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 …
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. This rule also applied to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Legs and knees must be kept together, which means crossing at the ankle is fine. Kate's go-to position was previously dubbed "the Duchess slant," where she keeps her knees and ankles tightly together and slants her legs to one side.
Royals Don't Eat Garlic Or Onions
"Garlic is a no-no." The royal also tries to avoid onions but they are used sparingly in a meal sometime. A former royal chef, Darren McGrady, who worked at Buckingham Palace for over 15 years confirmed this.
And now we've discovered another rule the royals have to follow - and it's all to do with their bedtimes. According to Sir William Heseltine, one of Queen's private secretaries, when staying with Her Majesty, members of the royal family should wait until the Queen retires to bed before they also hit the hay.
Although there is no formal law that forbids future monarchs from showing affection, Queen Elizabeth II set a precedent that encouraged royals to keep their hands to themselves. This is why you rarely see Prince William and Kate Middleton smooching in public, or even holding hands.
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.
Kate's daily routine: school run, food shop, gym
Regularly dropping the children at school and doing the daily food shopping on nearby Kensington High Street, the duchess also prefers to swap the indoor gym at the Palace for runs in Kensington Gardens.
Both Prince William and Princess Kate were born in 1982, but with her birthday falling in January and William's in June, the Duchess is five months older than her husband.
The Queen is scared of nothing.
A royal phone
As well as a number of private lines, the monarch's private mobile phone was unique. It may 'just' be a Samsung as many of us non-Royals have, but it was much more special.
The Queen is the only person to declare war and peace. This dates back from when the Monarch was responsible for raising, maintaining and equipping the Army and Navy. Today, this power can only be exercised on the advice of Ministers.
According to royal etiquette expert Myka Meier, women in royal families aren't allowed to be too "sparkly" on a day out. For this reason, Kate is only allowed to wear diamonds after 6 pm.
There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.
If royals need to use the restroom during a meal, they don't announce their intentions. They simply say, “Excuse me,” and leave it at that. If they're not done eating, they cross the utensils so wait staff know not to take the plate.
She runs, swims, does HIIT, and yoga, and she appears to understand the benefits of keeping a positive mindset. So, if there's one major Duchess-approved takeaway, it's that you should never be afraid to change up your routine in order to keep things interesting and fresh.
Does Kate Middleton go to bed early? The Duchess of Cambridge has previously revealed she goes to bed at 10.30pm every night, in order to maintain sleep hygiene and a consistent routine, meaning that it's easier for her to nod off.
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.
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any royal manicure rules. Let's dispel a royal protocol rumor right off the bat: Duchesses Kate and Meghan are free to wear any shade of nail polish. “There's no actual protocol about dark nail polish,” royal correspondent Omid Scobie told BAZAAR.com in a 2018 interview.
Although there tend to be strict dress codes in place at royal social functions, such as the garden parties at Buckingham Palace and race days at the Ascot, there is no ban on tattoos.
To the point where Queen Elizabeth has been exclusively wearing her favorite $9 nail polish for over 30 years and thinks all other colors are "vulgar." And that's when she even wears polish! Most of the time, she prefers her nails bare and buffed.
Daena Borrowman, a Marketing Manager at jewellerybox told Express.co.uk: “Royal women are not permitted to wear bright or dark nail paint on their fingernails. “Only nude shades, sheer whites and light pinks are allowed. “A firm favourite of the Queen's is Essie's 'Ballet Slippers'.
"As we mark the 20th anniversary of the terrible attacks on 11th September 2001, my thoughts and prayers - and those of my family and the entire nation - remain with the victims, survivors, and families affected, as well as the first responders and rescue workers called to duty," she said in a statement to President ...
For those who don't know, taking selfies with fans isn't a total rule break – but it is certainly frowned upon by Her Majesty. In fact, one royal fan who attended the Queen's 2017 Buckingham Palace garden party, revealed to Insider that taking selfies with the royals was seen as a sign of disrespect.