Royals have nothing in common with us commoners, it's basically a known fact. But do we really know how odds things are over there, inside the fancy palace? Apparently, they've got strange dietary rules, they enjoy some out-of-this-world secret privileges, and maintain hidden assets, and that's not even half of all the secret things they have going on. Read on for the most exciting facts of them all. You may never look at the Queen the same again!
Turns Out Harry's Real Name Isn't Even Harry
Prince Harry has been in the public eye for decades. We've really never heard him called by a longer, formal name. People probably assumed his real name was Harold. But oh, how wrong they were! Would you believe that his birth certificate says Henry? This nickname comes from an old tradition dating back to the time of Shakespeare. Although he was born fifth in line, Harry would theoretically become King Henry IX.
Look closely, and you will see that his official engagement was announced as "Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle are engaged to be married." The more you know!
They Eat 7 Year Old Cake
When a new royal is born, there is a christening. At the party, they eat cake. So far, that sounds normal. But wait! At the time of Prince Louis' birth, that cake was seven years old. According to the royal website: “Following the service, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will give a private tea at Clarence House. Guests will be served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake.”
A chunk of that cake was preserved in brandy with fruit, and it just sat around becoming yummy. This unusual treat was also served for his brother and sister, years before. Still seems to be going strong!
The Queen Owns Every Swan in the Kingdom
You might think that swans are up for grabs out there. But in the UK, that is surprisingly not the case. As a matter of royal tradition, the reigning monarch owns all of the unmarked swans in the land. And that's not all: This ruler also owns all unclaimed dolphins, sturgeons, and whales. In the 1300s, these animals were declared "fishes royal." What does the current queen do with all of them?
As far as we know, she doesn't interact with them often. And it doesn't seem like she's making any active claims on any of them. Befriend a dolphin, be her guest.
Princess Diana Once Snuck Out Disguised as a Man
Princess Diana got roped into royal life by age 20. As a married woman, she didn't get to have her wild 20's like many of her peers. But eventually, the princess decided to have a little fun. Once, she snuck into a gay bar with none other than Freddie Mercury of Queen. How did she get in, as a woman? That's easy. She dressed as a man, and started to order drinks.
According to friend and actress Cleo Rocos: "We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren. Diana and Freddie were giggling...Once the transaction was completed, we looked at one another, united in our triumphant quest. We did it!"
The Queen Brings Blood on Trips
There is planning that goes into a royal trip on a level we cannot imagine. For example: What if the queen has a medical emergency, while abroad? She might need a blood transfusion. Should she just accept whatever blood is available locally? No, of course not! To avoid this choice, Her Majesty often travels with vials of her own blood, ready to use at a moment's notice. Better safe than sick!
The Royal Navy doctor is always close by, in case a blood transfusion is needed. Overall, it seems like a good plan for sketchy destinations. We wonder: Do American presidents do this, too?
These Two Only Had 12 Dates
The romance of Charles and Diana was actually pretty brief. Diana was just a teen when she met the prince, who had recently dated her sister. He decided she might make a good wife, though, as a good-looking girl from noble circles. Diana was 19, and Charles was 32 when they had 12 dates. Then, he proposed! That’s not a lot, by today’s standards. But it wasn’t a lot by standards in those days, either!
Apparently, Prince Phillip pressured Charles to do the right thing and marry Diana. But in the end, he still didn't do the right things. He kept seeing his ex-girlfriend Camillia for years to come, and we all know how that ended!
One Thing Is Absolutely Banned at Dinner
You may say that garlic is the universal spice. It seems to enhance every savory dish ever invented. But at least one person on this planet disagrees! On the orders of Her Majesty herself, you're not going to find it any palace dish. According to former royal chef Darren McGrady: "The queen would never have garlic on the menu. She hated the smell of it, she hated the taste of it."
It may sound extreme to you. But when you're the queen, you don't have to sit around and tolerate stinky people. You can simply decree a garlic ban. and that's that!
The Queen Takes an Actual Hostage Every Year
Every year, the queen takes a hostage. Is it an innocent victim? No, it's a politician! The Parliament website explains: "Another reminder of the violence and intrigue historically surrounding relationships between the Commons and the Crown is the fact that a Member of the Commons is ceremonially held hostage in Buckingham Palace while the Sovereign attends the Palace, to ensure her safe return...This tradition stems from the time of Charles I, who had a contentious relationship with Parliament and was eventually beheaded in 1649 at the conclusion of a civil war between the monarchy and Parliament."
