With the recent birth of Harry’s second child, Lillibet Diana it again brooches the subject about what’s expected of a child born to the Royal Family. Although, there are some rules and etiquette that we may relate to ourselves there are others that will be expected of George, Charlotte and Louis being the next generation, along with direct heirs to the throne.
There are so many rules that it may seem like a whole lot for a child to take on. It can seem a bit undaunting, to the point where we may understand why Harry and Meghan took Archie and now Lillibet and headed out of direct royal scrutiny. These rules are numerous so lets get started.
1. The Child’s Impending Birth Must be Made Public
From the very first minute that a member of the Royal family knows that they are expecting a baby, an official announcement is made to the public. So, protocol begins even while the child is in the womb.
In some cases if the couple decide to find out the gender before the delivery that too is immediately announced. Then, of course, once the baby is born, the birth is announced, sometimes along with the name. In some cases, though the name of the child is something that is announced when the Royal couple appear with their newborn for the first time.
2. The Child Must be Baptized
This should come as no surprised to anyone, after all Queen Elizabeth, II is the head of the church. So, it would stand to reason that all the Windsor’s would be expected to be baptized in the church. In fact, Meghan Merkle consented to be anointed as well before she married Harry back in 2018 to abide by the protocol of the family she was marrying into.
The baptisms of the Royal family are always conducted by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury. For those of us growing up in the religious family this isn’t too odd a rule after all we ourselves were no doubt christen or baptized ourselves.
3. Baby Must Wear an Heirloom Christening Gown
The Honiton Christening gown is an heirloom that has been passed down in the Royal Family for generations. In fact, it was Queen Victoria who had the gown made for her firstborn child, and each of her kids wore it after him. The tradition was passed down and continues to this day.
Each baby baptized in the Royal family wears the Honiton christening gown, that is till Archie. When it came time for Harry and Meghan’s newborn son to wear it, because of the age of the garment it was deemed way too fragile to be worn any longer. So, a replica of the Honiton christening gown was created for him to wear instead. No doubt this is the gown that will now be passed down in place of the original.
4. They Can’t Call the Queen Grandma
What do you think the kids get to call their grandmother? In fact, they are not allowed to just say grandma. But don’t worry, they are not forced to address her as “Her Royal Highness” or anything like that. But according to protocol, all of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren can address her as either “Granny” or “Gan Gan.”
This is not necessarily something we find absolutely strange. After all, not all of us refer to our grandmothers as Granny; some of us refer to them as Nana or Gram. It depends on how the person is comfortable with us calling them that, or perhaps like the Royals, our heritage in general.
5. Girls must Curtsy to the Queen
Have you ever curtsied to someone? Well, it is proper protocol in the Royal family that all female members must curtsy to the Queen to show their respects. That goes for all Royal women including the Queen’s own daughter and grand-daughter.
But can you imagine telling Charlotte that she must curtsy every time she sees her own grandmother at a young age. Apparently the protocol has come through, though, because there’s a video of Charlotte doing just that on Christmas morning. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? The royal children have to be trained to behave in the royal house from the very beginning.
6. They Need a Passport
Already the babies come in royal families already see much of the world. It may seem odd to us for newborn babies to be jet setters. We certainly don’t consider taking our very young baby’s to a foreign country not unless its absolutely necessary. But than we aren’t royalty.
In the Royal family, traveling from one country to another isn’t uncommon. That travel will include the newborn baby’s along with the staff to care for them. So, upon the birth of a new Royal a passport has to be issued for the baby as soon as their born, kind of like another legal certificate of their birth.
7. They Must Learn to Dive and Get a License
It doesn’t matter that they have chauffeurs that can drive them around, all the members of the Royal Family must learn to drive and obtain a license. In fact there is only one exception to this rule and surprise its Queen Elizabeth II, she’s the only one in England who is permitted to drive a care without a license, But given her background as a driver and mechanic during WWII odds are she knows what she’s doing behind the wheel of a car.
