After a seven-decade reign, the world mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. As per British royal tradition, the crown was passed to her eldest son, Charles. Being a member of the royal family brings with it a lot of rules and regulations. Here are just some of the many rules and traditions that the royals must follow.

To get married, the approval of the reigning monarch is required in the royal family. This practice is taken to another level in the royal family. The first six royals in line for the crown cannot get married without the written consent of the reigning monarch.

It is required for two direct heirs to the throne to take different flights while travelling. King Charles and Prince William cannot fly together. Even Prince George will have to follow the same rule when he turns 12 years old.

Although no official regulations prohibit public displays of affection, Queen Elizabeth set a tradition that royals should limit their touching. Prince William and Kate have continued to stick to the Queen's standard, remaining professional in public.

Prince Harry and Meghan seem to be happy not following the PDA rule. They often display affection publicly and shocked the audience by sharing a kiss on stage during the 2022 Invictus Games opening ceremony.

A tradition among the royals is to wear black only at funerals. While it is commonly believed that black is associated with mourning, Diana, Princess of Wales, however, occasionally wore black at evening events.

Although discouraged from wearing black in public, it is customary for the royals to always pack a black outfit for every trip they take. Royal protocol is to be prepared for the unexpected event of attending a funeral.

Another well-established royal rule, women are expected to wear hats when attending formal events. The custom dates back to earlier times when it was considered improper for women to expose their hair in public.

Admittedly, this rule does seem a bit bizarre. In general, there are some rules concerning royal jewellery. One rule actually states that diamonds should only be worn after 6 pm. During the day, precious stones such as sapphires or rubies can be used. Exceptions prove the rule. If an engagement ring is set with diamonds, not only may it be worn, but it is even encouraged to do so.

For evening events, royal women usually change into evening dresses and tiaras. Etiquette dictates that tiaras should only be worn during formal events in the evening. But, there is an exception to the rule. A royal bride can wear a tiara on her wedding day.

It is also tradition for royal boys to wear shorts until they reach the age of 8. This practice has been followed by several members of the royal family, including Prince George, Prince William, and Prince Charles.

Maybe the strangest royal family tradition is the practice of weighing everyone before and after Christmas dinner. It may seem bizarre, but it is one of the many holiday traditions they cherish.

The monarchy must maintain political neutrality under all circumstances, meaning that they cannot vote.

At times the palace is compelled to deny rumours of the monarchy expressing political opinions publicly, which is a big no-no. In 2016 the palace denied the accusation that the Queen expressed her anti-EU views.

Monopoly is prohibited in the royal household due to its reputation for becoming excessively competitive and leading to arguments among family members. It is believed that the game's dynamics can escalate quickly and create a level of intensity that the royal family prefers to avoid.

Royals have a long list of dining protocols. One of the most important ones is to copy the monarch's actions during the meal. For instance, if the King or Queen puts down their knife and fork, that indicates the end of the meal, and you should stop eating.

The entire British empire was built on cups of tea - at least according to a proverb. But here, too, Queen Elizabeth ll has established a very clear guideline on what is allowed and what is not. So you might think that spreading your little finger while drinking tea looks very elegant and royal. The Queen sees it differently. The handle of a teacup must always be grasped with the whole hand - and that includes the little finger. Slurping is also a no-go.

In a procession that includes members of the royal family, the order follows the line of succession to the crown. The first to enter is typically the reigning monarch, followed by his immediate heirs, Prince William and Kate, and then by other royal family members in their order of succession.

Much like the dinner table manners, when together, the members of the sleeping pattern of the monarch, meaning that nobody can head to bed until the King goes to bed.

Baptisms are important for newborn royals, and even adult members entering the family must take part in this traditional ritual. In 2018, before her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle got baptised in a private service.

In line with the dress code, royals should not wear flashy nail paint and stick to simple manicures only.

The British royals are not permitted to sign autographs to reduce the risk of forged signatures. Meghan Markle made headlines when she wrote a personalized message to a young fan, signing "Hi Kaitlin" instead of her name.

Whenever the Queen appeared in public, she would communicate with her staff through her handbag, providing subtle signals. Usually she wore the bag on her left arm-, meaning: everything is ok. If the bag was changed from left to right, danger was imminent. The Queen was bored or signalled: Get me out of this situation. The worst case was when she put the bag on the floor to her right or on a table. Then it was clear: the monarch wants to leave the building in 5 minutes at the latest.

When English noble ladies wear a skirt or dress, they are never in a "mini" length. Queen Elizabeth ll decreed decades ago that the minimum length of skirts and dresses must end at least a hand's breadth below the knee. Longer, of course, is always possible.

The person who did this was called a “royal shoe-wearer” and their job was to wear the Queen’s shoes before she did to ensure that they were comfortable and wouldn’t cause her any pain.

The English royal family also has a very clear line on faith. There are many religions, but anyone who wants to be married to the English royals had to be Protestant. This rule was abolished in 2013 and since then Catholics can also marry into the British Royal Family. However, they can never ascend to the throne. In 1994, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, married to Edward, the Duke of Kent, grandson of King George V, became the first member of the Royal Family to convert to Catholicism. she is now the oldest living member of the Royals.

In 1337, the Fur Act was passed by Edward III, prohibiting all members of the Royal family except knights and clergymen from wearing real fur. Did Queen Elizabeth wear faux fur here, or didn't she abide by this rule herself?

Prince Charles has a team of three personal valets whose primary role is to oversee his wardrobe and make sartorial choices on his behalf. Interestingly, one of their unusual tasks includes meticulously ironing the shoelaces on every single pair of shoes owned by the prince. One of the many bizarre perks that come with being a member of the royal family.

The royal family avoids eating shellfish, particularly when traveling abroad, to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Shellfish can be more susceptible to contamination, so it is typically excluded from their diets.

It is considered unlucky for members of the royal family to get married in the month of May. This belief dates back to the ill-fated marriage of King Charles I, who was executed in May 1649. As a result, royal weddings are typically avoided during this month.

Ever notice how Queen Elizabeth gets to blow out birthday candles twice a year? It's all thanks to the unpredictable British weather. Her actual birthday falls in April, but we all know how rainy and chilly spring can be in the UK. So, she has an "official" birthday that is celebrated on a Saturday in June every year. A summer birthday bash has a much better chance of sunshine!

the partner of the reigning monarch doesn't officially become a King or Queen. Sure, the ruling sovereign can choose to bestow their spouse with a royal title, but it's purely symbolic and ceremonial. It doesn't change the game of throne succession one bit! Even with a fancy title, the spouse doesn't move up in the pecking order for the crown.

There are actually quite a few ordinary words that are off-limits for royals. For instance, they wouldn't say 'pardon' - it's seen as rude. Instead, they might go for 'Sorry?' or just smile and nod. And the 'toilet'? Nope, that's a no-go too. It's a French word and uttering it in the presence of the monarch is seen as taboo. They'd politely ask to use the 'loo' or 'lavatory' instead. And don't even think about 'perfume'. It also originates from French, so they refer to it as a 'scent'. Who knew everyday vocabulary could be so royal?

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip weren't just husband and wife; they were also cousins! The common thread tying them together was their shared great-great-grandparents - none other than the iconic Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Talk about keeping it in the family!

the Tower of London must always house at least six ravens. This tradition traces back to King Charles II's time when a prophecy declared, "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it." To ensure this doesn't happen, a 'Ravenmaster' is specially hired to care for these feathery residents. Nestled next to the Wakefield Tower, the ravens are served a daily menu of 170g of blood-soaked bird biscuits.