The Queen’s death set in motion Operation London Bridge, a collection of plans including arrangements for her funeral, and Operation Unicorn, which set protocols for the Queen’s death occurring in Scotland. The United Kingdom is observing a national mourning period of 10 days. A state funeral service will be held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022 at 11:00 BST, followed by a service later that day at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen will be interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s. The occasion of her state funeral will be a national bank holiday in the UK.

The Queen lay in state in Westminster Hall and the public were able to view the coffin, which was displayed on a catafalque. Throughout this time, the coffin was guarded constantly by the King’s Body Guards and the public was able to file past to pay their respects. In addition to the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross were placed on the coffin and the Wanamaker Cross of Westminster has been placed at its head. Both the BBC and ITV were offering a livestream of the Queen lying in state for those who were unable to attend at Westminster Hall.

A very lengthy queue formed to view the lying in state, with long waits. The Queue, as it became known, was a social phenomenon in itself. Many commentators noted the traditional cultural belief that the British are good at queueing. Queueing began 48 hours before the Hall was opened to the public. The queue reached at least 4.6 miles (about 7,6 km) in length, with an 8-hour wait. The Government set up a live tracker showing where the end of the queue was. They also set up over 500 public toilets, water stands, and first aid stations. Venues along the way have also opened their facilities.

The state funeral is set to be held at Westminster Abbey at 11:00 BST on 19 September 2022. This will mark the first time that a monarch’s funeral service is held at Westminster Abbey since George II in 1760, and the first state funeral in Britain since that of Winston Churchill in 1965.

On the day of the funeral, the coffin will be moved from Westminster Hall at 10:44 BST to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy and in keeping with tradition of every state funeral of a monarch since Edward VII, the carriage will be drawn by 142 Royal Navy sailors, as the King and other members of the Royal Family as well as members of the King’s household walk behind.

The coffin will arrive at Westminster Abbey at 10:52 BST. The Dean of Westminster David Hoyle is expected to conduct the service, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth will read lessons at the ceremony. The prayers are to be said by the Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will deliver the sermon and the Dean of Westminster will give the blessing. At 11:55 BST, the “Last Post” will sound and the attendees will observe a two-minute silence at the Abbey. During the national two-minute silence, no flights will be landing at or departing from Heathrow. The singing of the National Anthem will mark the end of the ceremony at 12:00 BST. The coffin will then be taken in a procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch on the State Gun Carriage, led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and followed by the King and members of the Royal Family. Big Ben will toll each minute as the procession continues and minute guns will be fired from Hyde Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. At Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred with a royal salute to the State Hearse for the trip to Windsor.

The Queen’s body and the body of Prince Philip, who died in 2021, will be interred in a private family service in the later evening in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, at St George’s alongside the bodies of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the ashes of Princess Margaret.

BBC One will be covering the funeral from 08:00 to 17:00.

source: Wikipedia

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their second child together, the couple announced on Sunday. The baby will be the younger sibling to the couple’s son Archie Harrison, who will turn 2 on May 6.

“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child,” a spokesperson for the couple told PEOPLE.

Meghan and Harry announced their pregnancy news with a stunning black-and-white photo that was taken remotely via iPad by their friend and longtime photographer, Misan Harriman. A smiling (and barefoot!) Harry looks lovingly at Meghan, who cradles her baby bump as she lays in his lap.

The happy news — which they shared on Valentine’s Day — comes after Meghan, 39, revealed she suffered a miscarriage last July. “Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few,” she wrote in a searingly honest and heartbreaking New York Times essay on November 25.

Meghan and Harry, 36, officially stepped down from their roles as senior royals last year. Their desire to have a normal family life played a role in their groundbreaking decision. A palace source previously told PEOPLE that by the time of Archie’s birth, “they knew they were going to hit the nuclear button” on their royal exit.

When Archie was born, the couple’s focus shifted even more to “doing what’s right for their family,” added another friend.

Meghan, who won her privacy and copyright infringement case against Associated Newspapers on Thursday, and Harry have hinted about expanding their family. In the summer of 2019, the Duke of Sussex revealed that he and his wife wanted a “maximum” of two children.

The couple has been settling into life in their new home of Montecito after moving to California in mid-March. They have been quietly focused behind the scenes on further developing their new foundation Archewell amid the rapidly changing social landscape. Given the massive upheaval from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd, Meghan and Harry have refocused their efforts.

The new parents have been “over the moon” since welcoming baby Archie, and their new addition will only add to their happiness.

“It’s magic. It’s pretty amazing. I have the best two guys in the world, so I’m really happy,” Meghan said soon after Archie’s birth in 2019. “He’s just been a dream.”

Harry added, “It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine. [We look forward to spending] precious times with him as he slowly, slowly starts to grow up.”

The family of three made their official royal tour debut when they traveled to Africa together in the fall of 2019. During Archie’s first outing, Meghan shared her sweet nickname for her son: Bubba.

To celebrate Archie’s milestone first birthday last May, Meghan baked a smash cake, while Prince Harry took point on the festive decor.

The small celebration also included video chats with loved ones. “They Zoomed with godparents, friends and family and had a really simple but incredibly joyous day,” a source told PEOPLE.

Added a friend, “Meghan is so chill and relaxed as a mom.”

Prince Harry has been embracing family time amid the ongoing pandemic.

“There’s a hell of a lot of positives that are happening at the same time and being able to have family time — so much family time — that you almost think, ‘Do I feel guilty for having so much family time?’ ” he shared. “You’ve got to celebrate those moments where you are just on the floor rolling around in hysterics. Inevitably, half an hour later, maybe a day later, there’s going to be something that you have to deal with and there’s no way you can run away from it.”

source: People

But what are the origins? Why did we hear American police officers in 1957? And which phrases does the Queen reuse the most?

Here are some things you might not have known about the Queen’s Christmas Day Address:

– ‘The Queen’s Speech’ is not actually called ‘The Queen’s Speech.’ The formal name given to the event is ‘Her Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech.’

– The first ever Christmas address, by King George V started: “I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all; to men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them.”

– The first Royal Christmas address was written by Rudyard Kipling, in 1932 and delivered by Elizabeth II’s grandfather King George V.

– The first Christmas address was 251 words long. Queen Elizabeth II averages 656 words.

– There was no broadcast in 1936 or 1938 because the annual tradition was not yet established.

– The custom of a Royal Christmas address came into force for good in 1939, when King George VI wanted to boost morale during WWII.

– The Queen has given an address every year since 1952, apart from one – in 1969. In 1969, the Queen decided to write a Christmas message instead of broadcasting one. This was apparently because the Royals felt that they had been in the spotlight too much, after the release of the documentary film ‘Royal Family.’ It was also the same year as Prince Charles’ investiture. The Queen wrote ‘I want you all to know that my good wishes are no less warm and personal because they come to you in a different form.’

– During the 1957 broadcast, some viewers complained that their radio transmissions were interrupted by an American police radio frequency. One instance of interference included a police officer saying “Joe, I’m gonna grab a quick coffee.”

– 1992 was described as an “annus horribilis,” by Her Majesty. In a year where the marriages of Prince Charles and Prince Andrew  fell apart as well as a large fire at Windsor Castle, The Sun leaked the speech two days early. The Queen sued, and the paper paid £200,000 to charity.

– In her first Christmas address, the Queen described the British Commonwealth and Empire as an “immense union of nations” which “can be a great power for good – a force which I believe can be of immeasurable benefit to all humanity.”

– The highest ratings for the Christmas address came in 1980, when an extraordinary 28 million people turned onto the BBC at 3pm.

– According to mathematicians at UCL, The Queen has said 42,000 words during her Christmas addresses. But…only 3991 are distinct – meaning she has used 90% of the words more than once in a Christmas Address. This high percentage of recycled vocabulary is comparable to rappers Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, in their music catalogues. Although their language is rather more colourful, the Queen likes to repeat the phrases ‘shining example’ ‘weak and innocent’ and ‘the Commonwealth.’

– In 1952 the broadcast was shown on television for the first time, but with sound only.

– The first broadcast in colour came in 1967, the same year as the Queen had taken part in a five week tour of Canada.

– In 1975, the broadcast was filmed outside for the first time, in the Buckingham Palace gardens.

– Between 1986 and 1991, David Attenborough produced the Queen’s Christmas address.

