The Rules Kate Middleton Has To Follow Prove Princess Life Is Not Easy!
Contrary to what people think, the life of the Duchess of Cambridge is not always glamorous. There is a strict protocol that Kate Middleton must follow. And living in the public eye the way she does, there are no exceptions.
Since marrying Prince William, she has had to adapt to the lifestyle and the rules laid out for living at the court of Queen Elizabeth II — and trust us, there are lots of rules to follow!
The Strict Rules Kate Middleton Has To Follow
Some of the rules the Princess must follow aren't without controversy. The Queen makes the rules, and she has been in charge for a long time. Through decades of changes, some rules have never changed, leading to some interesting modern social conflicts.
From not being allowed to earn her own money to not hugging her husband in public — check out some rules that the Duchess of Cambridge has to follow!
No Autographs
The Duchess of Cambridge became a celebrity after she joined the Royal Family. However, she cannot sign autographs for fans. Under the rules of the crown, she can only sign official documents previously authorized by Queen Elizabeth II.
The reason for this rule comes from the fear that someone could falsify documents on behalf of a member of the Royal Family. Because of this, only photos and handshakes are allowed.
She Is Forbidden To Profit From Her Work
Some may find this a somewhat strange rule for the modern world, but Kate is not allowed to profit from any work she does. Kate is an avid photographer and has released professional photos she's taken throughout the years.
Under normal circumstances, she would be able to license her photos for profit. However, since she is a member of the Royal Family, her work is released to the public through the Palace and she does not personally profit.
Queen First
This rule applies to you and Kate Middleton! Well, sort of...If one day, you have the honor of having dinner with the Queen, be aware that as soon as she finishes her meal, everyone at the table has to put down the cutlery and stop eating immediately.
This rule applies to other members of the Royal Family, including Kate Middleton. Now, imagine if the food is good and you have to stop eating.
No Mussels Or Oysters
Eating mussels or oysters is a no-no for Kate. The rule exists because of the health issues these foods present if they aren't stored correctly. This is something the Royals simply cannot risk.
As delicious as these mollusks are, Kate can never say yes. Hopefully, before she officially joined the family she went all out with one last seafood feast! Then again, she might not like oysters anyways, making these an easy rule not to break.
No Flashy Nail Colors
Do you think long and hard before choosing a polish for your nails? Kate Middleton has an easy time picking out manicure colors since she has minimal choices. The Duchess is required use a color palette.
Kate's manicure usually has two shades: Soft Pink 28 Rose Lounge (Bourjois) and Nude 423 Allure (Essie). Protocol says Royals should keep their nails natural tones at official events. Queen Elizabeth sets a prime example — she has worn the same enamel since 1989!
Strict Dress Code
Before she was married, Kate was seen wearing clothes you'll never find her in today, like leather boots and vibrant patterns. Although she can still wear leather, she can only do so if the animals have not been sacrificed.
This rule we approve! Animal cruelty is no laughing matter, and the royal family clearly agrees. This rule is in place for ethical reasons and to ensure her wardrobe isn't too luxurious.
She Can't Vote
No member of the Royal family can vote or submit an application to parliament. All monarchs must remain neutral so as not to damage the family's reputation. This practice also makes sure the family cannot influence the results of public elections.
Remember that the rule is a consensus because there is no law that actually prevents someone from voting. But who would dare to disobey the mighty Queen? We wouldn't!
No Provocative Dresses
At a younger age, Kate wore more daring clothes and had a more flamboyant style. Today, she has changed her wardrobe and is always seen in elegant clothes. You will never see her wear patterns or showing a lot of flesh.
Kate is almost always wearing a modest dress and hardly goes out wearing pants. If you want to copy her style, stock up on skirts and dresses in solid prints and don't forget the hat, of course.
Minimal Black Clothing
Members of the Royal family are instructed to avoid wearing black during the day. For Kate, black should only be worn during mourning and, on occasion, for nighttime events. To anticipate a funeral, members of the Royal family who are traveling to another country must carry a set of black clothes in their suitcase.
Then, if any family member dies, they have the chance to land in the UK properly dressed. The rule was stipulated because when George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, died, she was on a journey through Africa, and when she arrived in England, she had no black clothes to wear when she got off the plane.
