His Majesty Must Obey – Discover The British Monarchy’s Rules For King Charles
End All Conversations
Engaging in discussion with His Majesty is an honor of a lifetime. However, there’s a rule in place that ensures that the King is the only one with authority to end every conversation.
For example, whether an official or a commoner, an individual can only walk away from a conversation when Charles has communicated his intention to stop speaking. So the royal etiquette for every conversation is to wait for the King to decide when to end a chat.
NEXT: Find out the one way the King isn’t allowed to sit.
A Strict Dress Code Is Expected at All Times
As the new head of the British Monarchy, King Charles is expected to dress to the nines at all times. However, that aspect of his life had remained constant even before he was tapped to ascend to the throne.
However, trusted sources have revealed that Charles does not intend to hold on to some old-fashioned conception of proper attire. For example, he won’t wear silk stockings and breeches at his coronation but would opt for a military uniform instead.
NEXT: See what differentiates the new King from regular celebrities.
Fans Will Miss Out on Autographs
Taylor Swift and other big names in entertainment may spend much time signing autographs for fans, but no one should expect King Charles to keep up with the practice. This rule is essentially in place to prevent the possibility of forgeries or, worse, identity theft.
So fans lucky enough to come across His Majesty in public ought to think twice before asking for his signature. Interestingly, this rule does not pertain to Charles alone but to all British royals.
NEXT: See what to do with cameras when the King comes around.
Never Agree to Selfies
Quite similar to the rule about autographs is the fact that King Charles can’t take selfies with would-be fans in public. Of course, there was that time in 2017 when newly engaged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greeted crowds in Nottingham.
Markle refused a selfie with fans, claiming she wasn’t allowed, and Royal Correspondent Victoria Murphy noted the Duchess was learning fast. So while some royals may have taken selfies with people in the past, the King absolutely cannot.
NEXT: What’s the King’s duty to his people?
Inspire a Sense of Patriotism Among the People
Alfred the Great is considered the greatest King in England’s history for helping stabilize Britain after nearly a century of Viking raids and ongoing warfare. His impressive administrative skills also helped ensure military reforms and the expansion of the law code.
However, times have changed, and it’s rare for any King or Queen to have such a significant impact on the country and its associated realms. Still, Charles must inspire a solid national identity and patriotism among his citizens.
NEXT: Find out how much power His Majesty can wield.
Help Rule the Commonwealth Realms
The King of England’s title confers immense administrative and royal power on a person. So His Majesty’s responsibilities extend far beyond the shores of the United Kingdom.
King Charles also wields immense power over the 14 Commonwealth realms—Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. However, Barbados became a Republic after abolishing the monarchical system in 2021.
NEXT: See King Charles’ role in the military.
Serve as the Head of the Armed Forces
It’s no mistake that the British Armed Forces is also known as His Majesty’s Armed Forces. The force is charged with national and international defense, which they perform alongside the Royal Navy and Royal Airforce.
And at the top of this hierarchy lies King Charles, who calls the shots. While his decision-making will be bolstered by a team of advisors and high-ranking officials, The King must maintain a close relationship with the Armed Forces by regularly visiting service establishments.
NEXT: Learn about the unique bond Charles shares with the Church.
Act as the Head of the Church of England
A Royal title from the reign of King Henry VIII is “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.” It emphasizes that the sovereign is the head of the Church of England.
Charles’s duties include appointing Archbishops, Bishops, and Deans of the Church of England. However, he performs these responsibilities on the advice of the Prime minister. He’ll also take an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland while exerting no power over its governance.
NEXT: See how Charles packs for trips abroad.
Always Respect the Culture During Trips Abroad
Charles’ duty as the head of the Monarchy means he gets to take a lot of trips abroad. Such travels may be to the Commonwealth realms or other affiliated nations. However, no matter what location he visits, the King is expected to don the appropriate attire.
The custom is for him to wear outfits incorporating some aspects of the country’s culture. That may mean wearing a piece of local traditional attire or adding a pin with the country’s flag.
NEXT: See reasons why the King should be mostly seen, not heard.
Never Voice Strong Opinions in Public
King Charles is more outspoken than the late queen. A perception bolstered by his past roles as a Prince when he sidestepped a lot of traditions, choosing to carve his own path.
However, with the title of King comes an expectation that Charles will never publicly voice his opinions on many subjects. Such convictions are confined within the privacy of his home. So no more lobbying the government directly through “spider memos” as he did in the early ’00s.
NEXT: Find out what dinner party etiquette the King must observe.
Stay Detail-Oriented and Disciplined at Dinner Parties
Royalty and tradition are two very intertwined words. As such, the list of dining rules King Charles must observe in line with longstanding tradition is far too lengthy to go into at this moment.
However, the essential details are that His Majesty must only speak to the guest seated on his right during a conversation during the first course. Only once the second course has been served can he turn to talk to the guest seated on his left.
NEXT: What’s the one food the King has to avoid yet can’t seem to resist?
Avoid Certain Foods That Pose a Risk
When King John took ill in October 1216 before dying, the most common consensus was that his attack of dysentery was due to food poisoning. So today, there are restrictions on the Royal diet.
No matter his thoughts on seafood, Charles must avoid all shellfish as it can increase the likelihood of getting food poisoning. Still, he appears to have risked that possibility during the Whitstable Oyster Festival in the summer of 2013 when he couldn’t resist enjoying sushi.
NEXT: Learn why His Majesty cannot eat at every event.
Only Eat at Predetermined Official Events
The risks of infection and poisoning also prevent the King from enjoying meals at every public event. Charles can only eat food at royally arranged and sanctioned events. And the menu set to be served that day is usually approved by the Crown ahead of time.
