Rules the British Royal Kids Have to Abide By
If you thought the members of the British royal family had to follow a bunch of rules, you don’t even know what the royal kids have to do! It’s not all pretty gowns and bougie outings; there’s a lot of work that these kids have to do to fit royal standards.
Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales and their three kids have been under the spotlight since they were born, and as soon as they were born, they had to abide by some strict rules.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have quite a bit on their plate as royal kids; especially with all the rules in place. Some of the rules make sense, such as learning all the proper etiquette, while some are downright goofy with the ban on baby food.
While it seems like so many people focus on all the wild royal rules the adults have to follow, let’s take a look at the royal rules the kids have to follow. See the top royal rules for royal kids below:
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They Have to Learn a Foreign Language
Because they’re royals, every single member of the family as to learn at least one foreign language. Prince William speaks French, Swahili, Welsh, and Gaelic, as well as English, of course. As for Princess Kate, she’s fluent in French and speaks a bit of Italian. Now, even the royal kids have to know another language, and their kids are learning Spanish.
They Must Wear the Honiton Christening Gown to Get Baptized
So, they take baptisms very seriously. For instance, the royal kids’ mandatory christenings must be overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury and features Holy Water from the Jordan River. Along with that, the kids have to wear the same clothing: the Honiton Christening Gown. Per Good Housekeeping, the gown was commissioned by Queen Victoria for her first child’s christening, but as of the past few years, the children have worn replicas since the original gown is much too fragile.
They Can’t Travel With Another Direct Heir
While Prince William and Kate Middleton break this rule frequently while flying with their kids, it’s actually a big no-no to have two heirs on the same flight. The reason for this rule is to secure the line of succession in the event of a tragedy happening, and as of 2024, George has been flying separately.
They Must Have a Passport & Get a Driver’s License
Since the royal kids have to go everywhere, they have to get a passport as soon as they can; and need to try to get their driver’s license as soon as they’re of age.
No Board Games Like Monopoly
According to the List, Prince Andrew said the family couldn’t play the board game, saying, “We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It gets too vicious.” So board games of all kinds are a no-go, but it’s not an official rule (just a strongly recommended one to keep the peace).
Boys Should Wear Shorts Until a Certain Age
Once the boys of the British Royal family hit eight years old, they gotta throw out their shorts. This follows an older tradition, so they reportedly tweaked it a bit to be that after eight, they opt for longer pants.
Girls Should Only Wear Dresses at Official Outings
Like the boys, girls have a fashion rule too: they can only wear dresses on public outings. “They tend to wear smocked dresses as little girls when they are in public with their parents,” royal expert Marlene Koenig told Harper’s Bazaar.
Playing Outside Is Heavily Encouraged
While this isn’t another explicit rule, it has been a big unofficial one for the Wales family. The royal family is ultra-sporty, so it makes sense Kate and William encourage playtime for their kids, apparently in either rain or shine, per Independent.
“There will be lots and lots of outdoor play. … Lots of bike rides, playing with their dogs, potentially some gardening. … Yes, you are getting mucky with your hands in the soil, but you are learning how to plant,” Louise Heren, the author of Nanny in a Book, said: “If it is tipping it down, they will still go out.”
No Baby Food, Pre-Packaged Food, or Shellfish
This one probably isn’t much of a shock, but there are quite a few food rules for the kids, which include no pre-packaged foods or baby foods. They have a bunch of private chefs so that makes sense, but along with that, the kids follow the adult food rule: no shellfish. (It’s the easiest food to get sick from, and they avoid that whenever possible.)
They Have to Serve in the Bridal Party at Royal Weddings
Royal kiddos have to be a part of bridal parties at royal weddings. We all remember how adorable Prince George and Princess Charlotte were at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding!
They’re Expected to Serve in the Military
One stringent rule in the royal family is that the men are expected to be part of one military branch. For the women, it’s optional, but we may see George and Louis enter the military at one point like their dad and uncle did.
No Electronic Toys
This is a newer rule, obviously, but it seems Prince William and Princess Kate don’t allow any electronic toys. They prefer their kids to do more enriching activities, and avoid them having tablets, iPads, and anything of the sort.
They Have Their Own Table at Christmas Lunch
The royal children spend Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of their family, but for lunch, they have their own room.
They Can’t Open Any Presents on Christmas Day
Opening presents on Christmas Day is a tradition the royal kids don’t know about, because they open all gifts on Christmas Eve, and go to church on Christmas. Per Express, “On Christmas Eve, The Royal Family lay out their presents on trestle tables and will exchange their gifts at teatime.” This rule was first introduced by Prince Albert, and along with opening gifts one that day, the children add the “finishing touches to the 20ft Christmas tree in the White Drawing Room.”
Meetings With Foreign Leaders Are off Limits
It’s true! Royal kids can’t meet leaders of foreign countries; however, William and Kate broke that rule with Prince George in 2016 when he met former US President Barack Obama. However, it hasn’t been done since.
They Must Follow All Bowing, Waving, & Curtseying Etiquette
Did you think all the etiquette was just for the adults? Nope. They have to learn about proper posture, along with when to bow and curtsy (and how to do it properly). They have to learn the proper wave, and more, and have to master this all at a very young age.