It is not a secret at all that members of the royal family need to abide by protocol. Even though they are in line for the throne, royal children are not exempt from this rule! You might think that they have won the genetic lottery by being born into this family, but it is not exactly the easiest thing in the world either. George, Charlotte, and Louis all have to grow up in the public eye with a set of rules they need to follow. What exactly are royal children required to do and avoid? Keep reading to find out what it must be like to be a young member of the royal family. Boy, are there are a lot of rules for them to follow!
The Public Must Know About Their Birth
This is a rule that needs to be followed even before they are born. Tradition says that the birth of a royal baby should be shared with the public. This is done by putting up a sign with not just the gender but also the time of delivery. It is installed outside the gates of Buckingham Palace as a way to deliver the news.
The Public Must Know About Their Birth
They Need To Be Baptized
Are you aware that Queen Elizabeth II also serves as the head of the church? This is the reason all royal family members need to be baptized. As a matter of fact, Meghan Markle had to go through the same process before she married Prince Harry in 2018. The Archbishop of Canterbury oversees the ceremony and uses Holy Water that came all the way from the Jordan River.
They Need To Be Baptized
They Have To Don The Honiton Christening Gown
What is the Honiton christening gown? Queen Victoria had it commissioned for the christening of her first child. It has since been worn by all members of the royal family. The latest royal to wear it is none other than Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, although he had to don a replica instead. You see, the original gown is now too fragile to use.
They Have To Don The Honiton Christening Gown
When To Curtsy To The Queen
How often do they have to curtsy to the Queen? Well, protocol dictates that the female royal family members need to do so the first time that they see Her Royal Highness within the day. From the look of things, even Charlotte follows this rule as she curtsied on Christmas morning of the previous year.
When To Curtsy To The Queen
They Do Not Call Her Majesty Grandma
The grandchildren and great-grandchildren do not refer to the Queen as Your Royal Highness. Instead, they simply call her “Gan-Gan” or “Granny.” The Daily Mail also said that Prince William used to call her “Gary.” We would love to know if that adorable nickname for Her Majesty is still in use to this day.
They Do Not Call Her Majesty Grandma
They Are Issued A Passport Right Away
Fair enough, not a lot of newborn babies travel abroad. After all, it is far too risky. However, royal babies have to follow their own set of rules. They have to be prepared for international travel at any given time. This is the reason they are issued their very own passport the moment that they are born.
They Are Issued A Passport Right Away
They Need A License To Drive
There is only one person in the United Kingdom who can drive a car with no driver’s license. In case you have not guessed it yet, we are talking about none other than Queen Elizabeth II. This means that George, Charlotte, and Louis will all need to take and pass a driving test when they are older.
They Need A License To Drive
Their Presence Is Expected At Royal Events
When they are still very young, royal children are instructed how to act in the public eye. They might not be full-time working royals, but they got to a lot of public engagements year after year. Among other things, they are expected to be present at weddings, christenings, the birthday ceremony of the Queen, and the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Their Presence Is Expected At Royal Events
When They Receive Their Etiquette Training
An etiquette expert by the name of Myka Meier said that royal children are trained in etiquette “as soon as they’re old enough to sit at a table.” She shared with People, “They are raised having formal meals, going to formal events and practicing everything from voice levels to dressing appropriately to even, of course, how to curtsy and bow.”
When They Receive Their Etiquette Training
Joining Their Royal Parents On Tours
It seems like there is no age limit when it comes to this rule. If the parents are scheduled to go on a royal tour, their children will have to come with them. In fact, Archie had only been four months old when he joined the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a royal tour of South Africa.
Joining Their Royal Parents On Tours
Two Heirs Are Not Allowed To Travel Together
Are you surprised to hear this rule? There is actually sound logic behind this. Two heirs are not allowed to travel together in the name of preserving the line of succession. It is always best to be safe than sorry, after all. However, this rule can be overlooked as long as Queen Elizabeth II grants her permission.
Two Heirs Are Not Allowed To Travel Together
They Have To Do The Royal Wave
Do you know what the “Windsor wave” is? It is the fallback of the royal family when they are in public. It is only natural for the kids to learn this when they are still young. Isn’t it impressive that Princess Charlotte already knows it by heart? She looks adorable as she greets the public from the balcony.