So if Charles were to receive a cake while walking out of an event, he’d accept it to avoid being rude or disrespectful. However, that cake won’t end up in his mouth afterward.
NEXT: Find out why the King can never travel with Prince William.
Never Travel With Other Heirs
This rule has remained unchanged for so long—no two heirs of the British throne can travel together. That means Prince William can’t take trips with his son Prince George—once he turns 12. Similarly, King Charles can never fly on the same aircraft as Prince William, the heir apparent.
The reason for the rule ought to be self-explanatory. After all, both lives would be at risk if an accident occurred, which would, in turn, put the British throne in jeopardy.
NEXT: Does Charles become King immediately?
Wait a While Before Getting the Crown
This may be confusing, considering King Charles III ascended the British throne immediately after his mother’s death. However, the rule states he must wait 12 good months before he is officially crowned in a coronation.
That also explains why Charles’ crowning ceremony’s set for May 6, 2023. Don’t be mistaken, though. Charles is the new Head of State and the King in every sense of the word. However, he won’t get the Crown to make things official until coronation.
NEXT: Why can we never know what party King Charles supports?
Remain Politically Neutral
The rule is simple. Charles’s duty as a monarch translates to impartiality, discretion, and neutrality. One of the most well-known rules is that no royal family member is allowed to vote or express their political opinions publicly.
If expected of all the royals, then Charles has a much heavier obligation to maintain this rule at all times. The former Queen had an unbending reputation for remaining silent on political issues. Many hope the King will follow in her footsteps.
NEXT: See what constitutional duties the King is expected to perform.
Open Each New Session of Parliament
There’s practically no end to the duties His Majesty is expected to perform. However, while he can ignore many such rules on special occasions, the responsibilities entrenched in the Constitution fall outside that category.
To this end, Charles must open each new session of Parliament. During these meetings, he can also express his opinions on government matters. His duties in this regard also extend to granting Royal Assent to legislation and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.
NEXT: See why the King has to pack a backup when going on trips.
Always Pack a Back-up When Travelling
One traveling requirement is that King Charles has to pack an all-black ensemble in case there’s a sudden death during the trip and he has to attend a funeral. Having the correct mourning attire means the King can appropriately dress.
The rule also helps prevent situations like the one from 1952 when the Queen had to wait on the plane from Kenya for a black dress to be delivered so she would arrive appropriately attired for her father’s funeral.
NEXT: Find out what the royals do with the gifts they receive.
Keep All Gifts Received
While King Charles is not allowed to eat any food offered to him in public, he is expected to accept all gifts with grace, regardless of what they are. This rule also pertains to every member of the royal family.
The policy on receiving gifts by the royal family, which was drawn up in 1995 and updated in 2005, also states that any presents the royals receive in connection to their official duties can never be traded or sold.
NEXT: See the royal etiquette regarding conversations with the King.
End All Conversations
Engaging in discussion with His Majesty is an honor of a lifetime. However, there’s a rule in place that ensures that the King is the only one with authority to end every conversation.
For example, whether an official or a commoner, an individual can only walk away from a conversation when Charles has communicated his intention to stop speaking. So the royal etiquette for every conversation is to wait for the King to decide when to end a chat.
NEXT: Find out the one way the King isn’t allowed to sit.
Never Sit With Crossed Legs
When one considers that King Charles can’t even sit still and relax without specific rules guiding his posture, it becomes evident that being King is not easy. Research suggests that sitting cross-legged may cause the hips to become misaligned.
However, there are other reasons behind this rule. Charles has to maintain the proper posture while sitting in public. Because to disregard that rule would be to ridicule the tradition that prevents male royals from sitting with their legs crossed.
NEXT: What differentiates a regular handshake from a royal one?
Observe the Ordained Handshake Rules
Being the monarch of one of the most powerful nations in the world means that King Charles will spend much of his time meeting dignitaries. And those always feature a couple of handshakes thrown in at the start.
Though not technically an official rule, His Majesty must still observe a special handshake. According to the Director of the Royal School of Etiquette, Grant Harrold, a royal handshake should consist of two-to-three pumps, with the palms open and thumbs down.
NEXT: Find out why King Charles won’t be offering hugs in public.
Avoid Public Displays of Affection
Royals are not known for public displays of affection. However, Charles has broken a few of those roles as a Prince. A good example is in 2017, when he hugged a young fan during a visit to Romania.
He also raised a few eyebrows after sharing a kiss with the then Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, at a polo match in 2005. However, now that he’s King, it remains to be seen if Charles will choose to observe this rule.
NEXT: See how Charles is expected to take the initiative in public settings.
Always Stand Up First
Anyone lucky enough to be invited to a royal sit down with the King ought to learn a couple of lessons in patience. It’s essential because His Majesty can initiate standing up. That also means that all in attendance must remain seated at all times until Charles stands up.
It’s also a grave breach of protocol for any guests to remain seated when the King stands. So everyone must rise immediately and remain so until Charles retakes his seat.
NEXT: Find out why Charles has the say-so for royal marriages.
Give Approval for Royal Marriages
Another thing that’s changed since Charles took the reins is his responsibility to approve royal marriages. A lot of strict rules and regulations guide marriages within the monarchy.
In fact, the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 stipulates in unequivocal terms that the Monarch has the final say on sanctioning all royal matrimonial matches. And British lawmakers created the rule to guard against marriages that could diminish the royal house’s status, weakening the institution of monarchy in the long run.
NEXT: Find out who gets to take their seat first at royal gatherings.
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