Here’s How Much Each Member Of The Royal Family Is Worth
The British royal family has power, prestige, and tons and tons of money (pounds and pounds and pounds, you could say, since we're dealing with British currency here). Contrary to popular belief, the Royals aren't fully funded by taxpayers. They're independently wealthy with inheritances, crown estates, and allowances. Alone, the crown jewels have an estimated worth between £3 and £5 billion ($4 - $6.6 billion). Their combined wealth is thought to be around $88 billion.
So, how much are the British family members actually worth? Here are the richest and the poorest of the bunch. Spoiler: even the poorest royals are still wealthier than we could ever imagine.
Queen Elizabeth II ($550 Million)
The only people in Britain whose wealth rivals the Queen's net worth are Victoria and David Beckham. Leave it to a Spice Girl and a football star, two of Britain's finest exports. Most of the Queen's monstrous worth comes from her properties. She's got a $140 million castle in the Scottish Highlands and the $65 million Sandringham House. She's also got a few unique collections. The Queen is the owner of every single wild swan in the U.K., and she's got the largest stamp collection in the world.
On top of her over $10 billion real estate holdings and royal art collection, Queen Elizabeth II gets a $12.9 million government stipend for her role (which includes a small amount of taxpayer money).
Prince Philip ($30 Million)
There aren't too many 99-year-olds who are raking in nearly half a million a year, but the late Prince Philip was one of the lucky few who managed to do so.
Prince Philip got paid just for his title, which shockingly, wasn't King. The Duke of Edinburgh never took the title of King because of strict regulations but he still received a massive $442,000 a year for his royal title. Most of that was for the public duties he carries out in support of the Queen. We know the Queen is a total boss lady, but it certainly didn't hurt to have a faithful and loving husband by her side all those years.
Prince Charles ($100+ Million)
The Duke of Cornwall is the current heir to the throne, which is why he's got a gargantuan net worth. No other royal besides his mum has him beat. Though Prince Charles may have an estimated $100 million in cash, his assets are thought to be much, much higher (like around $1.3 billion kind of higher) – but that's not all.
Prince Charles has a huge real estate portfolio. Though he doesn't own the properties, he's entitled to receive income from the land because he's the sole beneficiary of the properties. In 2017, he raked in $25 million from his real estate portfolio alone.
Prince William ($40 Million)
Prince William is second in line to the throne and as a result, has a pretty big net worth. Both he and his brother Prince Harry collected a huge chunk of their worth through an inheritance they received on their 30th birthdays. It included £13m in trust and estate from their mother Princess Diana, who tragically passed away in a car accident years before.
William also pulled in $450,000 per year in investment profits by the time he was 21 and receives an allowance from his father that's rumored to be around $4.6 million. Though Prince William was a helicopter pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance, he donates his $62,000 salary to charity. Who needs it when you're that rich? His wealth is only expected to increase once his father takes the throne.
Kate Middleton ($10 Million)
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has a rags-to-riches story of sorts. She wasn't always a royal, but after her wedding to Prince William in 2011, she sealed the deal. Despite being a commoner, Middleton's family was very wealthy. They had a net worth of $50 million largely thanks to Party Pieces, a wildly successful online party supply business.
Middleton is also a notorious saver. She doesn't really spend her family's cash. Her wardrobe expenses are paid for by Prince Charles and most of her travel costs are funded by the countries she visits. If you're looking at her national worth, it's a whole lot more than $10 million because she drives UK clothing sales and tourism.
Prince George ($3.6 Billion)
Prince George may be just four years old, but he's probably richer than you'll ever be (unless you're a billionaire, in which case, kudos). As third in line to the throne, he's a pretty big deal even though he doesn't realize it yet. Almost all of his money is in an inheritance, which he can't touch until he's a little bit older.
Prince George will never have to work a day in his life, unless you count royal duties (there will surely be more than a few cups of tea had, but they'll likely be poured by someone else). His net worth was also calculated based on his value to the British economy. He's got the potential to drive billions in sales to the UK.
Princess Charlotte ($5 Billion)
Princess Charlotte is fourth in line for the throne, right behind her older brother Prince George. Yet, she's estimated to be worth over $1.5 billion more than her older brother. Why? Charlotte is a fashion icon in the making. She has what's known as the "Charlotte effect" (when everything she wears sells out within 24 hours). This was first tested with a pastel yellow cardigan from a popular British department store. Just 24 hours after pictures of the tot in her sweater surfaced, the store had sold out.
Charlotte's net worth was also calculated through a mix of her inheritance and her value to the UK economy. If her outfit choices sell out like her mom's do, she's worth quite a bit more than Prince George. Sorry, but boys' clothes just aren't as interesting.
Prince Louis ($70 Million)
Prince Louis is only a couple of months old, but the royal baby added an estimated $70 million of worth to the British economy. How could this be? Well, the royal family is thought to generate $2.5 billion every year for the UK's economy. The new baby's worth comes from souvenir sales and memorabilia (he's a pretty big deal as the fifth heir to the throne). If he's anything like his sister Princess Charlotte, everything from his clothes to the toys he plays with will push retail sales.
Prince Louis will probably bring in less for the British economy than his sister (who's estimated to pull in £100 million a year thanks to her sartorial savvy) and his brother Prince George, who pulls in an estimated £75 million a year. Just wait until he gets a little older.
Princess Diana ($55 Million)
Diana, the Princess of Wales, tragically passed away in August 1997 leaving behind her two young boys Prince Harry and Prince William. She was just 36 years old (the same age as Meghan Markle now).
At the time of her death, the Princess of Wales was very wealthy. She had an estimated $55 million net worth which was a combination of family money and marrying into the royal family (obviously, that's pretty lucrative). Her independent wealth soared after divorcing from Charles, Prince of Wales, and reportedly received a $22.8 million lump sum along with an allowance for her private office.
After her death, her estate was split and put into to two separate trusts for her sons. They received this money when they were around 30 years old.
Camilla Parker-Bowles ($5 Million)
Camilla Parker-Bowles married into the royal family years after Diana's passing. She wed Prince Charles in April 2005, but was always well off. Her father was the Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, and she grew up on a $2 million estate in Sussex. She regularly socialized with the royals in her youth and met her future hubby in 1972. He later went on to marry Princess Diana, but the pair reconnected after Di's tragic passing.
Parker-Bowles was a receptionist before becoming the Duchess of Cornwall. She's estimated to have amassed a $5 million fortune – but that's just including cash and none of The Duke of Cornwall's real estate holdings. He's' got around $1.3 billion in assets and she did not sign a prenup.
Sarah Ferguson ($1 Million)
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, only has a $1 million net worth, but that doesn't mean she's struggling. She currently lives in a £13 million home in an upper-crust skiing village (she can thank her ex, the Duke of York for their massive chalet, which she got in the divorce).
Fergie is one of the few scorned royals who originally wasn't even invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding (she was outright banned from William and Kate's). Selling secrets to the press will do that. Aside from being a royal gossip, Fergie has held numerous jobs since her divorce including decades-long endorsements with Weight Watchers and Avon. She's currently a public speaker, TV personality, and film producer.
Princess Beatrice ($5 million)
Princess Beatrice is known for her wild hats and for being eighth in line to the throne She's the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson (i.e. she calls the Queen 'Nan'). So where does that $5 million come from? A royal trust that was established for Beatrice and her sister by the Queen Mother. An additional trust was set up by her parents after their 1996 divorce.
Princess Beatrice reportedly pulls in $5 million annually and is the first member of the Royal Family to appear in a movie (though we've definitely seen the Queen a couple of times). She also knows hard work and volunteered as a sales assistant at Selfridges during the summer of 2008 (she wanted the fashion experience and is supported mainly by her father's private income).
Princess Eugenie ($5 Million)
Much like her younger sister, Princess Eugenie has around a $5 million net worth -- largely from a trust fund set up by the Queen Mother and an additional trust fund set up by her parents after their divorce. She's ninth in line to the British throne, but that doesn't mean she's never worked.
Princess Eugenie is the associate director of Hauer & Wirth, a London-based art gallery. She happens to live right next door to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Kensington Palace. Her three-bedroom cottage, which she shares with husband Jack Brooksbanks, is known as Ivy Cottage.
Prince Edward ($45 Million)
As the Earl of Wessex and 10th in line for the throne, Prince Edward is sitting on a whole lot of cash. The royal is thought to be worth a whopping $45 million. He's the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Edward tried his hand at two careers. First, he was an officer cadet in the Royal Marines but left just a couple months into his year-long training. He then decided to pursue the world of theater, his true passion. He worked as a production assistant in Really Useful Theatre Company and has some TV production credits. Today, Prince Edward attends to his royal duties as the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Sophie Helen ($45 Million)
Sophie Helen, the Countess of Wessex, has amassed a similar net worth to her husband Prince Edward. Unlike most royals, Sophie knows a hard day's work. Before marrying into the royal family she was a publicist. Today, she's quit her day job and moved her efforts towards charity.
Sophie is a patron of numerous organizations with her $45 million of wealth. She works with the SAFC Foundation (Sunderland A.F.C.'s charity), Girlguiding UK, and Tomorrow's People Trust. She also spends her days assisting the Queen with foreign royal events. As a former publicist, she has a knack for organizing the Queen's affairs.
Prince Harry ($40 Million)
Prince Harry is sixth in line to the throne. Yes, he's been topped by William's children. In any event, he's still as rich as his brother who is the current second heir. Prince Harry is so rich that he donated his estimated $45,000 salary from the Army Air Corps to charity.
Like his brother, Harry gained access to a £13m inheritance when he turned 30. He also received $450,000 a year in investments around age 21 and a rumored $4.6 million allowance from his father, the Duke of Cornwall and current heir to the throne.
Meghan Markle ($5 Million)
Meghan Markle was independently wealthy before she ever became a royal. It's estimated that she earned around $50,000 per episode of Suits and was thought to have brought in around half a million a year from acting and sponsorships.
Since she and Prince Harry stepped down from royal duties, they've secured deals with Spotify and Netflix that should boost their net worths by quite a lot. The Spotify deal is rumored to be worth $15-$18 million, while terms of the Netflix project haven't been disclosed.
Princess Anne ($100 Million)
At one point, Princess Anne was second in line the throne after her mother's accession but currently rests around 12th. She still does quite a bit better than her brothers Prince Edward and Prince Andrew and has an estimated worth of $100 million.
Princess Anne isn't famous for her massive wealth but rather for her charitable work. She's a patron to over 200 organizations – because if you've got over $100 million, why not spread it around? She also remains one of the only British royal family members to have competed in the Olympic Games and held the title of Princess Royal. She won a gold medal and two silver medals for her equestrian skills at the European Eventing Championships.
Zara Phillips ($20 Million)
Zara Phillips may be 17th in line to the throne, but the Queen's granddaughter has an impressive wealth (even by royal standards). Phillips has a business empire. Her lucrative sponsorship deal with clothing company Musto is thought to be worth $1.55 million. She's earned over $100,000 as the face of Howrse, an online game for equestrians, and has deals with Rolex and Land Rover.
On top of that, Phillips has launched her own range of upmarket jewelry and a line of perfumes. She's also got numerous real estate holdings bolstering her already large net worth. She makes a whole lot more than most royals because her business endeavors would not be allowed were she an actual princess.
Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster ($13 Billion)
When Major General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor passed away in 2016, he left his title and his fortune to son Hugh Grosvenor. The 7th Duke of Westminster is one of the world's wealthiest people under the age of 30. He controls a British real estate company called Grosvenor Group, which owns roughly 300 acres in the London area. He's also worked as an account manager for a clean technology company called Bio-bean.
Grosvenor's family is intensely private and tries to avoid public attention whenever possible. William and Kate, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, made this a little bit difficult when they named Grosvenor the godfather of their Prince George in 2013.
Lady Charlotte Wellesley ($4.8 Million)
As the daughter of the 9th Duke of Wellington, Lady Charlotte Wellesley was already well off financially. Her family, descendants of Queen Victoria, are worth tens of millions. But then she married Colombian billionaire financier Alejandro Santo Domingo in 2016 and her net worth went through the roof. The former photographer's assistant is now on the Sunday Times Rich List.
The couple's wealth comes from "inheritance, brewing and investment." Their wedding was an extravagant affair held in Granada, Spain, and attended by the likes of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Spain's former King Juan Carlos I.
Ladies Amelia, Eliza, And Kitty Spencer ($149 Million)
Twins Amelia and Eliza Spencer and their sister Kitty are the glamorous daughters of the 9th Earl Spencer, Charles Spencer. Many will recognize him best as the brother of the late Princess Diana. The Spencer family dates back to the 15th century and has some very famous names among its members, including former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Diana's nieces are cousins to Princes William and Harry. They have a younger brother, Louis, Viscount Althorp, as well as some step-siblings. Kitty is a model who also worked in finance, while her younger sisters attend college in South Africa.
David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl Of Snowdon ($26 Million)
Twentieth in line to the throne, David Armstrong-Jones is the son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, the 1st Earl of Snowdon. He's Queen Elizabeth's nephew as well as a grandson of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A furniture maker and former chairman of the Christie's UK auction house, he goes professionally by the name David Linley.
