1. Prefer natural-looking cosmetics

Reason: Reduces rumours in the media
Exemption: It’s merely a “preference.”
The Royal Family does not enjoy huge, smokey eyes or the opportunity to tint their hair crimson or any other color. Kate Middleton and other royal ladies don’t seem to be taking many chances with their appearances.

Preferably, Natural-Looking Makeup ©Getty Images/Samir Hussein
This is due to the preference for natural hair and makeup. When making official public appearances, the palace requests that royal women keep things as simple as possible to avoid diverting the attention of the media or starting rumors.

2. Women need to sit in a specific way.

Reason: That’s not how the media can get a sneaky, embarrassing shot.
Exception: None
This rule is well-known to viewers of The Princess Diaries because it was mentioned in a sequence from the popular film, which starred Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia. This rule turns out to be more true than not.

Women need to sit in specific ways. ©Getty Images/Matt Cardy
It is customary for royal women to sit with their legs crossed, either at the ankle or knee. The palace doesn’t want the press to have an awkward picture of a royal woman, who frequently wears dresses or skirts. That’s the straightforward explanation for this.

3. Children must be able to wave

Because of their formal upbringing,
Exception: Children, being children, occasionally forget things.
While most of us wouldn’t even trust our toddlers to behave themselves at a formal gathering, the children of the Royal Family are raised in an environment that values formality. The children of the Royal Family are trained to wave nicely and talk with grace from the moment they are born.

Children must be capable of waving. Copyright: Samir Hussein/Getty Images
The Royals use waving as a method to thank the public and their fans without getting too personal. Eventually, the royal children will need to learn how to wave gracefully, so their parents might as well start them off early.

4. Elizabeth the First detested wedge heels

Reason: It seemed like she didn’t like them.
Exception: None
Do you like wearing wedge heels? There are some who support this divisive fashion trend and others who dislike it, with some neutrality in between. Marie Claire claimed that the Queen “highly disliked” wedges, implying that she was adamantly against them.

Lizzie II, the Queen, detested wedge heels. Maxim Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Wedge fashion may seem appropriate for formal outdoor events, but Queen Elizabeth II was not a fan. The ladies of the Royal Family reserved these heels for events where the Queen wouldn’t be present, knowing better than to wear them around her.

5. You cannot disregard a monarch.

Reason: It is impolite.
Exception: It is most likely an emergency.
You cannot turn your back on the Royal Family, as has been stated several times on this list, because that is considered the height of disrespect. This is especially true for the king or queen, as anyone who disobeys King Charles will probably face consequences.

You can’t turn your back on a monarch.
This also holds true for talks. He had to be the first to go, even after a conversation with King Charles ends, because no one can back down from him. The main idea behind this law is to show respect for the monarchy’s elevated status.

6. Multilingualism is essential.

It is beneficial and demonstrates diplomacy.
Exception: None
At some point in our lives, most of us have taken French, Spanish, or another language; some of us may even have grown up multilingual. Everyone in the Royal Family must speak multiple languages.

It’s essential to be multilingual. ©Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Prince George, the tiniest one, is even learning how to count in Spanish. The Royal Family perceives multilingualism as a status symbol that demonstrates their diplomatic nature and diversity. The benefits of multilingualism are evident.

7. Buckingham Palace Outlaws Garlic

Why? Because Queen Elizabeth II detested it
Exception: Since she passed, the rule may be relaxed.
It is said that Queen Elizabeth II detested garlic when she was alive. She detested it so much that Buckingham Palace forbade its use, requiring royal chefs to prepare meals without a trace of the ingredient.

Garlic is outlawed at Buckingham Palace. © Shutterstock/Marian Weyo
Given how strong garlic tastes and smells, the Queen probably detested both. While there are health benefits associated with bulbs, such as strengthening the immune system, it is worth noting that the Queen lived to be 96 years old without consuming garlic.

