The life of a Royal may look like a fairy tale "straight out of a storybook" but this is far from the truth. The world started getting a new and different picture of life as a royal when Princess Diana broke the protocol and started speaking openly about herself and her life as a Royal bride and mother.
With Prince William's marriage to a commoner, Kate Middleton, the world started getting a clearer understanding of the English Monarchs - their lifestyle and scores of rules and protocols which govern how they live each day.
For those born and raised in the family, these protocols may be a way of life. But for commoners like Kate and Megan, some of these rules may come as a surprise. Princess Diana had already set a precedent of breaking rules when she decided to give birth to her children in a hospital rather than the palace and then sent them to public schools.
Kate and William have also decided to raise their children as normal individuals. However, there are still some things where Kate Middleton has no say in raising her kids.
Here are 15 rules that govern how Kate can raise her three children George, Charlotte and Louis.
15 Kate Has To Produce An Heir And A Spare
According to Elle Australia, royal engagements are short and the couple are required to get married within the next few months. If the proposal came as a surprise and she has said "yes", the bride-to-be does not really get a chance to learn or understand what she is getting into. If she is born a royal, she may already be used to that lifestyle. But if she is a commoner like Kate, stepping into a world where every movement is governed by rules and customs may be a bit overwhelming.
The Elle reported "After years of speculation from the press over when Prince William would pop the question to his long-term girlfriend, Clarence House and Prince Charles announced the couple would marry on 16 November, 2010, adding that Prince William had sought the permission of Kate’s father, Michael Middleton. A statement was also released on social media, showing how times had shifted. The couple conducted a revealing interview with ITV where Catherine displayed Prince William’s late mother Diana’s engagement ring and talked about the prospect of life together. "
Most married women get to decide when to get pregnant or have their baby or for that matter how many kids they want. But the royal bride, especially the one married to the heir to the throne, does not have a choice in this matter. She is expected to produce an heir almost within 18 months of her wedding. That is one of the many pressures that the new bride has to face.
According to bbcamerica.com, "They’ve been going out for nearly a decade. Indeed, the second-in-line to the throne has said one of the reasons he waited so long to propose was because he wanted to show Kate what life was like in his family, and, in his words, “give her the chance to back out if she needed to before it all got too much.”"
Kate is definitely brave because she went ahead and said "yes"! Which also meant that she agreed to give the royal family and heir within 18 months of their marriage, and then also a spare. Now we know that she did take that requirement very seriously, because, not only did she produce an heir and a spare, there'd be one more arriving anytime soon!
14 The Children Must Have Long Names
Having a middle name is usually our way of honoring the child's Grandparent, Godfather, Godmother or someone close to the family. According to 'The Week' "In case of the English Royals, each name is about honoring the ancestors, forefathers and patron saints" Therefore it is inevitable that the child will have at least four names, if not more.
Each name would honor either a great King (or Queen) and one or more of the patron saints of England. For all official purposes, their entire name along with their family name will be called out. Thankfully, Prince George has only three names apart from his family name - George Alexander Louis.
The Hello Magazine reported "The choice of Alexander Louis as Prince George's middle names reflects royal naming traditions and honors close family. The royal family traditionally picks several middle names. So it's no surprise that Kate and William have stuck with the custom of choosing more than one middle name for their son. However, at just two middles names, they're cutting back! Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles each have three middle names.
Princess Charlotte also is called Charlotte Elizabeth Diana to honor her great-grandmother and grandmother.
Considering her father's name is William Arthur Philip Louis Cambridge Mountbatten-Windsor, her name seems simple and sweet.
13 Must Have A Trained Royal Nanny
According to Care.com, Kate reportedly hoped that her mother Carole Middleton could be her nanny. Employing the services of a nanny is the sole discretion of the royal couple and they could opt to care for the baby themselves. Their ideal candidate should be immensely gifted, dedicated, be compassionate and have multifunctional talents and experience, having exposure with high profile families and be fully intended for this role. Besides working alongside with the Royal couple, the nanny will be a part of a team devoted to caring for the baby which includes nursemaids, royal chefs, domestic staff and so on.
