The royals like a drink now and again too, with several of the prestigious family revealing their favourite alcoholic beverages over the years. From a crisp gin and tonic to a classic pint of beer, take a look at what Her Majesty the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge and more royals sip at home…
Royal protocol dictates that one must not touch the Queen unless she offers her hand first.
The posture is dictated by rules of proper etiquette, which state that Royal women should keep their legs and knees together. Myka Meir told People the Duchess slant is employed when a lady 'has to sit for an extended amount of time while keeping poise and posture'.
Members of the royal family are rarely seen using cell phones in public, and that's because protocol dictates that nobody should turn their back to the Queen.
"But there is no hard and fast rule, and if you can't do it or don't feel comfortable doing it or don't want to do it that's fine; it doesn't mean you hold the queen in any less respect and you won't be sent to the Tower." Another royal source added, "People do tend to bow or curtsy to the queen, and that's just good ...
Kate Middleton and Prince William don't often hold hands or publicly show affection. An unwritten rule saying royals must act professionally could be why they rarely engage in PDA. During rare occasions, the pair's been seen holding hands or touching each other's backs.
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…
“I would stand down until I was touched,” she said. “Or hugged.” While there aren't any legal rules in place, it is accepted that people should not touch a royal family member, unless the royal is the one who initiates contact.
"Toilet"
If you're looking for a restroom in Buckingham Palace, ask for the loo or the lavatory.
Queen Elizabeth loved to use “Tudor Toothpaste,” which was a combination of sugar and honey that was used during the Tudor dynasty to polish teeth!
As per a report in Express UK, the Queen used to have a private mobile phone for only two people. The special phone for Her Majesty was “packed with anti-hacker encryption” and was set up by MI6, the portal quoted royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti.