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 … twice?

Nov 3 , 2022

From inappropriate fashion to raw food and flying with family – the British royals have to be wary of certain protocols at all times. Photo: @clarencehouse/Instagram

While being a royal certainly has its oh-so-lavish perks, everyone knows that the British monarchy also has its fair share of weird traditions and protocols.

Whether you’re Queen Consort Camilla, King Charles or one of the heirs to the throne like Princes William, George and Louis, there are dozens of royal rules to follow. Photo: AP

Sure, King Charles is exempt from much of British law, but he’s got plenty of other rules to follow. The same applies to other royal family members, who have sometimes opted to part ways with these odd requirements. While some famous rules include no crossed legs (and thus the “duchess slant” was born) and no political opinions, some weirder ones involve diets and fashion.

So what are some of the strangest no-nos for the British royal family?

1. No proposing without permission from the monarch

Prince Harry had to ask the queen’s permission before marrying Meghan Markle. Photo: AFP

While it’s common practice for someone to ask their partner’s parents for their blessing before proposing, the royals treat the monarch as if they were the parent. As outlined in the royal Marriages Act of 1772, the most senior royals in the family require written permission from the monarch before they propose. This is followed by an official announcement of the engagement and (usually) a press briefing.

2 No two heirs can fly together

Once Prince George turns 12, he will no longer be allowed to fly on the same plan as his dad, Prince William. Photo: EPA

This rule is implemented in case something tragic were to happen. So that means when Prince George turns 12, he won’t be able to fly with dad Prince William, while the same rule applies to Prince William and King Charles, per Cosmopolitan.

3. PDA is a no-no

Prince William and Kate Middleton step out with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in September following the queen’s death, with the latter couple holding hands as usual. Photo: PA Wire/DPA

One unspoken royal rule is to avoid public displays of affection wherever possible. While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle regularly break this expectation – by, gasp, holding hands in public – Prince William and Kate Middleton have also occasionally shared loving gestures.

Given her traditional upbringing and dedication to maintaining a respectable image, Queen Elizabeth was likely the one who set this precedent, according to reports.

4. No shellfish or rare-cooked meat

Then Prince Charles tucking into oysters as he and Camilla visit the Whitstable Oyster Festival in England, back in 2013. Photo: Getty Images

This one doesn’t seem too silly given that both dishes are known to cause food poisoning if they’re not prepared correctly. Although it’s not strictly a royal “law”, it is strongly advised to avoid shellfish and raw meat when possible. King Charles though occasionally can’t resist.

5. No tiaras for unmarried women

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing the Spencer family tiara, in 1983 – two years into her marriage – in Brisbane, Australia. Photo: WireImage

Turns out if you’re a royal, you gotta put a ring on it before the belle of the ball can put on a tiara. It’s an old tradition and for most members of the royal family, the first time they get to don the expensive headpieces is at their wedding. Such was the case for Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Princess Beatrice, according to Grazia.

6. No signing autographs or selfies with fans

Meghan Markle once came up with a clever way to sign a young fan’s piece of paper. Photo: Getty Images

British royals are banned from signing autographs to avoid the risk of their signatures being forged, per British media. They are required to decline any fans who ask them to do so, with King Charles famously responding, “Sorry, they don’t allow me to do that.” However, he did make one exception when he signed an autograph for a family affected by devastating flash floods in Cornwall in 2010.

Markle, meanwhile, cleverly skirted the royal protocol and signed a young fan’s note by scribbling “Hi Kaitlin” instead. Selfies are also considered a no-go.

7. No Christmas dinner without weighing yourself first

Queen Elizabeth reportedly continued the royal tradition of pulling out the weighing scales at Christmas. Photo: AP

Perhaps the most bizarre tradition in the royal family is this pre-Christmas dinner ritual. According to CBS News, royals are asked to weigh themselves before and after the festive meal – if they’ve gained enough weight, it’s a sure sign that they’ve truly enjoyed themselves during the feast.

8. No bright nail polish

Meghan Markle wearing a subtle nude-coloured nail polish, which is deemed to be “royal appropriate”. Photo: @hrhofsussex/Instagram

There several fashion rules in the royal household, and one of them is to avoid brightly painted nails, especially when carrying out official duties. Reports claim that this rule was created to avoid distractions and maintain an air of professionalism.

9. No fur

Kate Middleton was called out by animal rights campaigners for wearing fur-lined gloves when spotted in photos with Prince William on holiday. Photo: Getty Images

This 700-year-old rule came in to being in 1337, when King Edward III banned anyone, including royals, from wearing fur, per British media. Although it’s still generally frowned upon, the late queen occasionally broke the rule until 2019, when her stylist Angela Kelly confirmed that Elizabeth would only wear faux fur from that point on.

Kate Middleton found herself in trouble with Peta when she wore a pair of possum fur-lined gloves during a 2016 family ski holiday.

10. No Monopoly board games

Monopoly is apparently banned from the British royal household. Photo: Shutterstock

According to British media, there is one board game that’s not allowed to enter the royal household: Monopoly. Apparently, the queen “banned” it because it “gets too vicious”. The Daily Telegraph quoted the now-disgraced Prince Andrew who confirmed, “We are not allowed to play Monopoly at home.”

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Royalty

The British royals are known to have some weird rules, from fashion and diet restrictions to how they interact with the public – so who among them broke protocol?
Prince Harry had to ask Queen Elizabeth’s permission to marry Meghan Markle, Prince George soon won’t be allowed to fly with Prince William, and Kate Middleton caused a stir by wearing fur