Yes, there were beheadings in the past, and this measure must have been a smart fix. But we don't expect real violence to happen these days. The kidnapping is mostly symbolic now, and totally entertaining.
They Must Weigh Themselves at Christmas
Every year, there is a royal holiday tradition that makes most people gasp. Family members must step on a scale and weigh themselves before and after Xmas dinner. We assume they eat plenty of glazed ham and baked pheasant, but it seems a little intrusive to measure it. Even guests have to do this if they are invited to the big dinner! What is the real reasoning behind this requirement?
As it turns out, it's not as offensive as you think. The custom started in the early 1900s, at the request of good old King Edward VII. He was was concerned that his guests weren't eating enough!
There Is an Order to Their Walks
If you ever watch the royal family enter an official event, there is a pattern. You will always see a certain order, and that's not random. The family is required to make their entrance based on their ascendance to the throne. It's all about rank, folks! And currently, the rank is as follows: Prince Charles, son William, and then any of the youngest grandkids. Then, it would have been Harry, but he's given that up for Netflix.
Obviously, the first one to enter is the queen: She’s already on the throne. For the future, many are rooting for Charles to step aside and give the throne to William. Will he, though?
Camilla Has a Downgraded Title
Prince Charles married Diana and made her a princess, but anyone who has followed that romance knows it was doomed from the start. That’s because Charles was already in love with another woman named Camilla. All through the marriage, he continued to see her. And after Di’s death, he actually ended up marrying the one he had wanted all along. Today, she is Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Why is that?
Theoretically, she should have been the Princess of Wales, like Diana. But everyone knows she was his mistress, and she was given a different title. If Charles becomes king, she will not be queen, either. She will just be a princess!
You're Can't Poison the Queen
If you thought you might sneak a little poison in the queen's soup, it's time to reconsider that plot. There's just no way you're going to succeed, with the sneaky plans she has in place. At public banquets, a strategy is employed to make sure sinister plots are thwarted before they hit. A palace insider reveals: "After everything is plated up, a page chooses at random one of the plates to be served to Her Majesty...So if anyone did want to poison the monarch, they'd have to poison the whole lot."
In 1125, King Henry I died of poisoning. In 1553, King Edward VI may have died from arsenic poisoning. It's better safe than sorry!
They're Not Allowed to Say This
Ever wonder why you don't hear much about current events from William or Kate? You also never see Charles in line voting. There's a reason for that, and it's a palace policy. In 1649, King Charles I was beheaded after the English Civil War with Parliament. Since then, it has been a norm to be neutral on government decisions. None of them vote! The royals are just not the lawmakers in modern England. Who broke this rule recently?
It was none other than Meghan Markle, who was used to doing all of those things in her civilian life. She told an Irish politician she agreed with the new abortion policy in the country. Normally, that isn't done!
Kate Was the First Royal Bride to Do This
You may not have been keeping track of princess pedigree before. But now, you just might get curious! What does Kate Middleton have that no other queen-to-be had at their wedding? The answer is a college degree. In the old days, well-bred girls certainly had top schooling. But that was boarding school, and not a full-blown university. Kate is now The Duchess of Cambridge, and she has a master's in art history.
William and Kate met at the University of St. Andrews, and it is said the prince fell for her when he saw her in a student fashion show. He came for the see-through dress and stayed for the smarts!
Meghan Markle Had a Secret Side Gig
According to Meghan Markle: "I went to an all-girls Catholic school for like six years during the time when kids actually had handwriting class. I've always had a propensity for getting the cursive down pretty well...What it evolved into was my pseudo-waitressing job when I was auditioning. I didn't wait tables. I did calligraphy for the invitations for, like, Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's wedding...I used to do it for Dolce & Gabbana's celebrity correspondence over the holidays. I would sit there with a little white tube sock on my hand so no hand oils got on the card, trying to pay my bills while auditioning."
After Suits, Meghan tried out her duties as The Duchess of Sussex. As we all know now, that wasn't meant to be. Was it because she had a secret passion for something else?
These Guys Don’t Have a Last Name
Have you ever noticed that you only know these folks by their first names and titles? It kind of seems like they don't even have a last name. As it turns out, that might be because they don't — at least not in the same way you do. According to the royal family website: "Before 1917, members of the British Royal Family had no surname, but only the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged. Kings and princes were historically known by the names of the countries over which they and their families ruled."