So, all of Will’s kids will be expected to take a driving test and passed it, starting with George. From there, guess he will get his own set of wheels.
8. They Must Attend Royal Engagements
Most of us wouldn’t put our kids to work but again we aren’t royalty. From a very young age Royal Children are expected to attend Royal engagements. It’s what’s expected of them being born into the monarchy.
Although, rest assure the kids aren’t considered as full time working Royals, this is their launching point. This is where they start to discover what is expected of them as members of the Royal family and how they will be perceived by the public. The type of events they are expected to be attendance at are Royal weddings, christenings. and special events for the Queen such as her birthday.
9 They Go to Etiquette Training.
The next point certainly seems hard to imagine for most of the people who have small children themselves. Now we come to how the kids are taught to behave in public events. At a young age they begin what is known as etiquette training. This training begins as soon as a child is old enough to be sitting at the dining table.
The Royal children are taught proper dining manners. They are also taught proper voice levels, how to dress properly for any event, and how to behave in public. They are also taught the proper way to curtsy and bow.
10. They Join Parents on Royal Tours
We already know that the royal babies are already early little jet setters. Accordingly, it is no surprise that now the already mentioned passport comes into play. No matter what the age of the child including that of a newborn, it is expected that the kid join their parent on Royal tours of other countries.
When his parents Harry and Meghan headed to South Africa on one of their good Samaritan tours a then very young Archie accompanied them. He may not remember that particular trip, but there are plenty of photos out there showing the adorable four-month-old first trip to that region.
11. Heirs Can Never Travel Together
For centuries the Royal line had to be preserved at all cost. In order to do this a rule was created that no direct heirs to the throne could travel together. Which when we stop to think about it is understandable. After all, there have been unforeseen tragedies involving various forms of travel.
But Prince George need not fret that he may never get a chance to share a plane right will his dad Prince Willian, because there are exceptions that can be made to this rule if Queen Elizabeth II grants the permission. Let us now look at the next royal regulation!
12. They Must Greet the Public with Royal Wave
You certainly have the images of the Queen in your mind’s eye when she sits in the car while greeting the public. We have all no doubt seen this Royal wave. One or the other has certainly already tried this way of waving. It is synonymous with this family. It is very much in line with their royal stature. So it should come as no surprise that all children born to the Royal family are taught the Royal Wave.
Apparently they are done so at a very young age since there are pictures of a very young Charlotte in Kate Middleton’s arms actually delivering the Royal wave to the public.
13. They Usually Learn a Second Language
Other languages open the doors of the world. It may not be a necessary requirement, but on average most members of the Royal family including the kids learn a second language. It is something that helps when they head to foreign countries. Prince William is fluent in French, as are his father Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II.
As for his own children it has been reported that Kate is now teaching her kids how to speak Spanish, a language she herself is well versed in. In fact, its been reported that she started Prince George lessens began when he was just two years old.
14. Boys Have to Wear Shorts
In case you ever wondered why it seemed as if the Royal boys never seemed to be wearing full length pants, this is why. In the Royal family there are many wardrobe restrictions brought forth and this is an obvious one. Turns out that every time a young Royal boy is seen in public, they must be wearing shorts.
The main reason for this is that at one time in England, wearing full length pants on boys is classified as middle class. Perhaps that may not still be the case, but because the tradition continued throughout the years it remains to this day.
15. Girls Wear Dresses
Almost all little girls always imagine a princess in the most beautiful dresses. And that is probably not by chance. Well, actually the boys aren’t the only ones with a dress code, the girls have one as well. They must always be wearing cute little dresses. The tradition began years go with Queen Elizabeth’s own daughter Princess Ann.
The girls are usually photographed wearing smocked dresses especially while out in public with their parents. Guess they have to learn at an early age about how the dress as a proper lady as well. Let’s go on. The next point is also about clothing.
16. Siblings Clothes Match in Public
This rule apparently doesn’t only apply to twins. It seems it applies to Royals as well. It would seemed that along with other dress code protocols another one is to have the siblings wear outfits the complement one another. So you can tell right away that they belong together.
