10 bizarre rules that the British Royal Family must follow

If you saw The Crown on Netflix and thought that the British royal family was a little unusual, wait till you hear about these bizarre rules that members of the family, staff and household must follow. 

Formals to dinner

If you ever get invited to dine with the royal family, don't try to play it cool and land up in your jeans and t-shirt. You won't be invited back and chances are, you may be asked to go and change. Formal wear is required for dinner and there are no two ways about it.

Bye-Bye starch

If pasta, potatoes and rice are your favourite comfort food, then the royal family mealtimes are going to disappoint you. In addition to these items, garlic and shellfish are avoided at the queen's dinner table. 

When she stops, you stop

You may be ridiculously hungry or itching to reach out for a second helping of that yummy pudding. But, if the queen has stopped eating you have lost your chance. Yes, when she stops eating, everyone stops eating. But if you need a more visible signal to stop, just look out for the queen's handbag. If it is on the table, you have about five minutes to clear yourself out.

How would you like your tea?

The answer to that is: In a cup, held between with the thumb and the index finger. That's not all; the middle finger must hold the bottom. Also, if you love wearing lipstick that is not transfer-proof you will have to sip the tea from the same spot so as to avoid getting lipstick marks all over the place.

Chin down?

As is with the rest of the world, women have it slightly tougher than their male counterparts in the royal household. For instance,  women must always keep their chins parallel to the ground. While walking down the stairs, they are instructed to do so with their chins parallel to the ground and their hands at their sides. That's not all. Even when posing they are required to always pose with their chins in the same manner.

Hat on, always

You may have paid through your nose for that amazing blow-dry, but if you are a woman member of the royal family, hats are mandatory for all special occasions. 

Follow her lead

All good royal procession must begin with the Queen and continues with whoever is next in line. At all times, Prince Philip must be two steps behind the Queen in public

Only the Mrs gets a tiara

Yes! As a member of the British Royal family, if you want to wear the tiara, you will have to be married. 

Black for emergencies

You never know when death can creep in on you or a loved one. A morbid thought but a practical one. So the royal family always carries an all-black outfit in case of such tragic emergencies.

Tale of six ravens

The British Royal must keep at least six ravens at the Tower of London at all times. Legend has it that during Charles’s reign, the royal astronomer complained that the ravens in the Tower of London were disturbing him while he was at work. The King ordered that the ravens be killed. But a superstitious courtier said, “If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it.” So the ravens stayed.