– In 1989 Elizabeth II read part of her speech in front of an audience at the Royal Albert Hall. This was the first time that an audience had heard the speech prior to broadcast.

– The Queen writes her Christmas address herself. Rather than using a script writer she is believed to sit with advisors and put forward her ideas and words.

– The broadcast is filmed at Buckingham Palace, or one of the Queen’s other properties a few days before Christmas.

– The idea for a Royal Christmas address came from Sir John Reith, founder of the BBC

– The time of 3pm was chosen so that all parts of the Commonwealth could listen to or watch at a reasonable hour. Today, the message is broadcast to New Zealand at 6:50pm local time, Australia at 7:20pm local time and Canada at midday, local time, as well as live on the Royal’s YouTube channel.

– The Christmas address was broadcast on radio or television exclusively by the BBC until 1997. Since then, the production has rotated every two years between ITV, and from 2011, Sky News.

– 2006 was the first year in which you could download the speech as a podcast.

– In 2012, Sky News produced the Christmas address in 3D. Viewers were able to see the Queen donning a pair of 3D glasses, rather different to her usual rimless spectacles.

– The broadcast is live on Facebook and YouTube as well as television and radio.

Can you answer the questions?

1. What’s the official name of the Queen’s Speech?

2. Who wrote and who delivered the first ever Christmas Speech.

3. How long was the first Christmas Speech?

4. Has there been a Christmas Speech every year ever since it was established?

5. How many words has the Queen said in her Christmas Speeches?

6. Why was 1952 special?

Key

1. Her Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech.

2. Rudyard Kipling and George V.

3. 251 words.

4. No, in 1969 there wasn’t one.

5. 42,000 words.

6. In 1952 the broadcast was shown on television for the first time.

The 10 most unexpected rules and restrictions are gathered here that the British royal family has to follow.

Nicknames are not allowed.

Despite the fact that the press still refers to the Duchess of Cambridge as Kate Middleton and Princess Diana became known as Princess Di, it is considered to be a big familiarity. Using nicknames and shortened versions of names is a violation of strict protocol.

The Queen gets all the presents.

Every present the royal family receives belongs to the reigning monarch. It’s strictly forbidden to sell them or give them to someone else. However, the Queen can keep the presents for herself or give them away. That’s why we can often spot some of Princess Diana’s jewelry on other members of the royal family.

Everyone follows the Queen.

According to royal etiquette, everyone should follow the Queen’s lead during official gatherings or family events. For example, when she stands, everyone has to do the same. You’re also supposed to stop eating when the Queen stops eating.

Prince Philip always walks a few steps behind the Queen.

The “Everyone follows the Queen” rule is even applied to Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip. He always has to stand or walk a few steps behind his wife.

6 ravens must always inhabit the Tower.

6 ravens must live at the Tower of London at all times. This tradition dates back to the reign of King Charles II, who believed in a legend that said, “If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall…”

You can’t turn your back on the Queen.

If you ever have a chance to talk to the Queen, make sure that after your conversation is over, she’s the first to walk away: you can’t turn your back on a monarch. It is considered to be a very rude violation of royal protocol.

The chin is always parallel to the ground.

It’s interesting to know that there’s a proper way for women of the royal family to position their chin: they should hold it parallel to the ground. You can’t take a picture of your “good side.”

Wear a hat in the morning and a tiara in the evening.

Headwear takes a special place in the royal dress code. Royal women have to wear a hat for official events during the day. After 6 PM, tiaras and family jewels should be worn. However, this rule applies only to married ladies. So the next time you’re at an evening reception at Buckingham Palace, remember that women without tiaras are searching for a soul mate.

Myrtle appears in every royal wedding bouquet.

According to an old wedding tradition, every bouquet must contain myrtle as a symbol of love and marriage. In fact, every royal bride since Queen Victoria has had this flower in her bouquet. It grows in the Queen’s own 170-year-old garden.

The Queen’s corgis do whatever they want.

It’s no secret that Queen Elizabeth II adores her corgis. They are the only members of the royal family that live a carefree life. The dogs eat gourmet meals created by a royal chef, and guests in the palace are specifically asked not to bother them in any way. The Queen even banned William and Kate’s Cocker Spaniel so it wouldn’t bother her favorites. The corgis are allowed to walk anywhere in the palace, and the staff knows how to clean the antique furniture and priceless carpets.

