11 Weird Royal Traditions That Will Make You Think Twice About Marrying a Prince
Wedding customs may not be as dreamy as you think.
Getting a blessing
In 1772, a law was passed requiring all members of the royal family to obtain the monarch's blessing for a marriage. And that is a proper written document. Imagine how many such papers Elizabeth II had to sign during her reign. However, it is possible to ignore such a rule, but to marry without the monarch's consent is to lose the title and all privileges.
In 2015, Her Majesty got tired of signing endless papers and changed the law. Now her written blessing is required only for those members of the royal family closest to the throne.
Changing religion
Until 2015, members of the royal family were strictly forbidden to marry Catholics. But Elizabeth II, who was considered to be strict, decided to make life easier for her offspring. Now they can marry people of different religions, but if they do not marry a member of the Church of England, it is considered a voluntary renunciation of their right to the throne.
Getting ready
Journalists once wrote that Queen Elizabeth II had hired a special person to teach Meghan Markle the rules of royal etiquette in a matter of months. It seems like a logical step.
However, as biographers have found out, it was not enough. Thus, the future Duchess was forced to participate in the staging of her own kidnapping. Specialists taught Meghan how to interact with various criminal groups.
One can only wonder if such an act was put on just for her, or if everyone went through it?
Dress code for her
It's no secret that the British royal family has a pretty strict dress code. Of course, the bride's dress has to comply with it. No bright colors and no mini-skirts. The Queen must also approve the design. In addition, every bride must have a tiara from the collection of Elizabeth II. More specifically, you can choose from those that have been pre-selected for you by Her Majesty.
Dress code for him
Absolutely all men born into the royal family have done military service. Even Prince Edward, who has little to do with the military, was trained with the Marines. Of course, it is the parade dress uniform that is mandatory for the groom. And the same company, Gieves & Hawkes, has been making these outfits for three centuries.
The guests
Guests at royal weddings are privileged people who are honored to participate in such an event. As a result, they must adhere to a dress code that has been in place for years. And if the men are lucky enough to be able to do without the top hats because they are no longer mandatory, the women are not so fortunate. Hence the many discussions about the weirdest and funniest hats at royal weddings.
The bridal bouquet
Yes, even the bridal bouquet is strictly regulated by the rules. Of course, the bride can choose the flowers that go into her bouquet. However, there are a few requirements. First of all, the florists always add a sprig of myrtle — a tradition that goes back more than a century. And the bride does not throw it to her friends — she lays the bouquet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey.
The wedding rings
Royalty is relatively free to choose rings for their ceremony. But there is one rule that they should follow — only jewelers approved by Her Majesty are allowed to make such rings. You may recall that Princess Diana chose a sapphire ring from Garrard that was later worn by Kate Middleton. Initially, however, Elizabeth II objected to that choice because it was not considered exclusive — Prince Charles simply bought it in a jewelry shop. The same could have been done by almost anyone willing to spend an impressive amount of money.
No best man
The best man's responsibilities in today's world have become quite blurred. In general, however, it is about the same as a maid of honor, but from the groom's side. It is true that members of the royal family do not have best men. Instead, they have supporters — essentially a group of men who "support" the groom. Interestingly, Prince William broke this rule in 2011 by publicly announcing that Prince Harry would be his best man.
A place in the sun
It's no secret that during a wedding, all guest seating is strictly regulated and planned in advance. In addition, one's social status can easily be determined by one's proximity to Queen Elizabeth II. So, the closest to her were her husband and eldest son, Prince Charles. Further away were Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. And then the ruling establishment and the most important guests. Check out the seating plan for Meghan and Harry's wedding.
Evening reception and dancing
Virtually every royal wedding has three main parts — the ceremony, the wedding breakfast, and the evening reception. After the ceremony and photos, the newlyweds go to the first formal reception with a passed canapés menu. It lasts a few hours at most and is more of a formality. After it's done, the couple can finally relax. Though, not too much, since they still have to follow a lot of rules. You'd be surprised, but many members of the royal family like to dance the conga line. Yes, you read it right, they form a long, processing line, which would usually turn into a circle. It's not known if there was a conga dance at Meghan and Harry's wedding, but there certainly was at Charles and Diana's.