15 Top Royal Family Traditions You Didn't Know About
Every modern royal family still sticks to old traditions that have been around for centuries. Some are cool and unique, while others are a bit boring or seem outdated. The British royal family is no different. So, here’s a list of the top 15 royal family traditions you probably didn’t know about!
1. Banned “Monopoly”
Just like everyone else, the royal family loves playing board games in their free time. But one game they’re not allowed to play is “Monopoly.” According to Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II banned it because people get too competitive and it brings out the worst in them!
Luckily, we don’t have that rule, so we can play Monopoly online and enjoy free spins not on GamStop. In this sense, we definitely have more freedom than the royals!
2. Handshakes
During social events, official state receptions, or other gatherings involving monarchs, guests are not allowed to offer their hand first. Instead the King and Queen decide whom they are willing to touch. This rule has been in place for centuries and also applies to members of the royal family themselves.
3. No Autographs
The royal family isn’t allowed to give autographs because they want to prevent people from copying their signatures. But Princes William and Harry have ignored this rule a few times and signed cards for fans anyway!
4. Direct heirs cannot travel together
This is one of the unusual royal family traditions. The idea is that the British throne should never be left without a monarch. As a result, at least one heir must either stay behind or travel separately. For example, Charles and William always reach the same destination on different planes.
5. Wedding
Members of the royal family have little freedom when it comes to their own weddings. British royal wedding traditions are dazzling in their splendor:
The groom must wear military uniform.
The rings are made of elite Welsh gold.
Myrtle must be included in the bridal bouquet.
The wedding cake is not entirely eaten—one piece is sent to auction.
And, no royal wedding can take place without the Queen’s approval. Such are the wedding traditions in the British royal family.
6. Christmas
We all open Christmas presents on a specific day—December 26. But the British royal family’s Christmas traditions are borrowed from their German ancestors, so members of the royal family traditionally open gifts on the evening of December 24.
According to a former royal family chef, on Christmas Day, the men and women of the royal family usually have breakfast separately. The women prefer fruits, coffee, and toast for breakfast, while the men go for eggs with bacon, mushrooms, and fried kidneys.
7. Pregnancy
When a royal family member is pregnant, the baby’s gender is kept a secret from everyone, including the press and public. Even the pregnancy itself is kept under wraps until after the 12th week. The only time they made an exception was for Kate Middleton because she had really bad morning sickness, so they had to officially explain why she wasn’t around.
8. No partner-assisted childbirth
Although partner-assisted births are popular worldwide, royal traditions in England do not allow it. Only women are present at births. However, it’s believed that if Meghan Markle had insisted on Prince Harry being there, this rule might have been bent, as many others were. Although they are no longer royal family members, their disregard for tradition was noticeable.
9. Children’s dress code
If the child is a boy, he must not wear trousers until the age of 8. So, all royal boys wear shorts, even if it’s cold outside. Similarly, girls do not wear trousers, as they dress exclusively in dresses or skirts.
10. Dining and table etiquette
Meals begin only when the Queen starts eating and end when she signals it by putting down her cutlery. At royal banquets, guests aren’t allowed to get up from the table as long as the King or Queen is still chatting or eating.
11. Black mourning outfit
When royal family members travel abroad, they always pack a black mourning outfit in their suitcase—just in case someone in the family dies while they’re away. This is British planning and being prepared for everything!
12. No diapers
British royal family babies use only cloth diapers—no disposable ones allowed!
13. Named After a Bridge
Each senior member of the royal family has a code name based on the name of a bridge in the UK. These code names are used in the event of their death to prevent news leaks until all the important parties have been officially informed. For example, Queen Elizabeth II was referred to as “London Bridge.” When she passed away, the royal staff shared the news using the phrase “London Bridge is down.” Prince Philip’s code name was “Forth Bridge,” named after a bridge in Edinburgh. It is believed that King Charles’ code name is “Menai Bridge,” after a bridge in Wales. It’s unclear whether Prince William and his family have code names as well.
14. Going to Bed
According to tradition, after dinner, all members of the royal family gather for drinks and socializing in the living room. And no one is allowed to go to bed before the monarch does. Princess Diana would sometimes break this rule, as she reportedly didn’t enjoy these family evenings, according to one of Queen Elizabeth’s former secretaries.
15. Passport and Driving Licence
Strangely enough, the monarch doesn’t need a passport or a driving licence to travel within the United Kingdom. This is because both of these official documents are actually issued in the monarch’s name. This means that Queen Elizabeth II, and now King Charles, can travel abroad without a passport and drive anywhere without a driving licence, which are required for the rest of us. Interestingly, the monarch doesn’t even need to pass a driving test to be allowed to drive. But other members of the royal family still need a passport to travel outside the UK and a driving licence to drive a car.