The Queen and the Armed Forces

The Queen is Head of the Armed Forces. She is also the wife, mother, and grandmother of individuals who are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The Queen is the only person to declare war and peace, and she holds various appointments and honorary ranks in the Armed Forces.

source: brightside.me

Do or don’t? Sort them out.

Key

The royal family ― sans Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ― showed up for Prince Louis Arthur Charles’ christening on Monday 9th July.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son was christened by the archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby. Welby recently officiated at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on May 19. He also performed Meghan’s secret baptism.

The christening took place at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London.

Prince William and the former Kate Middleton were joined at the christening by both of their families. Those in attendance included Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; Carole and Michael Middleton; Prince George and Princess Charlotte, James Middleton, Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a cream Alexander McQueen with a fascinator from Jane Taylor, according to People, while Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, chose an an olive Ralph Lauren dress with a hat by Stephen Jones.

Little baby Louis wore a handmade replica of the Royal Christening Robe, the palace said, which was made by the queen’s longtime dressmaker, Angela Kelly.

Prince Louis today was the eighth royal baby to be christened in the Honiton lace and white satin gown first used at the christening of James, Viscount Severn in 2008.

The frilly cream outfit is a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter that was used for all royal baptisms until Lady Louise Windsor’s in 2004.

Prince Louis’ six godparents were also there. The group ― Nicholas van Cutsem, Guy Pelly, Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lady Laura Meade, Mrs. Robert Carter and Lucy Middleton ― was announced prior to the ceremony, in a statement put out by Kensington Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip couldn’t make it the event. Buckingham Palace said their busy week of engagements, not health problems, was the reason, according to the Press Association.

Prince William and the former Kate Middleton later hosted a tea at Clarence House, where they served a christening cake made from a tier of their wedding cake, the palace said.

Prince Louis is fifth in line to the throne, after Charles, William, George and Charlotte.

Louis, Charlotte and George likely will be joined soon by a new cousin, as Pippa Middleton is expecting her first child with her hedge-fund husband James Matthews.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister recently confirmed her pregnancy in the fitness column she writes for the supermarket magazine Waitrose Weekend.

Kate Middleton arrived for the christening holding a sleeping Prince Louis in her arms as she was joined by William, George, Charlotte and fellow royals (but Queen and Prince Philip missed the occasion).

The Duchess of Cambridge cradled a sleeping Prince Louis in her arms as they arrived for his christening on Monday afternoon.

Radiant Kate, 36, beamed as she was greeted by the Archbishop of Canterbury outside Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, London.

By her side was her husband the Duke of Cambridge, 36, who arrived holding the hands of Prince George, four, and Princess Charlotte, three.

The Cambridges were followed into the chapel by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Uncle Harry reportedly bought little Louis the perfect gift for the occasion. According to The Sun, Harry purchased a first edition of A.A Milne’s classic book, Winnie-The-Pooh, for his nephew.

Harry reportedly spent roughly £8,000 on the book The sweet gift was inspired by Harry’s childhood memories, a source told The Sun. “One of Harry’s happiest childhood memories was being read a bedtime story by his mother,” an insider told the newspaper. “She loved all the old classics and Harry had the brilliant idea of starting a little library of first editions for Louis, Charlotte and George to enjoy as they get older.”

Originally, Harry reportedly wanted to buy Through The Looking Glass for Louis, which was on sale for £24,000, but he decided on A.A. Milne’s timeless story instead. 30,000 versions of 1926’s original Winnie-The-Pooh were published, and Harry reportedly bought Louis’s copy from Peter Harrington, a rare book store in London.

source: Huffington Post, Breaking News, Town and Country

Board games

Yes, there are some toys that members of the Royal Family are forbidden to play with. One in particular is a classic board game, and it’s not banned for reasons you may think. Prince Andrew was once presented with a board game that he was forced to decline because it’s against the rules. What game was it? That would be Monopoly, and it’s not banned for the reason you might think. It has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the combative nature of the game. Much like most families even the Royal Family can’t play Monopoly without delving into viscous arguments and betrayals, so the game was officially banned. We are sure there are many players out there who just landed on park place wishing that it was banned in their household as well.