Monopoly Is Not Allowed
This is the most unusual rule on our list! Inside the Royal house, it is prohibited to play Monopoly. The reason? The Duke of York in 2008 defined it as a "vicious" pastime, inviting the Queen's subordinates to refrain from such playful activity.
This may seem weird, but if you've ever played a game of Monopoly with family, then you know just how vicious it can get. It's a fun game, but it also has the power to break familial bonds!
The Royal Family Can't Travel On The Same Plane, Boat Or Train
A Royal family vacation? That calls for lots of planning! Members of the Royal family should not travel together on the same plane, boat or train. They probably have a vacation planner on payroll!
The rule was set in place to prevent potential heirs of the British throne from dying together in the event of an accident. Therefore, it is unlikely that Kate can travel with her husband and father-in-law Prince Charles at the same time.
She Can Only Be Protestant Anglican
Like other members of the Royal Family, Kate cannot belong to any religion other than the Protestant Anglican. The monarch of Great Britain is also the supreme head of the Protestant Anglican Church, so it would be pretty awkward if someone in the Royal family practiced a different religion.
In 2011, the Duchess went through a religious confirmation ceremony at the Anglican Church as part of preparations for her marriage to Prince William.
No PDA
What if you were forbidden to hug or kiss your significant other in public? That's what life is like for Kate! The Queen finds public displays of affection unacceptable. As you know, if the Queen doesn't like it, then it's not allowed.
It is unlikely that any photographer will be able to record a moment of intimacy between Kate and Prince William. According to the rule, the couple shouldn't even be seen holding hands. Affection only behind closed doors.
Christmas Together
Members of the Royal Family spend every Christmas together at Sandringham Palace in Norfolk. Rather than opening gifts after midnight or on the morning of December 25th, the Royal Family has another custom.
At the Palace, the exchange takes place during tea time, always on Christmas Eve. Does your family exchange gifts at the same time? Are you suddenly planning a new tradition now just to have something cool in common with royalty?
No Crying In Public
Can you control your emotions? Kate has no choice! Since joining the Royal Family, she has to remain calm all the time, as is expected to never cry in public. That sounds like it would be too hard for us!
Even when she participates in humanitarian actions or tributes, she is always calm, without showing much emotion. And if she were ever filmed at a wedding or funeral, you would never catch tear running down her cheek.
Jaw Placement Is Key For Photographs
Have you noticed how flawless Kate always appears in photos? You rarely see spontaneous or candid photos of the Royal Family because there is a protocol for how they are to be photographed.
When royal women pose for photographs they should be concerned about keeping their jaws parallel to the ground. They should learn this in an etiquette class because it is not intuitive at all.
She Must Walk Two Steps Behind William
The world has evolved, but some traditional standards remain the same in the Royal Family. This rule is as archaic as it is baffling, but Kate isn't fighting it while she shows respect for the family that made her royalty.
To show respect for her husband's traditions, Kate must put her pride aside and walk two steps behind William in official public appointments. What do you think of this rule?
No Social Media
In the Royal family, using social media is forbidden. Members have no private accounts. This rule exists to prevent secret data from becoming public. As crazy as this rule may sound, it is actually surprisingly logical when you consider how easily messages and pictures can be taken out of context.
There are official crown accounts but these are managed by communication professionals, who are in charge of choosing photos and texts very carefully.
The Gender Of The Baby Must Be Kept Secret Until Birth
The British Royal Family does not usually reveal the gender of the baby during pregnancy.
Everything is kept in the strictest confidentiality before the child is born. Society likes to speculate about this and even place bets.
She Must Go To The Beauty Salon Frequently
The Duchess must always look impeccable. She never knows when she will be photographed or invited to an important event with her husband. Therefore, she is always expected to look elegant, with her nails clean and trim, and with a beautiful hairstyle.
Magazines in England claim that Kate usually goes to the beauty salon three times a week. I think at least we would like that, right? Good thing she doesn't have to worry about money.