Linley drew fire in 2007 for auctioning off many of his mother's possessions, but he defended the move. Proceeds went to provide for his "family's future and my children's education – normal family requirements," he said. His wife Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, is the daughter of Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington, who is reportedly worth around $327 million.
Duke And Duchess Of Gloucester ($13 Million)
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He inherited his father's position in 1974 and stopped working as an architect to focus on his duties as Duke.
The Duke is actively involved in charity work and also serves as the Chancellor of the University of Worcester. He married the Danish-born Birgitte van Deurs in 1972, and they have three children together. The couple is estimated to be worth around $13 million.
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy ($25 Million)
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is related to both the Queen and to Prince Philip. She's a first cousin to Elizabeth, and also Philip's first cousin once removed. When she was born, she was sixth in line to the throne. Over the years her place in the queque has moved back 52nd!
Alexandra has worked as an ambassador to the Queen in the United Kingdom and overseas, and as such received £225,000 per year from the Civil List to cover the cost of official expenses until the program was abolished in 2013. She is reported to be worth between $22 to $25 million.
Christopher Portman, 10th Viscount Portman ($2.2 Million)
Christopher Portman became viscount when he was 41 years old, upon his father's 1999 death. He and his family appeared on the 2005 and 2006 in the Sunday Times Rich List and have an estimated net worth of $2.2 million. Viscount Portman runs the Portman estate, a 110-acre London property, and also owns property in the U.S.
The heir apparent to the Portman Estate is his eldest son, Hon. Luke Henry Oliver Richard Berkeley Portman.
Lady Helen Taylor Represents High Fashion
The fashionably eccentric Lady Helen Taylor, 42nd in line of succession to the throne, is a great-granddaughter of King George V . She's married to famed art dealer Timothy Taylor, and for many years was a fashion ambassador and muse to Giorgio Armani. Due to her elegant but fun wardrobe as well as her work with various charities, she's popular with the public.
The couple's exact net worth is not known, but considering that Timothy pays more than half a million dollars in rent for his gallery each year, it's reasonable to assume that they're quite comfortable financially.
Lady Amelia Windsor Is A Successful Model
Lady Amelia Windsor, 38th in line to the throne, has been called "the most beautiful royal of Britain." We wonder if the Spencer sisters have anything to say to that! Lady Amelia is the daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, and granddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
She has appeared in high fashion publications including Vogue and Tatler, and she's also been a runway model for designers like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Azzedine Alaia.
Lord Frederick Windsor Works As A Financial Analyst
Lord Frederick Michael George David Louis Windsor is the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, currently 48th in line to the succession of the British throne. He's a financial analyst and also serves as the president of a charity called Soldier On!
Frederick has had a rather wild reputation in the past (even reportedly holding a huge Kensington Palace party while people paid their respects during the Queen Mother's funeral), but seems to have turned his life around for the better. He's been married to actress Sophie Winkleman since 2009.
Arthur Chatto Is A Student And Personal Trainer
Born in 1999, Arthur Chatto is the son of Princess Margaret's daughter Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel. The 26th in line to the throne works as a personal trainer at a gym in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he attends university.
His net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, and it certainly looks as if he's enjoying the good life on his social media accounts. Here, he's pictured with his mother at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
What It's Like To Live Like A Modern Day Royal
Queen Elizabeth II is now the longest-reigning British monarch, having held the throne for 66 years. But the British royal family is also getting younger, with the additions of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, along with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Taking the lead on the younger generation of the family are Prince William and Prince Harry, along with their cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. These modern-day royals are doing things a bit differently, although The Crown may not always approve.
Their Car Collection Is On Point
While they're often driven and flown around by other people, members of the royal family also have quite a few cars of their own. And as expected, these vehicles aren't your average family car. Prince William and Duchess Kate have been known to drive seven different cars.
Their cars include a Range Rover SUV, Audi R8, Jaguar XJ and a Bentley Flying Spur. Prince Harry put his used Audi RS6 Avant on the market in 2018. The car he drove for a year, including picking up Meghan Markle on the way to Pippa Middleton's wedding, sold for around $94,000.
There's Pressure To Be Fit And Beautiful
Much like famous actors and musicians who are in the spotlight, members of the royal family receive massive amounts of media attention. While Buckingham Palace makes announcements from time to time, requesting that members of the family be left alone and given privacy during sensitive times, more often than not, royals are subjected to same unforgiving paparazzi harassment as Hollywood stars.
