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At first glance, it seems that being born into the British royal family is an incredible good fortune and honor that will ensure a good and successful life. On the one hand, this is true, as high-ranking officials are well connected, attend the best events and have authority, but, in contrast to all the positive aspects, they are obliged to follow clearly established rules.

The Windsors adhere to a rather strict etiquette prescribed in the royal protocol, even if some points seem outdated or even strange. We will tell you what unusual rules the representatives of the British monarchs’ family should follow.

Royals are not allowed to accept gifts

Almost every day, Buckingham and Windsor palaces receive hundreds of gifts sent by fans of Their Highnesses. Unfortunately, however, they are unlikely to fall into the hands of at least one of the monarchs. The same situation is observed during public appearances of the royals, when they politely refuse gifts. The only exception may be gifts from officials or government agencies.

No autographs allowed

Despite their high recognition, British royals are not allowed to sign autographs. This specific rule for monarchs was introduced to prevent unfriendly citizens from forging the signature of high-ranking officials. Although sometimes they do break this rule.

Black clothes should be in the suitcase when traveling

The royal protocol has not spared the monarchs’ wardrobe. The Windsors must take black clothes with them on any foreign trip. A woman’s suitcase should contain a dark dress, and a man’s suit should be a suit. The royals adhere to this rule in order to look proper in the event of someone’s death.

So in 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II was in Kenya with Prince Philip, her father, King George VI, passed away. Her Highness did not have black clothes, so she could not get off the plane until a mourning dress was brought to her.

Royals cannot eat shellfish in restaurants

Despite the fact that the Windsors can afford a large number of unique delicacies, they almost never order shellfish in restaurants. The fact is that dishes with this unusual ingredient most often cause food poisoning.

Several heirs to the throne cannot fly together

At first glance, this rule may seem strange, but it is quite important for the royal family. If an airplane or helicopter crashes, the royals will not lose two heirs to the throne at once.

Currently, the Prince and Princess of Wales like to break this rule quite often. They traveled with their son George to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Germany. However, when he turns 12, he will no longer be able to fly with his father.

No political views

Although there is nothing in the UK law that prohibits monarchs from running for office, they never do. As stated on the official Windsor website, the King is expected to be “strictly neutral on political issues”. This means that His Highness should not vote or run for office. This also applies to other family members who do not publicly express their political views.