The Stock Code
Kate is expected to be always attentive to the Queen's signals. If Elizabeth wants to leave a dinner in five minutes, she puts the bag on the table. And remember that everyone needs to stop eating when the Queen ends the meal!
There is also a code to signal that she is tired of talking to someone! For this, she changes the bag from one arm to the other arm.
No Nicknames In The Palace
When they marry, members of the royal family gain a new title. Shortly after formalizing her union, she became the Duchess of Cambridge.
Diminutives should not be used before a member of royalty. Between the royal family, Kate is called Catherine Elizabeth Middleton. No nicknames inside the Palace!
The Bouquet Must Be Myrtle
Kate had no choice when it came to what her bouquet would look like. All royal brides enter the ceremony with a branch of myrtle, which is a symbol of good luck and happiness in marriage.
This tradition began with Queen Victoria, who received a myrtle as a gift from the groom's grandmother. Now the myrtle is taken from a tree growing in the royal garden.
The Royal Wedding Act of 1722
Kate could not marry without being approved by Prince William's family. Descendants of British royalty must follow the Royal Wedding Act of 1722. That's right!
According to the document, the Royal Family must give their approval before there is an official marriage request. We wonder what the world would be like if she was not accepted?
No Political Opinions
We already mentioned that Kate cannot vote but she can't even speak publicly about politics or run for political office of any kind.
She is expected to remain neutral whenever questioned about the subject at all times.
Dinners Must Be Carefully Planned
If she's planning a dinner party, Kate is expected to be very attentive, avoid carelessness, and to always call the same company for help. The Marshal's Office is responsible for helping organize the dinners.
Even the order of the people at the table needs to be thought out. Usually, seating arrangements are in order of precedence which takes into account factors such as age, language and interests.
No Dinner Made With Garlic
Kate has no choice if she likes garlic. Queen Elizabeth II hates garlic and so no dish made inside Buckingham Palace can have the ingredient.
The good news is that outside the home of the Royal Family, she can have as much garlic as she wants.
She Must Accept All Gifts
Kate can never refuse gifts from fans or other people. In fact, all members of royalty must accept the "gifts" they receive with a smile on their face. And hey, sometimes they get pretty weird stuff!
In 2015, the Queen got gifted a throne from the "Game of Thrones" miniature series. Prince Charles once received a doctoral thesis, while Prince Andrew was gifted a CD of the Arctic Monkeys.
No Hats After 6 P.M.
Women of the Royal Family must wear hats at all formal events. After 6 p.m. they can no longer wear hats, but rather tiaras and crowns.
Accessories should be placed carefully at the correct angle. Traditionally they are worn just in front of the head, now the more modern style is to put accessories at a 45-degree angle.
She Must Maintain A Clean Image
All members of royalty, especially women, are expected to have a clean image. That's why Kate Middleton never overdoes it when it comes to makeup and clothes.
Think about all of the photos of the Duchess out there — do you remember seeing her in daring makeup or colorful prints? Nope.
Being Cultured Is A Requirement
As a public figure who is always traveling in official appointments, Kate needs to be well-versed in different cultures.
It's necessary for her to know the history of the places she visits as well as the local culture. In addition, in the Royal Family, everyone must learn several languages.
She Can't Have Her Back To The Queen
One more rule involving the powerful Queen Elizabeth II! The Duchess cannot turn her back on the Queen — literally.
She must always be the first to leave a location and the rest of the Royal family must follow behind.
When To Announce A Pregnancy
There is also a protocol on how Royal women should act when they learn they are pregnant. Usually, the pregnancy of a member of the Royal Family is reported after the first 12 weeks, but Kate was an exception!
The Duchess experienced significant nausea during her pregnancy, so the family had to explain the reason for her absence at official events.
She Cannot Reveal Her Child's Name Before Birth
Kate is not permitted to reveal the child's name before birth. Therefore, the name of the couple's third heir has not been disclosed. The names most cited so far for the boy are Arthur, Albert, or James.
If tradition is maintained, as in the case of the Duke and Duchess' other children, Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2, it is likely to take a few days for the baby's name to be released.
She Gets No Discretion After Childbirth
Kate does not have the choice to keep her discretion after the birth of a child. To announce the arrival of a baby of the Royal family, a golden easel is placed near the palace with a sheet with information on the baby's gender and date of birth.
