50 Strict Rules the Royal Family Has to Follow

When the Queen stands, it's protocol for everyone to follow. 

When dining as a family, after the Queen has taken her last bite, everyone needs to stop eating.

Men of the royal family preform a neck bow, while women curtsey when greeting the Queen.

Members of the Royal Family take a new name when they're married. 

The Royal Family even refrain from holding hands.

According to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, royal descendants must seek the monarch's approval before proposing. 

Every royal bride carries myrtle in her wedding bouquet. 

Royal wedding parties are usually made up of younger children.

Now, the family can marry someone of any faith.

The Royal Family isn't allowed to vote or speak publicly about politics. 

Since voting is off the table, members of the Royal Family aren't allowed to hold any type of political office.

Quite possibly the weirdest rule, the Royal Family can't play Monopoly. (Though we imagine this is a "rule" that can be broken.) 

At dinner parties, the Queen begins by speaking to the person seated to her right. During the second course of the meal, she switches to the guest on her left. 

Every family member must be prepared with a funeral-appropriate ensemble, in case of a sudden death. 

Once Prince George turns 12, he and Harry will have to fly separately. 

Don't even think about approaching them with that selfie stick.

Shellfish is off limits to the family, namely because it is more likely to cause food poisoning than others. 

It's rumored that the royal family can't be touched by non-royals, and Kate's awkward reaction to LeBron James throwing his arm around her in a photo is full-blown proof. 

In the 12^th century, King Edward III banned all royals from wearing fur—but this rule has been repeatedly broken.

Seating is arranged by order of precedence at all royal events, but factors like age, language, and interests go into account when organizing events. 

The Office of the Marshal of the Court refer to themselves as "mini hosts."

The Royal Family's dress code is modest, and no members are seen in casual clothing. 

The fancier, the better.

If an event is held indoors after 6 p.m., women swap their hats for tiaras.

A woman who attends an event sans tiara is on the market.

Although tiaras were traditionally worn towards the front of the head, the modern style is worn farther back on the head at a

Every morning, the Queen has English breakfast tea (duh) followed by Cornflakes.

The family is required to graciously accept the many (and bizarre) gifts they're given  on a regular basis. 

The family's annual Christmas celebration is held at the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, and she arrives a week early to prepare.

Instead of opening presents on Christmas day, the Royal Family exchanges gifts in the Red Drawing Room during tea time on Christmas Eve.

It's rumored that the Queen hates garlic, so no dishes at Buckingham Palace are made with the ingredient. 

The Queen has strict rules against eating potatoes, rice, or pasta for dinner.

Prince George has already learned to count in Spanish.

Maybe that's why Kate gets a blowout three times a week.

After a conversation with the Queen has ended, she's the first to leave—no one is allowed to turn their back to her. 

As soon as children are born into the Royal Family, they're immediately groomed to both wave and speak gracefully.

The Queen is known for her bright, neon-colored outfits, as she likes to make sure she can be easily spotted in large crowds. 

The options are legs crossed at the knee or ankle. 

The Queen uses her purse to send subtle signals to her staff. If she moves the purse from her left arm to her right, it's her hint that she's ready to finish her conversation. 

If the Queen is at dinner and she puts her purse on the table, dinner needs to come to an end within five minutes.

Diana used her clutches as a way to hide her cleavage when exiting a car.

Even though the press still uses Kate's nickname, she actually goes by Catherine.

If royals need to exit the room during dinner, but haven't finished their food, they cross their utensils so the staff doesn't remove their plate. If they're finished with a meal, they place the utensils at an angle, with the handles at the bottom right of the plate. 

Royal Family members pinch the tea cup handle with their index finger and thumb, while their middle finger secures the bottom. 

Royal women need to pose with their chin parallel to the ground.

The Queen is the only person in the U.K. who may drive without a license or plates. 

It's no secret that the Queen loves her corgis, but unlike your pets, hers are required to eat gourmet meals, prepared daily by an in-house chef and hand-delivered by a footman. 

The Queen lets her corgis do as they please.