The Sun.co.uk reported that "Supernanny Maria's full name is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. She is in her 40s and comes from Palencia in Spain. Bowler hat-wearing Maria joined the royal household in 2014 when Prince George was just eight months old. Maria trained at the prestigious Norland College, making her one of the most sought-after nannies in the country."
The 'Sun' also reported that her live-in quarters near the Kensington Palace includes a bedroom, lounge, kitchenette and bathroom. The Noreland College where she was educated is located in Bath and famous world over for the exceptional training offered to prospective carers. The students are taught to sew, cook and change nappies. They have classes in self-defence, first-aid and are taught how to escape terrorists and kidnappers alongside traditional childcare.
Royal commentator Victoria Murphy told ABC News: "The nannies are taught everything from defensive driving to security issues, to how to care for a future king or queen. So Maria just really knows everything that you could possibly need to know about bringing up a child."
12 Cannot Be Seen Wearing Jeans
Traditionally all members of the Royal Family are bound by etiquette and rules on their dress code. It is applicable even for the 'royal babies'. Even as toddlers, you would never see a royal baby photographed in onesies. The boys have to wear shorts with a pullover, high socks, and buckled leather shoes.
The BBC noted that "Unlike many three-year-olds, Prince George has yet to be seen wearing a T-shirt of his favorite TV character or an even pair of trousers. It is a royal tradition for young princes and princesses to be formally dressed when they are in public. The tradition dates back to the times of breaching in the 16th Century. This saw young boys wearing gowns or dresses until the age of eight, if not before. Thankfully in late 19th Century and early 20th Century, this developed into shorts. This tradition is carried on by the Royal Family to this very day."
According to stylecaster.com, shorts differentiate the royal boys from "men" who are allowed to wear trousers without the same stigma. Pants on younger boys are considered "sub-urban" whereas shorts are considered indicators of a higher class. It is estimated that George will begin wearing pants when he is seven or eight years old.
From Prince George’s shorts to Prince William’s beige chinos, the Sun.co.uk attempted to explain the dress code the Royals have to follow: shorts on young boys are a silent British class marker and trousers are something no self-respecting royal would want to be considered.
"Not only does The Duchess of Cambridge have to worry about dressing herself but she has to dress her own children appropriately. She has to find a balance between royal tradition, heritage, and more proletariat customs. "
11 Kate Cannot Gift Her Daughter A Tiara
All mothers look at their daughters and see a little princess there. All the fairy tales we have read and seen, have pictures of the princess wearing tiaras. And one would imagine that a princess in real life would have scores of tiaras to choose from. But did you know that the real-life princesses of the English Royalty are not allowed to wear tiaras till they are married? Tiaras are for married women only. The first time Princess Charlotte will ever get to wear a tiara is on her wedding day when she is in her pretty wedding gown.
Glamour.com reported that: it seems surprising, but Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has only worn a tiara six times. The first was the Cartier halo style she showed off on her wedding day, the second was a diamond-and-pearl creation originally worn frequently in the 1920s. In 2013, then she wore the same tiara again in honor of the U.K. visit from China’s president. At a Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace, the Duchess borrowed the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara, given to Princess Diana as a wedding gift from the Queen."
The British Royals are known to have the largest collection of tiaras. According to the 'Independent,' tiaras are a sign of betrothal, that the lady is off the market and not looking for a husband. However, because she is a commoner, Meghan Markle will not get to wear it till her wedding day, as was the case with Kate, who got to wear her tiara only on her wedding day, which was gifted by the Queen herself.
The 'Glamour' also said that "Kate's wedding tiara has nearly 1,000 diamonds in total and was initially purchased from Cartier in 1936 as an anniversary gift from King George VI to his wife. Eight years later it was re-gifted to the current queen as an 18th-birthday gift.'Wow! Now that what I call a priceless gift!
10 Cannot Open Gifts On Christmas Day
As tradition has it, no matter where in the world they may be, every member of the royal family must be back in London to celebrate Christmas with the Queen- and there are no exceptions. Christmas morning is pretty busy for the Royals. It starts with a grand Christmas breakfast and then a short walk to the St. Mary Magdalene church for the traditional Christmas Day service.