Either being the same color or perhaps even the same style. But is this really just reserved to the Royals when we stop to think about it isn’t this something parents tend to do with their kids at times especially when it comes to a special occasion such as the holidays or taking a family photo, not really that unusual.
17. Encouraged to Play Outside
This rule is a really nice one and, above all, one that perhaps all of us should follow especially in the digital age where kids tend not to play outside as much as they use to. But in the Royal family such activities continue to be encouraged. And that’s a perfect thing.
In fact, Prince William and his wife Kate advocate many programs to help kids appreciate the outdoors and to get out there staying active. They apparently practice what they preach with their own kids by encouraging outdoor activities and play time. Now let’s move on to the next royal rule.
18. They Don’t Eat Processed Baby Food
Proper nutrition is especially important, and not just for royal children. But even here are certain traditions that we may not fully understand. No telling when this tradition began, but it is one that seems to have stuck. Apparently, none of the Royal baby’s have ever eaten jar baby food. At least Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s two sons didn’t.
It was revealed by a chef name Darren McGrady that he created the first meals for Prince William and Harry. These meals consisted of steamed fruits such as pears that were mashed up. Actually, that’s pretty nice, isn’t it? Who wouldn’t like to have their own chef?
19. Shellfish is Never Served
This rule doesn’t only apply to the kids no one within the Royal family is permitted to eat shellfish. The reason for this is because shellfish is one of the foods most commonly linked to food poisoning. But perhaps there is another tradition behind this rule. Who knows!
No doubt this isn’t too much of a hardship on the kids. After all, on average most children don’t really care for seafood anyway. And many adults also prefer things other than shellfish. There are certainly plenty of other treats on the table for the royal family. So this rule is certainly not so bad.
20. They Attend School
Education is important for everyone and, of course, it is also important for the royals to be educated. However, traditional education wasn’t always common practice in the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II and the Royals who came before her were all taught by private tutors.
However, when the Queen started to have her own children, she decided to break this tradition and have her children attend school with other children. This has now become the norm with William’s kids George and Charlotte now attending Thomas’s Batterseas private school. For the children, this is certainly something nicer than being taught privately at home.
21. School is of a Parent’s Choosing
Perhaps the fact that Queen Elizabeth II chose to break the tradition of tutoring for all Royal children, she was willing to be open to where her own kids wanted to send their children for their education. Whereas Prince Charles went to Gordonstoun along with his siblings he decided to send his own sons to Eton College.
Now Prince William is apparently doing the same for his own kids by sending them to the academy that apparently worked best for them. So, as with any other parent the education of the kid is left up to the parents to decide.
22. They Learn to Remain Impartial
Within the Royal Family, there is a rule that all Royals must be impartial. They can’t get involved in politics, and they can’t run for public office. They must also not be seen as being part of cultural affairs either.
The kids must reflect these ideals as well, remaining cut off from any type of favoritism. In fact, there was one controversy regarding Prince George early on when he was photographed wearing an England Lioness Jersey. The public perceived this as showing support for that UK succor team over the other. Something that was considered a taboo. And now on to the next point.
23. Their Forbidden From Playing Monopoly
Probably all of us have played it at one time or another: Monopoly. It’s certainly one of the most popular board games. I don’t know how the royals feel about all the board games that are out there, but Monopoly is definitely one that they are not allowed to play. The reason for this rule is that it has been reported that in the past, when Monopoly was played by the family, they became very competitive at it.
There is no denying that the popular, lengthy game can be quite competitive and those who play it can become somewhat power hungry in the process even in the average family.
24. They’re Required to Be Part of the Wedding Party in a Royal Wedding.
Well, that certainly takes the guesswork out of whom to ask to be attendants. It seems in the Royal family, the kids are usually in the wedding party as page boys or flower girl. There’s a good reason for this, not only does it show family unity, but these kids are always so adorable.