They Have To Do The Royal Wave
They Typically Learn Another Language
The majority of the royals learn how to speak a second language early in life. You might not have known that the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William speak French fluently. The tradition lives on to this day. In fact, Prince George had only been two years old when his mother started teaching him Spanish.
They Typically Learn Another Language
Boys Do Not Wear Pants But Shorts
It is not surprising to hear that there are also rules when it comes to fashion. We know that it sounds strange, but young male royals are expected to don shorts when they are out and about. Wait until you hear the reasoning for this. Apparently, pants used to be considered very middle class.
Boys Do Not Wear Pants But Shorts
Girls Are Always Decked Out In Dresses
What are the fashion rules for young female royals? It seems like they are expected to wear dresses. This is a tradition that can be traced back to Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Marlene Koenig, a royal expert, explained to Harper’s Bazaar, “They tend to wear smocked dresses as little girls when they are in public with their parents.”
Girls Are Always Decked Out In Dresses
Siblings Often Have Matching Outfits
There was a time when little princes and princesses wore matching outfits when they joined their parents on public engagements. It does not look like this rule has changed a lot over the years. To be fair, the royal family is hardly the only one to do this. We bet even your parents did the same thing.
Siblings Often Have Matching Outfits
They Are Encouraged To Play Outside
The Duchess of Cambridge is a busy woman who supports a number of advocacies and charities. Among other things, she wants to teach young kids to appreciate what nature has to offer. It is not a surprise to earn that she encourages George, Charlotte, and Louis to spend time outdoors as well.
They Are Encouraged To Play Outside
They Do Not Eat Processed Baby Food
Royal babies do not eat food from cans and jars. After all, the royal family has access to private chefs! Darren McGrady, a former royal chef, said that he prepared some of the first meals that Prince William and Prince Harry ever had. He explained that the dishes were often made of steamed pears and apples.
They Do Not Eat Processed Baby Food
Shellfish Is Not Served In The Palace
The whole royal family avoids shellfish. Why? Well, it is actually one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It is a good thing that most children are not big fans of seafood. Something tells us that this is not that big of an issue to royal children, if they even mind it at all.
Shellfish Is Not Served In The Palace
The Royal Children Go To School
Queen Elizabeth II, as well as all the royal children that came before her, received their education from private tutors. This changed with Prince Charles. He and his siblings all went to school instead. Not that long ago, Princess Charlotte finally joined Prince George at Thomas’s Battersea Prep School in London.
The Royal Children Go To School
No Rule About Where They Attend
Prince Charles shocked people when he chose to send Prince William and Prince Charles to Eton College. They expected him to ship them off to Gordonstoun, his alma mater. Only time will tell where Prince William sends his kids. We are sure that he will pick the school that he feels will be best for them.
No Rule About Where They Attend
They Should Always Stay Impartial
Just so you know, royal family members are meant to be impartial in terms of politics and culture. They are not allowed to run for office or even vote. This is also the case for the royal children. In 2019, Prince George was photographed wearing an England Lioness jersey. The critics claimed that he should not show support for one soccer team over all the others.
They Should Always Stay Impartial
They Do Not Play Monopoly
You are never going to see any of the royal kids playing Monopoly. In fact, this is true for all members of the royal family. The Palace has banned the board game. You see, the family tends to get overly competitive when they played it in the past. To be fair, this game does bring out the worst in all of us.
They Do Not Play Monopoly
They Are Part Of The Royal Bridal Party
The youngest and most adorable members of the royal family are typically given the role of flower girl or page boy at royal weddings. It was not that long ago when Princess Charlotte and Prince George made everyone melt into puddles at the wedding of their uncle and aunt, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. They were also present at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
They Are Part Of The Royal Bridal Party
They Need To Listen To The Nanny
Royal children often grow up with both of their parents working full-time. We can see why it is helpful to hire a nanny. It is true that the royals have a more hands-on parenting approach than the older generations. Despite this, the Crown still hires experts such as Maria Borrallo to help them out.
They Need To Listen To The Nanny
Their Security Is Of Utmost Importance
Buckingham Palace, of course, does everything it can to ensure the safety of the young royal family members. Among other things, they get individual security detail. In 2015, the palace issued a statement to reprimand the press for its unacceptable tactics. It was the first time that such a thing has happened.
Their Security Is Of Utmost Importance
They Accept Gifts From Fans
Do you want to show your love for the royal family? It is protocol for the royals to accept gifts from well-wishers. This is also true for royal children. When they attend public events, it is not at all strange for the hosts to present them with a gift as a token of appreciation.