Language

After binging on enough of Dora the Explorer many kids know basic Spanish phrases, but it’s a requirement for royal children. No, not Dora, but learning multiple languages. The Royal Family travels frequently, and it’s both important and impressive that they know how to converse with people in their native tongues. Prince Charles and Prince William even teamed up to film an anti–poaching message in which they spoke six languages between the two of them: Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Swahili, and of course, English. Little Prince George and Princess Charlotte will get there someday as the two tots have already begun learning how to speak Spanish. It’s the second most commonly spoken language of the world, so it seems like a good starting point for these two. Already, Prince George has learnt to count to ten in Spanish, and that’s just the beginning.

Dress code

You’ve probably noticed that you don’t see members of the Royal Family wearing ripped jeans and cropped tops. That’s because they actually have a very strict dress code in place. Think of all the photos you’ve seen of Prince George, and you might notice that he’s nearly always in shorts regardless of the weather. Pants on young boys are considered quite common, while shorts indicate his status as the member of the upper class. He probably won’t be allowed to wear pants until he is seven or eight years old. And if Princess Charlotte is dreaming of playing with nail polish when she’s a little older, she might be disappointed. Family members aren’t allowed to wear non-natural looking polishes, so no glitter or bright colours allowed. In fact Kate Middleton’s favourite shade is allure by Essie, while the Queen favours ballet slippers. We wonder what shade Meghan Markle will opt for.

Travel

This rule is one that has thankfully been relaxed a bit in recent years, so time will tell how it will evolve as the Royal children grow up. For a long time air travel was considered quite dangerous and it was forbidden for heirs to ride in the same aircraft even if they were travelling to the same place. This ensured that if there was an accident there would be survivors to carry on the lineage of the family. So the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George won’t be taking any family holidays aboard the same aircraft any time soon. However with air travel becoming increasingly safer the Queen has been known to relax this rule on rare occasions. Such as when William and Kate were permitted to take little George with them on their flight to Australia. When it comes to travelling the Queen has the final say.

Family holidays

Depending on how you feel about your own family, this one could be seen as a blessing, or as a curse. There is no arguing about which set of grandparents the kids are going to spend Christmas with, because it’s the Royal ones. Christmas at Buckingham Palace is a big deal, and participation is mandatory, even for the children. However, there have been a few times when this rule has been disobeyed, such as when Prince William and Duchess Kate took the kids to visit Kate’s family instead. And Meghan Markle got a pass to spend Christmas with the Royal family, even though she wasn’t technically a member yet. Maybe in a few years Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be subjected to arguing over which side of the family to spend holidays with, but at least they won’t have to play Monopoly with whichever side they end up with.

Eating

There are a lot of that the Royal Family has to follow when enjoying a meal from which hand to hold your fork in to how to fold your napkin, but those are in keeping with etiquette that most of us follow, or at least try to. But when you are dining with the Queen, you are not allowed to take another bite after she’s finished her meal. That means the kids have to hurry up and chow down or they miss their chance for their Christmas dinner. Queen Victoria ate notoriously quickly, making family dinners with her a rather hectic and hurried affair. However, since Queen Elizabeth II is in her 90s, we are guessing it isn’t hard to finish up a meal before she does.

Nicknames

Many of us recall having childhood nicknames, some were cute some made us cringe as we grew up, but they are practically a rite of passage. However, this is something Prince George and Princess Charlotte won’t get to experience. Nicknames are strictly forbidden in the Royal Family. Even calling Kate Middleton “Duchess Kate” isn’t good enough if you meet her in person. She should be addressed as “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus” or the slightly shorter “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge”. Even though he is still a little boy, Prince George’s official title is “His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge” which is quite a mouthful for a boy who just learned how to count to ten in Spanish. But it’s sort of a trade off since it means he won’t have to risk entering adulthood while saddled with an embarrassing nickname.

Windsor Wave

Just like mastering a secret handshake to get into an exclusive club even royal children are expected to learn certain gestures. One important hand movement is known as the “Windsor Wave”. This distinct style of waving accomplished by holding your hand vertically and twisting your wrist ever so slightly. It’s thought to convey regality and control, and certainly looks a lot better than frantically waving at people. Prince George showcased his skill publically for the first time when he was nearly two years old and his sister had just been born. As his father carried him into St. Mary’s hospital, the young prince delighted onlookers by displaying the signature Windsor wave. It was a sweet part of the special day in which Prince George was introduced to Princess Charlotte for the very first time.