In 1917, King George V adopted Windsor as a last name for his family. He came from the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and that sounded way too German around WWI. Since then, a tradition evolved that royals have the last name Mountbatten-Windsor, if they theoretically want one. But they're not required to have one at all, by law.
Charles Has Servants Doing Some Pretty Petty Tasks
Some of you might wonder if Prince Charles is secretly a down-to-earth fellow. Insiders say, not really. According to former royal butler Paul Burrell: “His pajamas are pressed every morning, his shoelaces are pressed flat with an iron, the bath plug has to be in a certain position, and the water temperature has to be just tepid...[he] has his valets squeeze one inch of toothpaste onto his toothbrush every morning.”
We can't begin to understand why toothpaste squeezing is beneath his royal highness. Whatever his reasoning, we're glad it's on his list. Breaking stereotypes about British teeth, Charles brushes onward.
Young Diana Had a Lot of Cool Gigs
Some say that Diana was a princess of the people, and years later, some misunderstand that to mean she was a commoner. That's a myth! Diana was always from a noble background, and distantly related to Charles. But in her youth, it became fashionable for girls in her circles to try out real jobs after fancy boarding school. Lady Di had a few working girl jobs that might surprise you.
In the early '80s, Diana was a London nanny and made $5 an hour to clean, play, and do laundry. She also briefly worked as a kindergarten teacher. On the street, who could have pegged her for a future princess?
The Palace Has a Strict Nail Polish Policy
Queen Elizabeth II is famously a very big fan of Essie's Ballet Slippers shade. It's a sheer pinky tone, and the queen has been using the $8 product for decades. In 1989, a royal hairdresser wrote a formal letter to the company, requesting a bottle. It was the only color Her Majesty loved! Kate Middleton also loves it, and apparently, it's just a hit with everyone: 30 bottles are sold each hour in America.
In general, royals are supposed to wear nude-colored nails. It shouldn't surprise you to learn that Meghan Markle defied that norm, a few times. Yes, she wore light polish on her wedding day, but that's not always her style!
Their Main Money Isn't From Taxpayers
We would forgive you for assuming that the royals live off UK taxpayers, dining fancy and sitting around in castles. To some extent, this is true. But a lot more of their money comes from privately owned assets than you think. Their primary income is the Duchy of Lancaster, which is a portfolio of properties: Residential, agricultural, and commercial. Plus, millions of tourists visit their homes at Kensington Palace and Clarence House. But that's not all!
Besides that, the royals have shopping centers and racecourses, and they mine minerals. Professionals manage it all, while the family is out and about in funny hats. Overall, their private holdings are worth 14 billion pounds sterling!
Royals Always Travel With Black
We usually don’t see the royals in all black, if we stop and think about it. Maybe that’s because they reserve the look for dark days, like funerals. There is a rule that any traveling family member needs to make sure they pack appropriate, black outfits on the go. Why do they need to think about that, ahead of time? That's simple: It's just in case another royal dies while they are away, which has certainly happened before.
In 1952, the queen herself heard about her father's death on the radio while she was in Africa. She had to wait for her funeral colors to arrive when she landed. The cameras were all there, and she was unprepared!
Shellfish Is Against the Rules
Whether it's clam chowder or fresh mussels, royals are supposed to avoid the stuff at all times. It's an ancient rule of the palace, and it was set up for good reason. Back in the day, there seemed to be a lot of food poisoning around the stuff. A wise decision was made to avoid the risk, and discourage its consumption. But do all the royals follow the rule, when they are out and about?
Charles and Camilla clearly go their own way. The prince is known to publically smack down an oyster like nobody's business. At official dinners, you still won't find it on the menu. But there's no stopping him here!
The Queen Invented This New Breed
Everyone knows that The Queen loves corgis, more than any other pooch. Throughout her life, she has had around 30 of them, and it's become part of her image. Currently, she has two. But there's one more doggo in the palace: A dorgi. What is that? A great question. A dorgi is a corgi mixed with a Dachshund. That's a Weiner dog! Here is the handsome result, being walked by a royal servant on the green.
The queen is actually credited with making this breed, and it's really caught on. The mix is said to be intelligent, friendly, and loyal. Knowing mom and dad, we're not surprised!