They Accept Gifts From Fans
Only The Queen Can Choose Which
Whenever royal children go to public events with their parents, they often receive an outpouring of gifts from the hosts and other supporters. They typically get anything from flowers to toys. Even though they will accept these presents, only Queen Elizabeth II has the power to decide which ones they get to keep.
Only The Queen Can Choose Which
The Rules About Posture
There are also rules about posture in the royal family. Female royals need to do the Duchess slant when they are sitting down at formal events. On the other hand, men have to stand with their hands in their pockets. It looks like Prince William forgot about this rule when the photo below was taken.
The Rules About Posture
They Do Not Wear Black Outfits
Black clothing is reserved for grieving in the royal family. Royals, even the kids, are not allowed to wear it to daytime events. There is one exception to the rule, however. In this photo, you can see Prince George in a black military suit. He wore this when he was the page boy at the wedding of his uncle.
They Do Not Wear Black Outfits
There Is Always A Black Outfit With Them
While they do not wear the color regularly, all royal family members are instructed to carry a black outfit with them wherever they go. After all, you never know when tragedy will strike. This rule was instated by the Queen when she did not have a black dress on her person in Africa when she found out about the sudden death of her father.
There Is Always A Black Outfit With Them
They Are Expected To Do Military Service
The tradition says that male royal family members have to join one of the branches of the military. Prince Charles followed in the footsteps of his father by choosing the Navy. On the other hand, Prince William was in the Air Force. Prince Harry, as you might already know, served in the Army.
They Are Expected To Do Military Service
Their Presence At Trooping The Colour Is Expected
The young royal family members often make their public debut at the birthday celebration of the Queen after they turn a year old. Prince Louis recently joined his older siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as the rest of the royals, at the Trooping the Colour ceremony for the first time.
Their Presence At Trooping The Colour Is Expected
They Have To Go To Christmas Service Once Old Enough
Of course, royal children basically live in the public eye from the moment that they are born. Despite this, they do not typically join the other royals at the Christmas church serve until they are several years old. In 2019, Prince George and Princess Charlotte both attended it for the very first time.
They Have To Go To Christmas Service Once Old Enough
Their Very Own Christmas Lunch Table
It is tradition for the royal family to spend Christmas at the Sandringham estate. In case you did not know, this is a rule that applies to the youngest members of the Windsor clan as well. On top of that, the junior royals even get a table of their own at the Queen’s Christmas lunch.
Their Very Own Christmas Lunch Table
They Do Not Open Gifts On Christmas Day
The members of the royal family do not open their presents on Christmas day. They instead follow the German custom of doing it on Christmas Eve! On the 25th of December, the family goes to the church service at St. Mary Magdalene Chapel. This is then followed by the aforementioned Christmas lunch.
They Do Not Open Gifts On Christmas Day
Only Married Women Are Allowed To Wear Tiaras
Do not be fooled by the things that you see in Disney movies. You might assume that princesses wear tiaras all the time, but this is not true at all. Royal protocol dictates that the headdress is only reserved for married female members of the family. This means that Charlotte won’t wear one for decades!
Only Married Women Are Allowed To Wear Tiaras
They Do Not Use Their Nicknames In Public
The royal family is known to have a ton of private nicknames for each other. For example, Prince Philip refers to Her Royal Highness as Cabbage! Even so, it is improper to address a royal by anything aside from their formal full name. This is the reason Kate Middleton is now known as Catherine instead.
They Do Not Use Their Nicknames In Public
They Do Not All Use The Same Last Names
Royals do not traditionally use last names. In modern times, they have started to use their titles as their surnames, however. When Prince William and Prince Harry were kids, they used Wales. At school, Prince George and Princess Charlotte go by Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose not to go by a royal title for their son. This is the reason little Archie uses Mountbatten, the last name of Prince Philip.
They Do Not All Use The Same Last Names
In Essence, They Need To Behave In The Public Eye
True, royal children are special in that they might ascend the throne in the future. Despite this, kids will always be kids. It is only natural for little ones to have meltdowns every now and then. Even if this were the case, royal children are expected to behave better in public than your average child. If you ask us, it is a given that the public will have higher expectations of them. After all, the royal family serves as the face of the country and needs to be role models to all of the constituents of the monarchy and the Commonwealth.
In Essence, They Need To Behave In The Public Eye