1. A royal wedding bouquet needs myrtle.

Reason: It represents fidelity, love, and positive fortune.
Exception: None
The flowering evergreen shrub Myrtus communis, commonly referred to as myrtle, is native to Europe, West Asia, India, North Africa, and Micronesia. According to royal tradition, all wedding bouquets must include this flower. It’s so lovely.

Every royal wedding bouquet needs myrtle. ©Photos by Fox/Getty Images
After her marriage, myrtles from Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet were placed in her private garden. Even now, more than a century later, the plant is still in high demand and is included in royal weddings. Myrtle is said to represent faithfulness, good fortune, and, of course, love.

2. A New Name Accompanying Matrimony

Reason: It is customary in the royal court.
Exception: None
As this list has shown so far, the Royal Family is subject to a number of stringent regulations, especially with regard to matrimony. For instance, when a royal woman marries, she cannot retain her maiden name.

A new name accompanying matrimony is Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
In the line of succession, women who marry royal men are obligated to inherit their husbands’ titles. In the late 1910s, King George V decided to adopt the royal surname “Windsor,” named after Windsor Castle. And thus it has continued to this day, with ladies who marry into the royal family officially assuming that surname at their wedding.

3. Tiaras are exclusively worn by married women.

The rationale is that wearing a tiara denotes “adulthood.”
Exception: None
Even as a member of the Royal Family, diamond tiaras are not something you can wear carelessly. The jewelry collection of the Royal Family is valued at millions of dollars, and some of the most costly items include diamond tiaras.

Only married women wear tiaras. ©Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Since they wouldn’t exactly make a practical accessory for a trip to McDonald’s, tiaras should only be worn at night and at the most formal gatherings. These million-dollar trinkets are only allowed on married ladies, which is why Kate Middleton was never seen without one until she wed Prince William.

4. Every royal wedding party must include a crop of children.

Because it’s a custom from Britain.
Exception: A best man or maid of honor may be present.
As you may have noticed, photos taken at royal wedding celebrations typically feature a significant number of children. Some American brides and grooms ask that their spouses not bring children to their wedding, but that would be a big no-no in the Royal Family.

Every royal wedding reception requires a large number of children. ©Dave Cannon/Getty Images/GP
According to Elle, it’s customary in Britain for children to serve as pageboys and bridesmaids. Even if royal marriages have maids of honor, they lack the customary bridesmaid/groomsmen arrangements that most other weddings have.

5. The family is not allowed to publicly discuss or hold political opinions.

Reason: They must be independent of politics.
Humanitarian causes (banning landmines, for example) are an exception.
The Royal Family is supposed to remain above politics, as this list makes clear; hence, they do not cast ballots. These heads of state are required to maintain their impartiality on all political issues, so they avoid getting bogged down in the mud with the MPs.

The family is not allowed to publicly discuss or have political opinions. ©Think Tank/Getty Images
The Royal Family may support non-debatable general humanitarian causes, but they are not permitted to express their political views on tax legislation, urgent matters, or scandals. The media has frequently exhausted itself speculating about the Royal family’s political stance, to little use.

6. Dinner Discussions Are Crafted

Reason: It maintains the event’s etiquette.
Exception: None
When dining with the Royal Family, the etiquette for dinner discourse is very rigorous. During the first meal, for instance, King Charles converses with the individual to his right. He then turns to speak with the person on his left during the second meal.

Tim Graham crafted the dinner conversation via Getty Photos.
There won’t be any shouting across the table to make a point; instead, guests are asked to speak softly with the person seated next to them in other areas of the table. The King is picky about where he sits; he likes to be seated next to someone he knows will make for intriguing discussion.

7. No shellfish for the family.

Reason: There is an excessive risk of food poisoning.
King Charles III is an exception; he occasionally can’t resist
Food poisoning, a condition that can result in cramping, nausea, vomiting, and a plethora of other unpleasant symptoms, is primarily caused by shellfish and rare meat. Food poisoning can be deadly in extreme circumstances, especially for the elderly or sick.

The family is unable to eat shellfish. ©Getty Images/PPool
The Royal Household generally avoids shellfish and raw meat due to their propensity to cause illness, even if this is not a strict “law.” Still, rumors claim that King Charles III sometimes gives in to the temptation of these unhealthy foods.