The Huffington Post reported "Christmas Eve is the start of the celebrations at Sandringham. The Queen and Prince Philip depart London after the pre-Christmas lunch and stay in Sandringham until mid-February. Christmas Eve dinner starts promptly at 8 p.m. in full black-tie, but despite the formality, it is the perfect time for the family to relax and catch up."
The Queen's Christmas Day message is aired in the afternoon at 3:00 pm, which the entire family gathers together to watch. Therefore, Prince George and Princess Charlotte have no time to open their presents on Christmas Day.
However, according to the Reader's Digest, gifts exchange is not entirely stricken. The English Royals follow a tradition that has German roots. After all the family members reach the Sandringham house on Christmas Eve, they gather together for the evening tea and then the presents are opened in front of each other. So the royal kids have to wait one day less to see if Santa has got everything on their list
The Huffington Post also reported that "The gifts are displayed on a table and the family takes turns opening them in front of each other. Instead of luxurious presents, they find gag gifts for each other. It has been reported that Princess Anne has given Prince Charles a white leather toilet seat and the Duchess of Cambridge gave a then-single Prince Harry a "grow your own girlfriend" kit."
9 No Family Game Nights
Children all over the world can choose whatever games they want to play, be it indoors or outdoors. warm summers, rainy wet afternoons and family gatherings encourage everyone to stay indoors and play games that can include every member of the family. But being a kid in the royal family is extremely complicated as there are too many points of etiquette and codes of conduct to follow.
The royal children can choose to play any game they like, except the classic board game - 'Monopoly'. It is forbidden in the royal circle. It is believed that it could spark a lot of heated debates within the family.
According to the Telegraph, when Prince Andrew was presented with the property board game to mark his visit, he remarked: "We're not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It gets too vicious."
The Telegraph goes on to the day that "Prince Andrew did not reveal what they play in its place when other families use the Christmas holidays to sit down with a board game. The Royals congregate at their Sandringham estate in Norfolk for the festivities, and last year the Duke disclosed that the Queen sometimes watches her own Christmas speech alone on Christmas Day to see if it comes across in the right way.
Prince Andrew said: "As children, we were always encouraged after lunch to behave ourselves and wait for the Queen's message, because lunch would usually finish within 10 or 15 minutes of quarter to three, and three o'clock is the time we all sit down and watch it.''
8 Royal Kids Are Not Allowed To Eat Packaged Foods
There was a time when the Royal mothers would not breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding was considered too messy and inconvenient. They would hire one or more wet nurses to breastfeed their baby. But Queen Elizabeth was the first to break that rule and chose to breastfeed her babies. Diana and Kate followed suit.
Earlier, they did not have to worry about packaged foods for the baby. But as the world around them changed, powdered milk and packaged food entered the market and the royal mothers may have thought that things are getting a bit easier for them, but it was not so. Royal babies cannot be fed from packets. They have to be given fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, procured from their own estates and prepared by their personal chefs.
Former Royal Chef Darren McGrady told Today.com that he has never seen packaged food with any of the royal babies. Over his 15 years with the Windsors, McGrady pureed the princes’ first meals of steamed apples and pears from the queen’s Sandringham country retreat. The purees had to be sieved twice to be absolutely sure no lumps remained, he said.
Today.com reported that "Prince William and Duchess Kate's kid has already received a crate full of packets of baby food from organic brand Plum, accepted graciously by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall last week for her soon-to-be-born grandchild. The company was “delighted” to gift the baby with some grub, CEO Scott Wotherspoon told TODAY.com, and for good reason."
The "Kate effect" sells out every toy, snack, and onesie she touches, so the baby food producers are most enthusiastic about their brand being associated with the royal infant.
7 Cannot Feed Her Children After The Queen Has Stopped Eating
The royal family seems to enjoy dining together, and are photographed eating gaily at formal state banquets and their annual Christmas lunches at Sandringham. There's one unsaid secret here- everyone at the table is hoping that the Queen is really hungry.
