We mortals have a fair few rules to abide by when it comes to meeting the British royal family - including using proper terminology to address senior members and making sure to always follow their lead.
But did you know there’s also something you’re allegedly forbidden from asking King Charles III about? Well, that’s what the husband of a Real Housewives of London star has claimed anyway.
Panthea Parker, 50, who was recently on the way to Buckingham Palace for a meeting with the British monarch, said: “I’m going to go up to the King, I’m going to go, ‘How do you feel about [Prince] Harry and what he did?'.’
In response, her husband Ed Parker looked at a pamphlet and read: “It says, specifically, ‘Don’t ask the monarch about Harry and Meghan [Markle]’,” as per Page Six.
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It appeared as if the English lawyer was joking in the clip.
However, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s reported feud with other senior members of the royal family has been well-reported by the media.
In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working royals, swapping Frogmore Cottage for the sprawling Southern California hills.
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The Suits actress later accused Harry’s family of racism, while the pair discussed other issues in their self-titled Netflix docu-series.
The father-of-two, who also made various bombshell allegations against his famous family in his memoir Spare, was reportedly last photographed with his father at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
It’s understood that the pair met last year when Charles announced his cancer diagnosis, with more recent reports claiming the pair’s aides met for a ‘secret peace summit’ in the capital last week.
“There’s a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years,” a source told the Daily Mail. “There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.”
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While it has yet to be confirmed whether asking King Charles about his relationship with his son and his daughter-in-law is against the rules, there are some directives in place that we common folk and even royals themselves have to follow.
Royal brides-to-be must carry a particular flower in their bouquets
English Heritage stated that myrtle, a delicate white flower that grows on the Isle of Wight, has been the flower of choice for royal brides since the 1850s.
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The first known use was at the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s eldest daughter, Victoria, and it has featured in everyone’s bouquets from Diana, the Princess of Wales, to Kate Middleton.
Stand up when the King does
If the monarch stands up from his seat, or if he enters/exits a room, everyone in the vicinity is expected to follow suit and get to their feet if they are able.
While it’s never been stipulated why this act is the case, some Quora users believe it’s a ‘mark of respect for the monarch who is the symbol of our country’.
Heirs to the British throne must travel apart
One rule that Prince George will perhaps abide by now that he is 12 is no longer travelling via aeroplane with his father, William, the Prince of Wales.
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Due to William being heir to the British throne and his son George being second in line, the pair must travel separately in order to preserve the line of succession.
Travelling royals must carry one item in their luggage
Royals on tour must have at least one black outfit on hand at all times, whether that be a suit or a dress.
This is because if a family member dies, members of the monarchy are expected to adopt mourning colours.
“This is a rule that has been in place for over seven decades and is closely followed,’ said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
It’s understood that the tradition began in the mid-1900s. It stemmed from when Queen Elizabeth, then a 25-year-old Princess, was caught out in Kenya without mourning attire.
Upon hearing the news that her father, King George VI, had died, Elizabeth was forced to travel back to Britain in her civilian clothes and wait on the plane for one of her staff members to fetch her black attire.
Greeting the King and Queen
If you’re due to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla, then you may be curious if there is a proper way to meet and greet the royal couple.
According to Buckingham Palace, there is ‘no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy’.
However, many people may want to observe traditional forms of greeting.
For men, this includes a neck bow. For women, a curtsy is expected. If you are uncomfortable with either, you may also shake hands with Charles and Camilla instead.
The correct formal address for both is ‘Your Majesty’, and subsequently ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’, the palace stated.
Topics: Royal Family, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, King Charles III, UK News, Celebrity, Prince William, Prince George
Ella Scott