When Princess Beatrice was 22 years old, she saw an unflattering image of herself in a bikini published in the tabloids. and felt pressured to improve her appearance. She signed up for the London Marathon and lost weight training for the race. She then continued her fitness routine and in turn, the media backed off.
Princess Beatrice Lives in NYC and Works for A Software Company
After graduating from Goldsmiths College in London with a BA in History, Princess Beatrice wasted no time getting her career started. At 28 years old, she began working with Afiniti, a U.S. company who provides software to call centers. She left London for New York City to take the job, and is certainly not riding on the coat tails of her family.
Speaking with Town And Country Magazine on being a royal and a working woman, Princess Beatrice said, "We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we're also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye." Beginning her career as a research analyst for a private wealth firm, Beatrice now serves as the Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at Afiniti and oversees Afiniti's partnerships and client development.
Royals With Formal Roles Can't Use Instagram, But Eugenie Can
The rules differ between royals with formal roles and those who don't. Prince William and Prince Harry both have formal roles and duties, as well as their wives, Duchess Kate and Duchess Meghan. When Meghan became engaged to Harry, the American actress had to follow protocol of the Kensington Palace, and deactivate her Instagram account.
However, Princess Eugenie, who is William and Harry's cousin, is allowed to have personal social media accounts. Eugenie has 320,000 followers on Instagram where she shares photos of charitable events and classic family photos. She launched the account on March 8, 2018, stating, "I can think of no better day than today, International Women's Day, to launch my personal Instagram. I hope to use this platform to share the causes, passions, and people close to my heart."
Down to Earth, But Still An A-Lister
Although many members of the royal family appear down-to-Earth, we can't forget that they rub elbows with the elite. Princess Beatrice dated Uber Executive Dave Clark, and the couple double dated with A-listers Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
Likewise, when Prince Harry was single, a mutual friend set him up with Meghan Markle, who was then a well-known American actress for her part in Suits. It was reported that the now-married couple joined George and Amal Clooney at their Lake Como mansion in Italy for a secret holiday soon after they became involved.
Princess Eugenie Has Nerves and a Pinterest Board
Just like many young women getting ready for marriage, Princess Eugenie was nervous about the big day, but found calm in knowing that she'd be walking down the aisle to the man of her dreams. She told British Vogue, "It's very nerve-wracking because you want it to be perfect but then you realize that you’re going to be with the person you love forever and nothing else really matters."
She also finds inspiration on Pinterest for her wedding decorations and cake, proving that just because she's related to Queen Elizabeth II doesn't mean she's any different than other modern brides. Princess Eugenie began dating her fiance Jack Brooksbank seven years ago. The couple became engaged in January 2018 and was married later that year.
Prince William and Duchess Kate Have a Nanny for the Kids
Three kids is a lot to keep up with, and with all of their royal duties, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose to enlist the help of a nanny. Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo is the nanny to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. She studied at the prestigious Noreland College where the top nannies in the country are trained.
Nicknamed the "real life Mary Poppins," Maria lives in the royal household, with her own quarters located in Kensington Palace. She's seen taking care of the children and taking them to the pond on the palace's property. It's estimated that the couple spends between $36,493 and $58,552 on Maria's salary to take care of the three youngest members of the royal family.
Princess Eugenie's Wedding Was Plastic-Free
The health of the environment is very important to Princess Eugenie, who is an ambassador of Project 0, a charity that aims to eliminate plastic pollution in the ocean. The Princess does not use plastic in her home, and made sure that her October 12th wedding was plastic-free as well.
The princess says making her household anti-plastic has been "eye-opening." She also encourages others to adopt the plastic-free lifestyle, stating, "We aim to inspire people to make sustainable choices to stop the ocean from drowning in plastic."
The Duchesses Love Designer Labels
Since Prince William and Prince Harry are within close succession to the throne, they are given an allowance for not only themselves, but their wives. When Kate Middleton was welcomed into the family, it was the first time since Princess Diana that the People of Commonwealth had a young female royal to look to for fashion cues.
This was dubbed as the "Kate Middleton Effect" as the Duchess of Cambridge's outfits would quickly sell-out at stores. Designers including Sarah Burton and Alexander McQueen have seen a spike in sales after the Duchess wears their designs. Meghan Markle's favorite designers include Givenchy, Roland Mouret, Emilia Wickstead, and Dior.
Since Meghan Joined The Royal Family, The Budget (Substantially) Increased
According to The Telegraph, before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and joined the royal family, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton shared $4.6 million for purchases. We have to imagine that a lot of that budget is going towards Kate Middleton's wardrobe, as well as the three kids.