8. They silently get up from the table.

Reason: It is improper to interrupt dinner.
An emergency (heart attack, choking, etc.) is an exception.
You’re hardly likely to hear the Royal Family say, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” while dining together. When attending a royal dinner, it’s customary to discreetly leave the table if necessary.

They quietly rise from the table.
Although royals will inevitably need to use the restroom, they are required to leave as quietly as possible and return to their seats with the same level of discretion. This regulation is in place to prevent any disruption of the dinner’s formality and manners (well, at least they don’t explicitly forbid restroom trips).

9. After the King finishes his meal, no one is allowed to eat.

Reason: Being respectful is regarded as a component of proper meal etiquette.
Exception: None
A formal supper comes with a long list of royal rules. Although spending time together around the table as a family may seem informal, the Royal family does not operate like that. When dining with King Charles III, for instance, nobody can begin eating until he does.

After the King finishes his meal, no one can eat. ©Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Similarly, no one, whether it be a ten-course dinner or takeout from KFC, can eat after he has finished. Tasting Table claims that even when the late Queen was stuffed, she would move her food around on her plate to give others a chance to eat.

10. Their fur cannot be worn.

Motive: The 1337 Fur Act
Exception: None
The Fur Act was enacted in 1337, during King Edward III’s reign. It was enacted to create a class divide and forbade the wearing of fur by anyone who was not a baron, earl, knight, or clergyman of the Church of England. The wealthy civilians who spend over $124 each year were the only exceptions.

They are not allowed to wear fur. ©Samir Hussein/GGetty Images
Members of the royal family were also included. This is the guideline that the Royal Family has adhered to for seven centuries. The Act also mandated that all British citizens wear clothing created in the United Kingdom, yet the Royal family has mostly disregarded this provision.

11. They always pack an all-black group to travel with.

Reason: If they need to travel overseas to attend a significant funeral or if a family member passes away
Exception: None
Whenever Princess Kate goes on a royal tour, her suitcase always contains at least one all-black item. Any royal visiting another nation is required to pack an all-black outfit in case of emergency.

They always take an all-black group with them. ©Max Mumby/Getty Images/Indigo
The Royals will have to put on their all-black attire right away out of respect if a family member passes away while they are away or if an influential person in the host country passes away. Black is the customary hue of mourning for the Royal family, as made popular by the late Queen Victoria following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. Netflix’s The Crown does not provide an explanation for this. To memorialize him, she wore black for forty years in a row.

12. Never, ever take a selfie.

Reason: The Royals don’t want anyone to ignore them or come close to them.
Prince William and the Royal Family break this rule. If you consider it, it makes sense. It’s rare to see royals taking selfies, despite the pleading of their hordes of devoted followers.

Never, ever take selfies. © Smith, Cameron/Getty Images
According to Greg Agnew of Cosmopolitan claims that the reason for this is that the Royals don’t want people to turn away from them, which is a popular move made in order to capture a decent selfie. Additionally, they do not want people to feel inclined to approach them at random and strike up a conversation because that could endanger their safety.

13. The Queen Selects a Bride for Her Wedding Tiara

Reason: The king owns the tiaras.
Exception: None
A very specific royal rule that Queen Elizabeth II had when she was alive was that she would always choose the tiara for a royal woman getting married. This restriction became well-known after the Queen allegedly turned down Meghan Markle’s request to don an emerald and diamond tiara.

A bride’s wedding tiara is chosen by the Queen. ©Pool/Samir Hussein/Getty Images
Meghan had to select a new tiara because the late Queen felt that wearing the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara wouldn’t be proper. The Queen was not one to impose her will on other people’s attire, but she was particular about tiaras.

14. Royal robes are no longer in use.

Reason: The Royal Family’s older members changed customs.
Exception: None
Coronation clothes have a somewhat priestly significance in history. The garments symbolize the “divine nature” of being king, according to Historical UK. However, according to the revised protocol, coronation rituals will no longer need royal robes as of 2023.

Royal robes are no longer used. ©Think Tank/Getty Images
A significant departure from custom was made in 2023, when the majority of the Royals attended the coronation in suits. News reports state that the “senior members” of the Royal Family determined it was time to modify the protocol.