The Queen Doesn't Have Papers
We've witnessed the queen jet off to faraway lands in the British bubble for most of the last century. But one thing we never noticed was her passport process. Who does she give it to, and what gets stamped? As it turns out, the answer is no, none of the above, and neither. It is not well known, but the queen doesn't have a passport. Why doesn't she need one?
If you think about it for a moment, you can easily understand why. All UK passports say they are issued in Her Majesty’s name. But of course, she is Her Majesty. She doesn't need permission from herself!
There Is a Royal Ban on Just One Game
The royal family might look perfect on the outside. But at home, they fight like cats and dogs. Only about one thing, though: Would you believe that a board game was so divisive, that it has been prohibited by the palace? That game is Monopoly, and the public learned this fact when Prince Andrew was presented a copy by an outsider. He had to decline! According to the Prince: “We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home...it gets too vicious.”
We get that everyone wants a piece of the boardwalk properties. But there are only a few slots, and that's how the dice rolls. Now, no one is passing go!
The Queen Once Worked as a Mechanic
During WWII, the queen wasn't a ruler yet. She was a young princess, and she decided to help with the effort against Germany. Believe it or not, she was a mechanic! The royal website states: "The Queen's relationship with the Armed Forces began when, as Princess Elizabeth, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member...During her time in the ATS, the Princess learnt to drive and to maintain vehicles."
Liz joined the military as "No230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor." To this day, she always takes care to honor women who serve in the armed forces, in public speeches.
Don't Ask Royals to Write This
In the old days, everything was done on paper. A paper signed by a blue blood was a pretty big deal. Therefore, there was a need to hide the true signatures of the royals. In order to stop forgeries, family members were not allowed to sign autographs. It's an old rule, but it's still in effect in the digital era. Modern royals get this request all the time. But it's a big no-no, so don't ask!
What should you do if you are lucky enough to meet Prince William or Duchess Kate in person? Snap a selfie, of course. A picture is worth a thousand words!
The Queen Used Coupons for Her Wedding Dress
During WWII, everything was in short supply. The UK decided to give out goods based on rationing coupons. When the queen got engaged, she was subject to the same law. The royal website explains: "Due to rationing measures in place following World War Two, Princess Elizabeth had to use clothing ration coupons to pay for her dress...Hundreds of people from across the UK sent The Princess their coupons to help with the dress, although they had to be returned as it would be illegal to use them."
In the end, young Liz used enough of her own coupons and got the supplies. She returned the other ones to her well-wishing fans. It's a heartwarming history tidbit. We love those!
The Palace Used to Rent Their Precious Gems
Behold, the St. Edward's Crown. It weighs 4 pounds and 12 ounces, and it's full of gold, silver, and gems. According to the Historic Royal Palaces website: "St. Edward's Crown is the most important and sacred of all the crowns. It is only used at the moment of crowning itself...From 1661 to the early 20th century, this crown was only ever adorned with hired gems, which were returned after the coronation...In 1911, St. Edward's Crown was permanently set with semi-precious stones for the coronation of George V."
This crown has been carefully handled for hundreds of years, and even Queen Elizabeth has worn it only once. We know we would wear it a lot more often if we could!
Princess Diana's Wedding Dress Set a Record
When Diana married Charles at St. Paul's Cathedral, the dress she wore set records. Not only was it the most gorgeous garment many had ever seen, but it was long. And by long, we mean 25 feet long. That was the longest train in royal history before or since. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, it had more than 10,000 pearls. It was a dress fit for a future queen, without a doubt.
Although their union quickly became tense, we still think back to the good times. As a couple, there were endless ups and downs. This dress might have been a high point!
Buckingham Palace Was Actually Bombed
It's wild to think about now, but glorious Buckingham Palace was bombed by the Nazis. In 1940, the current Queen's mom and dad were home when it happened. The late queen recalled: "At this moment we heard the unmistakable whirr-whirr of a German plane...and before anything else could be said, there was the noise of aircraft diving at great speed, and then the scream of a bomb...I saw a great column of smoke and earth thrown up into the air, and then we all ducked like lightning into the corridor."
Miraculously, everyone had the instinct to get away from the windows before the glass exploded. After the incident, she boldly declared: “I am glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face”.
The Queen Secretly Talks With Her Purse
If you see the Queen moving her purse around, that's a sign to the royal staff. When she shifts, they shift into gear. According to Royal Historian Hugo Vickers: “It would be very worrying if you were talking to the Queen and saw the handbag move from one hand to the other. Someone would come along and say, 'Sir, the Archbishop of Canterbury would very much like to meet you."