The idea of having a meal with the Queen sounds pretty cool. As a rule, one cannot eat after the queen stops eating. This is applicable to all state dinners with the Queen and applies to the tiny toddlers too who eat at the same table. We all know how difficult it is to get a fussy toddler to have one meal. Imagine that toddler having every meal with the Queen. Well, fussy or not, you cannot eat after the Queen stops. This could be a blessing in disguise for the mother though. For the first few times, the baby may go hungry but this will also teach him or her to eat what is given and eat fast!
According to Stylist, once Her Majesty takes her last morsel of food, no one is allowed to eat anymore. The Hello Magazine says "As per the royal etiquette, anyone dining with the Queen – including members of the royal family – must follow her every move and do what she does. So if Her Majesty stops eating her meal, everyone else must stop eating too."
The former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that "the Queen is "not a foodie." Speaking to HELLO! Online, Darren said Her "Majesty often preferred to stick to the same dishes. He also said that each week, a red leather-bound book of menus, written in French, would be sent to the Queen for her to check over. "She would put a line through the ones she didn't want." Sometimes she'd put a line through it all and put something different like if she was having dinner with Prince Andrew, his favorite was crème Brulee with Sandringham oranges."
6 Must Teach The Children How To Sit Properly
Royal or no, everyone who has to meet the Queen, needs to go through a set of etiquettes and curtsies. And if they live in the same house as the Queen, then they better learn the royal etiquettes even before they learn to walk! Kate will have to teach her children to sit straight at all times - back straight and chin parallel to the ground.
She will have to teach Charlotte the famous "Duchess Slant".
The Duchess Slant is one of the most elegant and flattering ways to sit because it has a lengthening effect on the legs,” Myka Meier, royal etiquette expert and founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, tells People. “The key to the technique is to square your shoulders straight ahead while maintaining perfect posture. Keeping knees and ankles together at all times, position your legs so that you create a slant, angling your knees to the side. Hands should be folded one over the other and placed in your lap.”
The Reader's Digest reported that“the duchess slant,” was coined by Beaumont Etiquette and named for the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Her go-to sitting position involves keeping her knees and ankles tightly together and slanting her legs to the side. It keeps her posture modest and makes her legs appear longer. In fact, the late Princess Diana was known to sit the exact same way."
5 The Future Kings Must Be Protected At All Times
According to the eliteukforces.info, the Royal Protection Group (S014) is responsible for the protection of the royal family. According to dailystar.co.uk, as a future king, George is one of the best-protected members of the royal family.
The dailystar.co.uk reported that "Extra officers have been drafted in since an alleged stalker targeted the young royal. “Superfan” Louise Chantry was arrested after being accused of turning up twice in 24 hours at George’s new London school. The security measure has also been deemed necessary in the wake of the Tube bucket bomb attack."
Officers were based inside the guard house on George’s first day at school. They watched him through binoculars as he had fun in the playground with his new pals. Although it costs a fortune, protecting the future Monarch of England is one of the top priorities of the state.
The mirror.co.uk reported that "A man accused of terrorism allegedly warned “even the royal family won’t be left alone” as he encouraged extremists to attack Prince George at his primary school. Husnain Rashid, 31, appeared in court today accused of posting the message on his own extremist internet channel along with a silhouette of a jihadi next to the four-year-old prince."
According to the prosecution, Rashid also called for attacks on the World Cup finals in Russia and the Wimbledon tennis championships. He is said to have encouraged extremists, by using a series of encrypted messages, to target British football stadiums and the Jewish community. As she described the encrypted messages, prosecutor Rebecca Mundy told Westminster magistrates court: “There was a photo of the young Prince George at the start of the school term next to a silhouette of an ISIS fighter.”
4 Education Comes First
Back in the days, it was not considered proper for the Royals to mingle with the commoners. Therefore the royal kids were home-schooled by governesses and private tutors. They did not have to worry about Public and University exams. They were taught literature, art and foreign languages. They are required to be fluent in more than one language.
Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret were the last Royals to be home-schooled. Although Prince Charles was initially home-schooled, he is the first heir apparent to go to a public school and also have a University degree. Since Princes William and Harry's time, all royal children have been going to public schools and universities and have been exposed to all subjects just like other students.