Remember when Prince George and Princess Charlotte were part of Meghan and Harry’s bridal party, of course, you do. These two almost stole the spotlight from the bride and groom with how precious they looked. But in general, the little kids at weddings are just cute, don’t you think ?
25. The Children Must Listen to Their Nanny
No surprise that the Royal family have a nanny to take care of the children. It’s also to be expected that these kids must abide by the rules set forth by their nanny and listen to them as they would their parents. After all, the parents can be busy with full time Royal duties that could keep them away at times.
It’s however a known fact that in recent years more Royal couples have been more hands on in the care of their children. It is no secret that the late Princess Diana was a good mother something she instilled in both her sons. Prince William along with his wife Kate Middleton are actively involved in raising their three kids. As are Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.
26. The Children Must Abide by Security Protocol
Babies are little miracles, and it is always a blessing when a baby is born. But for the Royal family, the blessing can be a double edge sword. As individuals highly in the public eye, they must always think of their safety and that of their children.
Security is essential. The palace ensures that the kids not only have their own individual security details, but also have taken measures to shield the kids from the watchful eye of the press. And because royal children are particularly in the public eye, these measures are quite understandable. I wonder if the next point will surprise you?
27. The Children can Accept Gifts but May not Keep Them
Yes, our parents tell us not to accept gifts from strangers but apparently this isn’t an issue inside the palace. Turns out that a child can indeed accept gifts such as toys or flowers from well wishers. This is something that any member of the Royal family is allowed to do.
However, there is another side to this. Turns out whatever gift that is given to the child its up to the Queen whether they can keep the present. So, might be something to keep in mind the next time you may want to give a gift to a member of the Royal family.
28. Posture is Something that is Essential
Having a good posture it something perhaps we should all learn to develop. It helps to keep our back properly aligned. But being a member of the Royal family is it is essential for other reasons as well. They must always be standing tall and erect.
Other things they must do that are part of posture is all the women are required to follow what is known as the Duchess Slant when sitting down during formal events. All the men when standing should never have their hands in their pockets. Unfortunately for Prince William there is a picture of him at a young age that shows him breaking the no hands in pockets protocol. Oh well, he outgrew it as he got older.
29. They Can’t Wear Black to Events but Must Always Have a Black Outfit Available
Apparently, the Windsor’s live by the code that black is worn primarily for funerals or formal events. So, the odds of seeing any of the Royal children wearing black during daytime events are very slim. In fact, there appears to only be one exception, and that is when Prince George was a Pageboy at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding. He wore a basic black outfit for the event.
Despite this dress code, it is interesting to note that all the Royals, including the children, must always have a black outfit with them when they travel. The reason they never know when an unexpected death can occur. The rule came into play when Queen Elizabeth found herself in Africa when the sudden death of her father King George happened, and she hadn’t packed a black dress for the trip. When she took the throne, she created this rule to ensure that the family would always appear to the press in the proper attire for a morning period.
30. The Boys Must Serve in the Military
Being part of the military is a grand tradition in the Royal family. It dates back generations for the male members of the family. Even Queen Elizabeth II did her part during WWII working as a driver and mechanic in the war effort. Her sons also served in the military, for example Prince Charles served in the navy, the same way his father the late Prince Phillip had.
As for Prince Charles own sons with Princess Dianna, Prince William served in the Air Force while his brother Prince Harry chose to serve in the Army. Possibly to torch will be passed on to Prince George and Prince Louis to decide which branch of the military they will serve in. As for Prince Archie, now that his father isn’t necessarily under Royal rule any longer that choice could be entirely up to him, but serving in the arm forces does seem to be in the Royals DNA.
31. Royal Children Attend the Trooping of Colour
First for those who aren’t aware, Trooping of Colour is a pomp and circumstance ceremony to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday. It is expected that all members of the Royal Family under the monarchy rule attend. That includes all kids over the age of a year old.