Gifts

If you thought your in-laws gave your kids too many gifts, just imagine how Prince William and Princess Kate feel. But accepting gifts is another opportunity for the Royal kids to show off their proper manners. There is a protocol for everything, including graciously taking a gift from the giver. No matter how terrible the gift is, it’s required that you accept it with a smile and a sincere statement of thanks. If you think that’s just good manners, keep in mind that the Royal Family receives strange gifts that the average person will probably never encounter. These include rocks, slingshots, buckets of dates, and beanies made out of camel hair. And you thought it was tough mustering up a smile when you received socks for a Christmas present as a child!

Passport

Interestingly enough the Queen doesn’t need a passport when she travels. Since British passports are issued in her name, it would be sort of odd for her to issue one to herself, so she just foregoes the whole thing. But other members of the whole family do have to have them, even the children. Despite being as easily recognizable as the Queen, her family members have to pony up the fees to have official passports made up, and that includes the children. When it comes to Customs and Immigrations, the royal children do not get any special treatment, they are expected to follow the same rules and regulations as the rest of us. Even the Queen has to go through a quick identity check when she travels, just to make sure.

Security

Security is a subject that is taken very seriously with the Royal Family, and it starts early. As children get older and thus more mobile and adventurous, they generally get more security as they become harder to look after. Typically only your parents get excited about your first day at kindergarten, but if you are Prince George, you need a security force outside of your classroom. This is part of standard family protocol and is non-negotiable. This of course is in addition to the young Prince’s standard pair of bodyguards. They even take a different route to school each day, just to make it harder for someone to track them. A 40-year-old was once arrested for breaking into Prince George’s school, although thankfully the Prince wasn’t there at the time.

Posture

There are a ton of etiquette rules that the royal family has to follow, and the children are no exception. While other kids might get away with slouching, or tucking their hands into their pockets, it’s forbidden for Royal children. They are taught from the time they can sit up to do so with a straight spine, and when they stand their feet should be shoulder width apart.  Unsurprisingly, Royal girls have extra rules to follow. For example they are not allowed to cross their legs while sitting, and may only cross their ankles at the very most. Many sit with their legs together and leaning slightly to one side, which is known as the “Duchess Slant”. With your legs in the proper position you must make sure your back is straight and your chin is parallel to the floor.

Language

Maybe you experienced having your mouth washed out with soap after saying a bad word as a child, but a Royal child’s vocabulary is even more limited. In addition to the traditional forbidden words, there are certain words that people in the Royal Family are forbidden from uttering.  And if you’re fortunate enough to meet one of them, you should avoid them as well. Instead of asking where to find the bathroom, you should ask where the lavatory is. Apologetic words such as “Pardon” are also simply not used. Perfume may sound like an innocuous word, but Royal children are taught to refer to it as “scent” instead. Saying the word “posh”, or heaven forbid referring to yourself as such is definitely against the rules. It’s considered a low class thing to say, and the preferred term is “smart” among the upper class.

Birth

The birth of a Royal baby is a huge deal, and there are many rules that must be followed before they even come home from the hospital. A large team, all sworn to secrecy, is assembled. When Kate Middleton was pregnant her team consisted of two obstetricians, three midwives, three anesthesiologists, four surgeons, two special care staffers, four paediatricians, one lab tech and three or four managers. After the enormous team guides the newest member of the Royal Family into the world, a birth announcement is displayed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace. People line up outside to read it, and they may even be able to hear the traditional 62 gun salute from the Tower of London.

Religion

We think it’s safe to say that most parents hope their children will choose to follow the same religion as them, but it’s mandatory for kids in the Royal Family. At least it is if they ever want to rule someday. They are officially Anglican, and the head of the Church of England, a Protestant Anglican Church. Up until 2013 they weren’t even allowed to marry a Roman Catholic, although that rule has since been amended. Now you can marry outside of the faith as long as you yourself don’t venture outside of it.  Royal kids must be raised Anglican and practice the religion into adulthood. Part of ruling is being head of the Church so this Royal edict makes sense.