Prince George, and very recently Princess Charlotte have also started their Nursery and Prep school. Their teachers have said that they will not be treated differently and will have a normal school life (whatever normal means for the royals!)
According to Scotsman.co, Prince George attend the Thomas’s Battersea which educates 560 boys and girls aged from four to 13, with around 20 pupils in each class. Fees cost £17,604 a year, and increase to £19,884 a year for those in year three and above.
The Scotsman.com also reported that "Just a week after George’s first day on September 7, an arrest was made at 14:15 hrs on Wednesday, 13 September related to an incident at Thomas’s Battersea School on Tuesday, 12 September when an individual gained access to its premises. The arrested woman was taken to a south London police station where she remains in custody." The woman turned out to be the Unemployed holistic healer Louise Chantry, 40, who was convicted of a hotel fraud this year, she was released on bail later. Despite all these threats, the royal kids attend school as regularly as possible.
3 Royal Kids Can Never Be Seen Feuding
They say, when it comes to children, "more is caught than taught". Most of the kids we know, start with "baby talk" and they pick up the words from their surroundings as they grow. That is not the case with the royal children.
No "baby talk" for them. They are expected to speak in a sophisticated and elegant manner at all times. The three golden words "Please" ,"Sorry" and "Thank You" are expected to be a part of their vocabulary from the very beginning. And therefore, any kind of squabbles or fights among siblings, are expected to be sorted out in a decent and polite manner.
The waterfordwhispersnews.com tells a funny story of Prince George's first day at school. : "The future king grew immediately tired of his loyal toddler subjects as some had the audacity to answer questions posed by his teacher before he was allowed to answer.
“He’s sort of used to being the center of attention and being told he’ll rule over all these little shits one day, so I think he got quite cranky early on,” a Buckingham Palace insider explained to WWN. “He started shouting ‘I want to go home’ but when a classmate of his said ‘we don’t go home until 2 pm’ he completely lost his shit, and ordered the execution of everyone in the room,” the insider added.
The WWN continued on to say "The execution of 16 of George’s fellow pupils has been described as ‘regretful’ by the royal family as William and Kate had struggled to find a decent pre-school in their locality and with no more classmates left alive."
2 Must Accept Gifts Gracefully
Be polite at all times. This is a rule which needs to be followed not only by the kids but by all the royals. They have to accept gifts graciously whether it is an ugly stuffed toy or a shocking live alligator which Prince Andrew once received!
The Telegraph.co.uk revealed that "Prince George amassed a staggering 706 gifts from royal tours overseas last year, official figures reveal - more than seven times as many as the Queen. The youngest member of the Royal family received 671 presents during his visit to Australia and New Zealand last spring, with the rest given to his parents and the Prince of Wales on other foreign trips. One of George’s favorite presents was the giant cuddly wombat he was given by Australia’s Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove "
All gifts actually belong to the Crown and the Queen gets to decide how the gifts are to be used.
According to thisisinsider.com, the gifts are either accepted and used, provided they're valued at less than £150, or, they're kept in storage for up to five years or incorporated into the Royal Collection in consultation with curators, or loaned or donated to an organization or are destroyed or thrown out if there's no use for them.
1 Cannot Travel As A Family On The Same Flight
Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George are direct heirs to the throne and as per protocol, they are not allowed to travel together on the same flight. This is done to preserve the royal lineage in case of an accident.
An exception was made for the first time when princes Charles, William and Harry were allowed to travel back from their skiing holiday after the death of the Queen Mother. However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been flaunting in this regulation since the time when Prince George traveled with them to Australia.
Reporters from the Sun.co.uk revealed that"The tradition came about in the early days of air travel when jetting off abroad was a much more risky mode of transport. Officials decided there needed to put measures in place so that if there were to be a fatal accident on the aircraft, the royal lineage would not be affected. But in recent years, Her Majesty has decided to relax the rule, given that air travel is a lot safer these days."
According to thisisinsider.com. Prince William has sought an exception from the Queen to travel with his family. However, after Prince George turns twelve, there will not be any exceptions.
Other References: www.rd.com, www.mirror.co.uk, www.globalnews.ca