This function is fulfilled by a messenger who informs the people on the streets of London. Besides, she needs to look beautiful even after a few hours after delivery to introduce the baby, and it's time to get out of the maternity ward and wave to fans.
The Children Must Be Well-Behaved
Kate is expected to ensure her children are well behaved at all time. While one can hope for mild-mannered children, the royal couple is parents to three children under five which is likely hectic.
The Duchess seems to have everything under control — at least in public. Her children, George, 4, and Charlotte, 2, are always impeccably dressed and on their best behavior in front of others.
The Royal Family Tree
The average family has 2.4 children. As of April 23, 2018, William and Kate have three. According to a statement released by Kensington Palace for the local press, the baby was born at the Saint Mary Hospital in London at 11 a.m. local time.
Now people are wondering if the couple will stop at the third. There are no written rules regarding the number of children the couple can have. However, they have reportedly been told to lead by example and have been urged to not have any more children due to climate change and limited resources.
Keep Good Posture Always
All women of royalty must sit in a certain way. They can not simply put one leg crossed over the other. The correct position of the legs is with the knees together.
You can still cross your ankles, tilting your knees to one side. Oh, and good posture is an absolute must!
Tea Cups Must Be Held Right
Drinking tea is "sacred" in the UK. But you need to know how to drink the tea the right way. When it comes to drinking tea properly, you cannot put your finger in the cavity of the handle.
The cup should be held up with your thumb and forefinger, underneath the middle finger, and finally the little finger. This, by the way, can never separate from the other fingers! Kate must have rehearsed many times not to disappoint the Queen! And you still want to be Princess or Duchess?
The Queen Must Know
When a baby is born, there is one person that needs to be notified first before anyone. That person is the Queen.
No matter the circumstances going on, this rule must be followed every time. Take note that Prince William called his grandmother on an encrypted phone when Prince George entered this world.
A Careful Announcement
After the Queen is properly informed about the birth, then there is an official person who announces it to the public.
This person is called the crier. Tony Appleton currently serves in this role. This tradition started back in medieval times because people couldn't write or read.
Make Sure To Cover Up
Kate Middleton must always be sure to not show cleavage. Princess Diana used to put her clutch against her chest while getting out of the vehicle to help aid with this.
She did that to lessen the chances of paparazzi taking revealing pictures. That's an overall good idea anyway.
Enter Orderly
When the family is in a group, it is imperative for them to enter a room by precedence. They must also be seated in the same manner.
This means they are to go in the order of who's going to be taking the throne next.
Politely Excuse Herself From The Table
When eating meals at an event, royals must not cause too much of a fuss. If Kate Middleton needs to use the restroom, all she needs to say is "excuse me".
No one needs to know she has to relieve her bladder.
She Doesn't Remove Her Coat in Public
One thing you'll never see Kate Middleton do is removing her jacket in public. She can't even do it inside when it is hot, or she is uncomfortable.
The reason is that it is said to be unladylike. Royalty always has to look and play the part.
Don't Forget This Gesture
You can't forget to show your respect as a member of the royal family. One thing Kate Middleton must always do is curtsy in front of the most senior royal.
Whenever Queen Elizabeth comes around, a curtsy is sure to follow. Just how you see in the image above.
She Can't Wear Wedges
Kate Middleton has a rebellious side. One thing she should not be doing is wearing wedges. She does it anyway but she should for sure not do it in front of Queen Elizabeth.
She will let you know about it without hesitation. Middleton will try and get away with it as much as she can.
No Baby Showers
While celebrities have baby showers all the time and publicize them, Kate Middleton is not allowed to have one.
She already receives free gifts all the time so that's a nice filler but it goes against Queen Elizabeth's royal rules to have one. It would be funny to see a royal play one of those baby games.
Keep Quiet About Any Pain
During a pregnancy, Kate Middleton has to be strong. A rule she must follow is never to complain. No matter how bad her stomach hurts, she won't let you know.
If she said anything negative about her pregnancy, the media would go into a frenzy over it. You'd never know what she's going through.
