Weirdest British Royal Family Rules

No one said being royalty would be easy, but also, no one said there’d be so many rules to it all! When it comes to the members of the British royal family, there are rules for literally every aspect of it. From their makeup to how they excuse themselves to the restroom, if you can think of it, there’s probably a rule for it. Some rules make sense like curtsying and wearing tiaras on your wedding day, but then, there are others.

Did you know that the members of the royal family allegedly can’t say “toilet?” That they can’t play Monopoly? And that there’s a certain way they have to drink tea while wearing lipstick? That’s only the tip of the iceberg!

There are probably hundreds of rules we aren’t aware of, but with the ones we do know about, we have questions. Ever since Kate Middleton told a kid that she wasn’t able to sign autographs as a part of royal rules, we got to thinking: what else is there that the Windsors can and can’t do?

Trust us when we say that these rules are on the wackier side.

Check out the strangest, oddest, and arguably the most confusing royal rules from the British royals below:

They Always Have to Have a Black Outfit Handy

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Despite royal rules also saying that you shouldn’t wear black unless you’re mourning, you always need to pack a black outfit if you’re traveling. In case a member of their family dies, or an important figure in the country they are visiting dies, they have a mourning outfit ready. Yikes.
Two Heirs Can’t Fly Together

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While Prince William and Kate Middleton break this rule frequently while flying with their kids, it’s actually a big no-no to have two heirs on the same flight. The reason of this rule is to secure the line of succession in the event of a tragedy happening.
Shellfish Is Off the Menu

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Another preventative measure the royal family takes is to never order shellfish. Why? It’s the easiest food to get sick from, and they avoid that whenever possible.
They Replace Hats With Tiaras After 6 PM

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Once 6 PM rolls around, you gotta take off the tiaras and replace them with one of those fascinators.
No Monopoly

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According to the List, Prince Andrew said the family couldn’t play the board game, saying, “We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It gets too vicious.” Again, yikes?!
No Autographs Allowed

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As many were reminded during the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show, royals can’t sign autographs out of fear of someone forging it in the future.
Paws Off to the Non-Royals

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There are a lot of rules when it comes to making physical contact with royalty. For one thing, you can’t initiate contact, and if you do, you have to follow traditional guidelines, per BBC.
They Have to Open Presents on Christmas Eve

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Per Express, “On Christmas Eve, The Royal Family lay out their presents on trestle tables and will exchange their gifts at teatime.” This rule was first introduced by Prince Albert, and along with opening gifts one that day, the children add the “finishing touches to the 20ft Christmas tree in the White Drawing Room,” per Express again.
They Have to Accept Every Gift

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They may not keep every gift, but the royal family has to formally accept ever gift they are given (no matter how strange!) Not only do they keep track of every gift, but they have to keep something in mind with every one: they can’t accept a gift, only if it “would place them under obligation,” per Sky News.
No Colored Nail Polish

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Kate Middleton caused quite a stir in Easter 2023 when she arrived at the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service with a terracotta nail polish color.
Myrtle is a Wedding Must

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This tradition started with Queen Victoria, and since then, nearly every wedding in the British Royal family has incorporated Myrtle somehow. Per CBSNews, it symbolized good luck in love and marriage, so it’s a good omen to have!
Keep This in Mind With Lipstick

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So this one is a mouthful, but one big rule when the members of the royal family wear lipstick is that they have to follow a certain etiquette. Per Marie Claire, you must always drink from the same spot on their cup. Why? To not smear more of their makeup on the glass they’re drinking from.
Say No to Fur

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When King Edward III passed The Fur Act of 1337, it banned everyone but knights and clergymen from wearing fur. However, multiple members have broken this rule since.
You Can’t Say the Word ‘Toilet’ in Public

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According to The Sun, the late Queen Elizabeth II detested the word “toilet,” so the members of the royal family have to use terms like “lavatory” or “the loo.”
You Have to Hold Your Tea This Way

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According to Harper’s Bazaar, royals have to “hold the [tea] cup by pinching the handle with thumb and index finger before putting the middle finger underneath the handle,” along with pointing it at a 3 o’clock angle.
They Get Weighed Right After Christmas

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Among the royal family’s Christmas traditions consist of a rather triggering one: each member of the royal family gets weighed before and after Christmas dinner. They reportedly do this because if they did gain weight, it showed that they enjoyed themselves, per CBS.
Royal Boys Stop Wearing Shorts at 8

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Apparently, once the boys of the British Royal family hit eight years old, they gotta throw out their shorts. This follows an older tradition, so they reportedly tweaked it a bit to be that after eight, they opt for longer pants.
There’s a Process to Excuse Yourself to the Toilet

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According to the Mirror, royals have to do certain actions before excusing themselves to the bathroom. First, they have to adjust their silverware correctly and then mutter “excuse me,” before leaving.
They Must Take Hostage Courses

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According to DailyMail, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle had to take special courses at the British Army’s SAS headquarters to “prepare themselves in case of a potential hostage or personal security crisis.” And apparently, it would get intense, and they’d even have to learn how to drive a getaway car.