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.
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.
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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.
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 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.
Choosing a manicure color might be one of the easiest decisions for the Duchess of Cambridge!
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!
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.
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.
We wonder how Kate really feels about politics.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