However, when Meghan Markle joined the family, the budget was boosted $2 million, up to $6.5 million annually. It does appear that the couples will be taking over some appearances for the Queen, so it makes sense they would need to increase their budget in order to do so.
Their Vacations Are Luxurious
The royal family takes their vacations seriously. Prince William and Duchess Kate make sure to have a family holiday twice a year, along with a few smaller trips. The couple enjoys taking their family on skiing trips in Meribel, France, and thawing out by the beach in Biarritz, France. To get some privacy and alone time, William and Kate sneak off to private islands like North Island and Seychelles, off the coast of East Africa.
Before they were married, Prince Harry took Meghan on trips to Botswana, Norway, Jamaica,and Zambia. The couple loves traveling, and they're sure to be spotted jetting off to more exotic destinations soon.
PDA is On Lockdown (But They Test The Boundaries)
Unlike other couples in love, members of the royal family are discouraged from showing affection in public. Many have noted that Prince William and Duchess Kate's two kisses at their wedding was the first and last time they ever witnessed the royal couple showing affection for one another.
Queen Elizabeth II rarely holds hands with her husband, and encourages members of the family to limit hand holding, kissing, and other affection while in public, in order to remain professional while at royal events. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been given more leeway, however, since Prince William is ahead of his younger brother in succession to the throne.
They Still Have To Use Proper Etiquette, Always
You may think that because it's 2018, certain rules of proper etiquette and poise would no longer apply. But they still do. Meghan Markle is getting the hang of the new protocol that she needs to follow being a royal, and representing the royal family.
While her and Prince harry were dating, Meghan enjoyed the last months of her freedom as a citizen, including being able to cross her legs. She officially wed Prince Harry in May 2018, and has since been required to follow all rules of royal etiquette, including slanting her legs and crossing her ankles, instead of throwing one leg over the other.
Royal Women Must Only Paint Their Nails Nude
Another rule that may seem outdated, but is still very much enforced for the most prominent women, is that ladies of the royal family must only wear nude nail polish. They can push the limit with light pink, but that's as far as they can go. You'll see that both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle abide by this rule.
However, if you take a closer look at Princess Eugenie's nails, you'll see that she paints them however she pleases! When she was 22 years old she was spotted with Union Flag painted nails at the Epsom Derby in 2012. Her sister Beatrice doesn't appear to be testing the waters on this one.
They Have To Wait Until The Baby Is Born To Learn The Gender
Although gender reveal parties and creative social media announcements are wildly popular with expecting parents today, members of the royal family don't get to enjoy these moments for themselves. Sources say that Prince William and Kate Middleton didn't find out the gender of their children until they were born.
Likewise, the announcement of a pregnancy or royal birth is still done in a very traditional and formal matter, so Prince Harry and Meghan Markle followed the strict rules with their baby.
The Duchess of Cambridge Shook Things Up With a Candid Photo
The British royal family has traditionally taken very formal portraits on special occasions such as weddings and christenings. But in July of 2018, Kate Middleton and the royal family chose to release and publish a candid photo of Prince Louis at his christening ceremony.
The photo (not pictured), taken by Matt Porteous, was originally to be kept in the family's private collection, but they loved it so much they decided to share it with the world. Historically, it's rare for such candid photos of the family to be released, but Prince William and Kate Middleton are bridging the gap and making the family more approachable and relatable to the people of Britain.
They Still Must Ask the Queen's Permission to Marry
It may seem like an outdated rule, but members of the royal family are still required to get permission from Queen Elizabeth II before they give or accept a marriage proposal. This is required by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. Famously, Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister, had to ask her permission to marry Peter Townsend, who had been recently divorced. (She told her to wait, and they didn't end up getting married.)
Both Prince William and Prince Harry were required to ask the Queen for permission before they proposed, giving the decision to Queen Elizabeth II as to whether or not that person should be welcomed into the prestigious family.
Modesty, Always
Women of the British royal family must be extra careful in their wardrobe choices not to show too much skin, which can be a challenge for the younger women who joined the family and didn't always have to abide by the restrictions.
Princess Diana's purses jokingly became known as "cleavage bags." The Princess was often photographed gripping her clutch tightly to her chest to prevent any unwanted paparazzi photos. Anya Hindmarch, who designed numerous bags for the late princess told the Telegraph: “We used to laugh when we designed what she called her 'cleavage bags,' little satin clutches which she would cover her cleavage with when she stepped out of cars.”