8. On Christmas Day, gifts are not to be opened

Reason: On Christmas Eve, they open them.
Exception: None
The Royal Family celebrates Christmas Day a little differently than the majority of us (assuming we adhere to the holiday’s faith, that is). On Christmas Eve, instead of opening gifts then, they do so in the Red Drawing Room.

On Christmas Day, gifts are not to be opened. ©Shutterstock/Africa Studio
The Royals enjoy a festive custom of exchanging humorous gag gifts with one another during tea time on Christmas Eve. The Royals commemorate the holiday the next day by going to church at St. Mary Magdalene and then having dinner at their Sandringham Estate.

9. It’s Not Usually Preferred to Have Face Hair

The Queen didn’t like it.
An exception exists: Prince Harry still did it.
Since Queen Elizabeth II passed away, this rule may have been abandoned because it was essentially her preference that was upheld. It is said that the late Queen disliked facial hair. She didn’t enjoy it at home, but she didn’t like it while the royal men were out in the military or the wilderness.

In general, facial hair is not preferred. ©Think Tank/Getty Images
Beards and moustaches were forbidden for royal employees. The Telegraph claims that even though Prince Harry frequently disobeyed this restriction, the Queen overlooked it because she believed he would eventually get rid of it.

10. To make words seem more formal

Reason: It imparts a more refined vibe to everyday terms.
Exception: Most likely children
The Royal Family has a very formal speech pattern, and you’ve probably observed that they make an effort to speak in the most refined, acceptable terms. A few terms have been modified in relation to royal households.

To make the words seem more formal Copyright: Karen Ballard/Getty Images
“Sofas” refers to couches, while “living rooms” refers to “drawing rooms.” The term “perfume” has also been altered to sound more organic. The way they speak now is much more refined, thanks to all of these adjustments.

11. Typically, royal babies don’t interact with world leaders.

Justification: Children must have bedtimes.
Exception: Children are occasionally allowed to remain up late.
Even the royal family’s children have bedtime. It turns out that royals discipline their children using bedtime, just like the majority of us. After all, you can’t have kids running about all night long.

World Leaders Usually Do Not Meet Royal Babies ©Washington/Getty Images
Since those state dinners are held too late for royal newborns to attend, they are typically not allowed to meet world leaders. Nevertheless, there are occasions when exceptions are made, as when Prince George was allowed to stay up later than usual to see the former US president by William and Kate.

12. I apologise, not pardon.

Reason: I apologise; I’m sorry; I’m apologetic.
Exception: None
It’s happened to everyone, and the Royal Family has rules for breaking up important conversations. Saying “sorry” when interrupting someone is appropriate.

It’s not “pardon,” just “sorry.” Copyright Chris Jackson/Mozilla
You cannot say “pardon,” as it is too sudden and ambiguous. Conversely, saying “sorry” conveys an apology and demonstrates that you are truly sorry for having to break up the conversation.

13. Trousers are not appropriate for young boys.

Reason: Among English people, it’s a “silent class marker.”
Exception: Oftentimes, when the weather is excessively cold,
You may have observed that Prince Louis almost always wears shorts rather than pants when he goes out. This is due to the fact that dressing young boys in shorts is a “very English thing,” according to Harper’s Bazaar.

Boys should not wear trousers too young, according to Pool/Getty Images.
It’s a “silent class marker,” reserved for the affluent (to whom the Royals undoubtedly belong). Louis is dressed in shorts because he is still a young child, which is a sign of his high rank and probably makes it easier for him to run around than long pants.

14. When descending stairs, keep your hands by your sides.

Reason: It’s regarded as courteous.
An exception would be if you needed to grab onto the railing for security.
As stated on this list, royal women are expected to stand with their chins parallel to the floor while they descend stairs. An arm-related rule for descending stairs is also in place.

When descending stairs, you must keep your hands by your sides. ©Serge Lemoine via Getty Pictures
It’s considered courteous to keep your hands by your sides when descending stairs. We’re sure they make an exception for elderly or dangerous staircase family members—why risk a fall?