The ceremony sort of marks the debut of the child at a Palace event. Prior to this, the only glimpse the public would have of the new baby would no doubt be their official introduction to the press after the birth. Perhaps the child won’t remember this debut, but there are plenty of photos out there capturing the various times a Royal baby attended this event for the Queen.
32. Single Girls Don’t Wear Tiaras
This is something that could come as a surprise. After all, we’ve seen those Disney animated films about princesses and their usually wearing tiaras. Plus, they aren’t married. Turns out this isn’t the case in the Royal family.
Single young women are forbidden to wear a tiara. That is why when we see Princess Charlotte even at special events she isn’t wearing a tiara. Tiaras are only worn by married women, or women about to be married, as we saw both Kate Middleton and Meghan Merkle wear tiaras on their wedding day that were Palace heirlooms. Well, actually a pity, isn’t it? Because tiaras are certainly something great for every little princess.
33. Only the Older Kids Attend Christmas Services
Although, the children of a Royal couple are required to do many public appearances after they reach their first year of life, going to Christmas service isn’t one of them. Turns out there is an age limit to when a child in the Royal family is permitted to attend Christmas mass. In fact, the child stays behind with the nanny while the rest of the Royal family attends this mass.
It isn’t until they reach at least the age of two years old that they start to attend with the rest of toe Royals. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that around this age a child is more attentive and able to be quieted down as they start to throw a tantrum who knows the reason, but its one that has been in place for quite some time.
34. They Open Presents on Christmas Eve
Here’s something that’s actually quite normal in Germany: apparently the Royal family opens their gifts on Christmas Eve. Turns out this is following a German tradition. Perhaps this has to do with their tradition of going to church on Christmas day, followed by their traditional Christmas luncheon.
Which no doubt is no hardship for any of the Royal children. Hey, they don’t have to wait one more night to open their presents. How many kids in the United States, would love to have such a tradition? What would you prefer? Well, the next point is also about Christmas. Let’s see!
35. Royal Children Have Their Own Table at Christmas Lunch
Alright, this one isn’t so unusual. After all, how many of us have actually been to family gatherings where we had the kid’s table? No, doubt plenty of us, if we hadn’t experienced it first hand we’ve at least heard about it. However, was that table located in another room altogether?
The Royal children not only have their own table at the family’s traditional Christmas lunch at Sandringham, but it’s served in another room. That maybe carrying the separation of the adults and kids a bit far for a family dinner, but whose going to mess with tradition. Certainly no one so soon.
36. They Aren’t Allowed to Use Nicknames in Public
The Royal family are known for having nicknames especially in the public. There was Lilibet or as Prince Phillip affectionately called her Cabbage for the Queen. Princess Diana was referred to a Princess Di. Sarah Ferguson was known a Fergie. Even Diana’s oldest son Prince William was known affectionately as Wales. But none of them are to use these nicknames in public.
There is a strict rule that when the Royal family is in public, they are to be referred to by their full given name. This maybe the reason why Kate Middleton now goes by Katherine when she is out in public. So, no doubt any nicknames her own children have won’t be used either.
37. They Don’t have the Same Last Name
Yes, the family name is Mountbatten Windsor, but it turns out that all members of the monarchy can choose their own surname because the family tends not to use a surname in public. For example, growing up Prince William and Harry chose to be known as Wales. Hence Prince William’s nickname.
Now that Prince William is married, he has given his kids the surname of Cambridge. As for Prince Harry he chose to go back to his roots with his son Archie giving the child the surname of Mountbatten, while his new daughter Mountbatten-Windsor. Actually not bad to be able to choose the name yourself, right?
38. They Are Expect to Always Behave in Public
Yes, try telling a young kid to always behave themselves. Its not easy task for any parent to take on. Now just imagine the challenge put forth of a Royal parent trying to convince their young child to be obedient while their out in public. That’s may seem next to impossible to achieve.
Yes, Royal children as groomed to behave. They even attend etiquette classes starting at a young age. But sure enough there are photos out there of young Royal children throwing tantrums. Hey, even if they are placed at a higher standard as far as manners go these are still kids.