Why all the silent signaling? In the interest of manners, this tradition developed. We know you would never bore the queen. Not you! But just in case, you know her low-key language.
The Queen Always Has Two of These on Trips
Think about it: You've never seen the queen of England with a spaghetti stain. Is that because she just doesn't get any? That is one theory. But the truth is, the monarch is a human being. Insiders reveal that her personal stylist has a strategy that stops you from seeing messes. It's all about prep, and the queen is always prepared for a disaster. On any trip, she has two copies of every dress.
In the event of a spill, Her Majesty can change in a flash. No one will even notice she changed into a different outfit. It is literally the same outfit!
Prince Harry Tried Cowboy Life for a Bit
Harry may be known as the Duke of Sussex, these days. But for a very short amount of time, he had a different lifestyle. Far from lavish palace life, young Harry lived the cowboy lifestyle during his hap year in Australia. It was back in 2003, before he joined the army. Something compelled him to manage a farm. Here he is with his trusty horse, grinning in his brimmed hat.
We like the look, but it didn't last long. Soon enough, Harry felt he needed to take on a new challenge on the frontlines of Afghanistan. Now, he's on to the next brave frontier: Netflix and Spotify!
The Queen Always Has Two of These
The Queen is now in her 90's, and she's had a lot of birthdays. You might think the number of parties would match her age. But actually, the queen always has 2 birthdays! The first is her actual day of birth: April 21, 1926. But there is a public day that the whole country celebrates as a holiday every second Saturday in the month of June. How did that custom evolve?
It all dates back to 1748 when King George II combined the summer military march with his own Octobr birthday. The public, therefore, started celebrating his birthday in June. Since then. the tradition stuck!
Royals Know One Thing in Every Language
As walking reps of the British Monarchy, family members are required to learn a little bit beyond English. Sure, their native language is the common communication of the world right now. But is it respectful to ignore all the others, on an official trip? In case it's not, they all learn how to say hello. If a royal is scheduled to visit a foreign country, this is the lesson before arrival.
Technically, there are more than 7,000 languages in the world today. Most aren't the main tongues. But with more than 180 countries, the main ones are still quite a list!
One of These Kids Is Worth a Lot More
When Forbes calculated the total net worth of the royal family, the number went way beyond their main assets. The royals actually are an economy unto themselves, some say. Their celebrity brings a lot of money into the country's economy. Overall, they are pegged at $88 billion as a group. And when you analyze a number like that, you can find out who rakes in more than others in the family tree.
Recently, there have been some new editions to Will and Kate's house. Which young child is worth the most, in terms of revenue? Charlotte has inspired $5 billion of spending. Her brother George, by contrast, only moved $3.6 billion. The competition begins!
Why the Queen Drives Herself Sometimes
Throughout the decades, commoners have noticed Her Majesty driving around normal vehicles. And she's not the only royal who does that: Harry, William, and Kate have all been spotted doing the very same thing. During his life, Prince Philip drove, too. Why are they forgoing the VIP service they are entitled to? The answer makes them a bit more relatable, which doesn't happen often. You will never guess they felt this way!
It turns out these folks just want to be normal. At least sometimes, they like to drive around and feel independent. Then, they go back to palace life. The best of both worlds, perhaps?
Mornings Always Involve Bagpipes
You might wonder if the Queen of England has an iPhone alarm in the modern era. The answer, of course, is no. Every morning, the Queen's personal piper wakes her up with the sounds of Scotland. Why bagpipes? Maybe she likes the vibe. But most of the matter is a question of tradition. The 15-minute serenade has been going on every morning at nine since 1843. Why change it now?
Scotland is a very special place for the Queen, in general. She owns Balmoral Castle near the village of Crathie. That's her favorite place to vacation with family. And it's where Prince Phillip courted her, all those years ago!
Why the Queen Really Wears Bold Colors
The Queen of England likes to wear bright, bold colors. That's not true for all nations with a monarchy. It might be true for none, now that we think about it. But there is a reason that Her Majesty opts for neons as her signature style. According to Sophie, Countess of Wessex: “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say, ‘I saw the Queen!’...Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15-deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen’s hat as she went past.”
It does seem like the British queen is out and about more often than whoever the king of Denmark is, these days. By the way, who is he? We've never seen him!