Kate Middleton Has To Follow These 36 Rules
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, the Dutchess has had to adapt to the lifestyle and the rules laid out for living at the court of Queen Elizabeth II!
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.
According to the UK newspaper Express, 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
Kate Middleton has to keep something in mind while dining with the Queen. As soon as the Queen finishes eating her meal, everyone at the table has to put down the cutlery and stop eating their food.
This rule applies to all members of the Royal Family and not just the Dutchess.
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 while traveling to other countries.
According to the Former royal butler Grant Harold, "It is a very sensible move to abandon having seafood when out and about on public duties. We don't want a member of the Royal Family having a serious reaction to food poisoning, especially if she is on an overseas tour."
No Flashy Nail Colors
Kate Middleton has an easy time picking out manicure colors since she has minimal choices. The Duchess is required to use a neutral color palette.
According to Omid Scobie, a royal correspondent, "There's no actual protocol about dark nail polish. It's simply about being appropriate." In a majority of her photos, the Dutchess seems to favor light pink or nude shades.
Strict Dress Code - The Hat
In the 1950s, the women of the royal court were seldom seen without a hat on their heads when they went out in public. While this rule is seen as more of a guideline in the more modern age, the royals, including Kate Middleton are required to wear a hat during formal events.
According to BBC, "ladies were very seldom seen without a hat as it was not considered 'the thing' for ladies to show their hair in public…But all that has changed and hats are now reserved for more formal occasions."
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, per the Royal website. This practice also makes sure the family cannot influence the results of public elections.
This rule came about after World War One and the establishment of the House of Windsor.
Dresses And Skirts Should Be Knee-Length
When getting dressed for events and various royal occasions, the women of the court are required to wear dresses and skirts that reach their knees, if not to the floor (depending on the occasion).
Kate Middleton can often be seen wearing knee-length attire when visiting the public or touring various countries. According to Harpers Bazaar, modesty is key for Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal family.
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 passes away, they have the chance to land in the UK properly dressed. According to Harpers Bazaar, the rule came into effect when George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. The Queen 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
Members of the Royal family should not travel together on the same plane, boat, or train.
The rule was set in place to prevent two heirs of the British throne from potentially passing away 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 Must Go To The Beauty Salon Frequently
Due to the sheer amount of photographs taken of her, Dutchess Kate Middleton 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, namely for a blowout.
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 this rule makes some sense.
In 2011, the Duchess went through a religious confirmation ceremony at the Anglican Church as part of preparations for her marriage to Prince William.
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.
According to Good to Know, the royals' gift exchange takes place during tea time on Christmas Eve around 6 pm.
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 and keeping up appearances.
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
Not knowing the gender of the baby is more of a tradition than an actual rule. Even so, Kate Middleton did not know the gender of any of her children until after giving birth!
On top of this, the first person to be notified of the new royal's gender is the Queen.
No PDA
The Queen finds public displays of affection unacceptable and, therefore, Kate Middleton has to adhere to the rule of keeping PDA on the backburner and act professionally while attending events.
According to this unwritten rule, the couple shouldn't even be seen holding hands. There have been rare occasions, though, when Kate and William are seen holding hands or touching one another backs.
The Stock Code
Kate is expected to be always attentive to the Queen's signals. If Elizabeth wants to leave dinner in five minutes, she puts the bag on the table.
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.
The Bouquet Must Contain Myrtle
All royal brides enter the ceremony with myrtle in their bouquet, which is a symbol of good luck, love, hope, and happiness in marriage, according to Harpers Bazaar.
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 Middleton could not marry Prince William without the approval of his family, namely his grandmother, the Queen. Descendants of British royalty must follow the Royal Wedding Act of 1722.
According to the document, the Royal Family must give their approval before there is an official marriage request.
Utensil Placement Is Key
When it comes to dinner, Kate Middleton needs to be sure to cross her utensils if she were to get up from the table. According to Harpers Bazaar, this is to ensure the staff does not take away her food while she is away from the table.
On the other hand, if she is finished, the Dutchess is to place her utensils "side by side at an angle with the handles facing the bottom right of the plate."
No Dinner Made With Garlic
Kate has no choice if she likes garlic. According to Delish, the royal family does not eat garlic solely because of the numerous people they speak with on a daily basis.
When Camilla Parker Bowles appeared on MasterChef Australia, she was asked what the royal family did not eat. Her answer: I hate to say this, but garlic. Garlic is a no-no."
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 faces.
Some of the gifts the royal family has received in the past include children's toys, a Mindtrap board game, and a picture of a washing machine!
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. Experts believe it's an "etiquette faux pas."
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.
While out in public, the Duchess is typically photographed as pristinely dressed with a fresh face, nothing too heavy or loud.
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 and well-versed in different languages.
According to Entertainment Times, every member of the Royal Family is to learn a foreign language. In Kate's instance, she is fluent in French
She Can't Have Her Back To The Queen
While this rule is specific to The Duchess, the royal family 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 her child's name before birth. Therefore, the name of the couple's third heir has not been disclosed. Amazingly, the royal family keeps the full name of their child a secret from the public for two to three days after the birth.
Some royal parents even opt for a longer timeframe.
The Children Must Be Well-Behaved
Kate is expected to ensure her children are well-behaved at all times. While one can hope for mild-mannered children, the royal couple is parents to three children under five which is likely hectic.
According to sources, when her children begin to get fussy, she says "let's take a break," a code between the family that means it is time for the kids to calm down and take a breath.
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.
They can still cross their ankles, tilting their knees to one side. Oh, and good posture is an absolute must!
Tea Cups Must Be Held Right
Kate Middleton and the rest of the royals need to hold their teacups properly, which means they're not to put their finger in the cavity of the handle.
The cup should be held up with your thumb and forefinger, underneath the middle finger, and they're to sip from the same spot, so their lipstick doesn't stain the entire rim of the cup.
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.
Don't Forget To Curtsy
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. The curtsy is also supposed to be very subtle with the head tilted towards the ground.
No Baby Showers
Kate Middleton and other royal mothers-to-be are not allowed to have a baby shower.
According to royal expert Victoria Arbiter, the tradition of a baby shower isn't as big in the UK as it is in the US. Not to mention the royal family is "[very wealthy … a lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate."
Wedge Shoes Are A Big No-No
One pair of shoes that is off-limits to Kate Middleton are wedge heels. According to a source from Vanity Fair, the Queen does not like the look of that particular style, something that is well-known to the rest of the royal family.
While it is true the Dutchess has been seen wearing wedges, it is only during events where the Queen is not in attendance.
