5 Unusual royal etiquette rules to live like a king!

The British royal family has been around for a hot minute—the House of Windsor was founded in 1917, while the tradition of monarchs in Britain more generally goes back some 1,200 years. As such, they've had plenty of time to come up with a few rules to live by, and some are stranger than others! We take a look at some of the more unusual royal etiquette practices, with a few insights from former royal butler Grant Harrold.

Lobster or oysters might seem like the ultimate symbol of luxury, but the royals are actually prohibited from eating shellfish while dining out. The reason? It's not a matter of taste preferences but rather a precaution against potential food poisoning. With their schedules filled with public engagements, falling ill from dodgy shellfish is certainly not on the agenda.

Speaking on behalf of Slingo, former royal butler Grant Harrold says, “From what I know, shellfish is something the royals tend not to eat. I know this because I’ve been with a member of the royal family when they’ve been offered shellfish, and they’ve tried to avoid it. There are also certain members of the family that cannot eat it. It’s for the simple reason that it can have a bad effect on you. As we’ve seen in recent weeks and months, the royal family are busy and can’t afford to take time out of engagements and duties. That’s why something like shellfish is not encouraged.”

Fancy a game of Monopoly with the royal family? Think again. Rumour has it that the royals are forbidden from playing this classic board game. The reason behind this peculiar prohibition? Monopoly is notorious for causing family feuds and heated competition, and it seems the royals prefer to avoid such contentious situations.

Grant says he has not heard of Monopoly being banned, but he adds, “I can’t imagine Monopoly being played by the royals. You can imagine with some families there will be certain party games that will cause certain excitement and frustration. It is possible that certain games are banned so it doesn’t cause fall outs. It’s not one that I’m aware of, but it’s not to say that it’s wrong, it could also be right. I wouldn’t suggest playing Cards Against Humanity—imagine the disasters that would cause!”

Ever dreamt of snagging a royal autograph for your collection? Well, you might want to reconsider. Royals are discouraged from scribbling their signatures for adoring fans. The rationale behind this rather peculiar rule is the risk of forgery. Instead of autographs, they're encouraged to engage in conversation and maintain eye contact, fostering a more personal connection with their admirers.

There are some other rules for meeting and greeting as well. “Another royal etiquette practice that people may not be aware of is to do with handshakes and greeting royals,” reveals Grant. “When people see a member of the royal family, they’ll often go up to them and immediately start shaking their hand. I saw a former news presenter shaking the hand of the King once and he kept on shaking and shaking it. You’re not supposed to offer them a handshake, they offer you one. Sometimes when people shake the hand of a royal they don’t want to let go of it. That can be awkward for the royal and the person in question.”

Another thing to remember if you happen to bump into a royal is no selfies. While there's no official ban on selfies, royals generally avoid taking them with the public.

Are the royals hiding a double life as a family of garlic-hating vampires? Probably not, but they're certainly not going out of their way to consume garlic, according to Grant. 

“Another food the royals tend to avoid and cook with is garlic,” he reveals. “I remember the staff even being told not to have garlic because it’s too overpowering for the guests and the family. It’s the same for the royals. It’s been documented that they don’t have garlic in things. If you have a royal come around, just avoid putting garlic in their food!”

Formal attire is de rigueur for royal events, and the dress code comes with its own rules. For example, it's tradition to wear big, elegant hats at royal events, although this has changed slightly since the days when women were expected to wear hats whenever they were in public. 

Senior tutor for The English Manner etiquette consultancy Diana Mather told the BBC, “Up until the 1950s ladies were very seldom seen without a hat as it was not considered 'the thing' for ladies to show their hair in public. But all that has changed and hats are now reserved for more formal occasions.”