True or false? You decide.

1. Monopoly is banned in the Royal family because of the rules of the game.

2. Prince George speaks perfect Spanish.

3. Prince George usually wears shorts regardless of the weather.

4. It has never happened that William and Kate and Prince George travelled by plane together.

5. For the Royal children it’s mandatory to spend Christmas with the Royal family.

6. When the Queen finishes her meal everyone else has to finish eating, too.

7. Nicknames are common in the Royal family.

8. The Queen issues a passport for herself.

9. Royal girls are not allowed to cross their legs while sitting.

10. The members of the Royal family can choose their own religion.

Key

1. false

2. false

3. true

4. false

5. true

6. true

7. false

8. false

9. true

10. false

After four days, the little prince’s name has finally been revealed: Louis Arthur Charles.

Prince William and Kate Middleton had several treasured royal family names to choose from when it came to selecting a name for their new son. But Louis — although a traditional name — wasn’t the obvious choice, as it’s big brother Prince George’s middle name.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, says using the same name across the immediate family isn’t unusual. In fact, Queen Victoria incorporated the name Albert (the name of her beloved husband, Prince Albert) in all of her sons’ names. Victoria’s grandson, George V, even incorporated it into his three sons’ names.

“While she was alive, Queen Victoria wanted all her male descendants to have Albert included in their boys’ names,” Little tells PEOPLE. “Using Louis twice would have been the couple’s choice — they clearly regard it as a nice name.”

Louis is likely a tribute to Prince Philip, whose grandfather was Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg. The name holds great meaning to William’s own father, Prince Charles, whose beloved great-uncle and mentor, Earl Louis Mountbatten, was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

Little adds, “Louis is obviously a favorite name and an indirect nod to the Duke of Edinburgh and his side of the family. I did think that Philip might have appeared in there somewhere.”

Royal historian Robert Lacey adds: “It shows the romance of this name associated with the hero and family mentor whom William never met — his father’s ‘honorary grandfather.’

“And maybe Kate enjoyed the French flavor of Louis in these Brexit days. It’s very Champs Elysées! Louis exudes the aroma of strong coffee and the fizz of champagne.”

The names Michael and James (for Kate’s father and brother, respectively) were also highly speculated, but in the end, Will and Kate didn’t choose a name from the Middleton family.

“It is intriguing that there isn’t a Middleton name. You can understand a ‘royal’ name being used for the first son, but there was no pressure for the second son to have a purely royal name,” Little says. “If Kate had felt it was what she wanted she would have gotten it, but clearly she didn’t think Michael or James worked.”

Will and Kate also resisted leading with the trendy name of Arthur, which has been a popular name in Chelsea and neighboring areas of London recently. But they did include it as a middle name.

In addition to its recent popularity, Arthur is also a royal family tradition. Both dad William and grandfather Charles have it as a middle name. Arthur was also the name of Queen Victoria’s third son (and seventh child) and was said to be her favorite child.

Now that they are back home in Kensington Palace with their new baby boy, Prince William and Kate Middleton have begun life as a family of five.

“It completes them,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. A friend of the couple notes that Kate, 36, “is one of three siblings, and it’s a good family size. Boy-girl-boy is pretty cool as well.”

Parenthood, the friend adds, “suits them really well. They are enjoying it and are very happy.”

source: people.com

Can you match the first names with the Royal family members?

Key

1. c.

2. a.

3. e.

4. b.

5. d.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour.

The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.

A notice has been placed on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace following the announcement.

It is tradition that a framed notice of birth goes on display on a ceremonial easel on the forecourt at the Palace.

Notices have been posted on the occasion of a Royal birth for at least as long as Buckingham Palace has been the Sovereign’s official residence (from 1837).

The notice will be on display for approximately 24 hours. When it is taken down, it is sent to the Privy Council Office so that the details of may be recorded in the Privy Council records.

Flags have been raised at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

The Duke of Cambridge briefly left the hospital before returning with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Gifts following the birth

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are extremely grateful for the support and goodwill being expressed at this happy time.  However, Their Royal Highnesses do not wish to encourage the sending of gifts to them on this occasion, and feel that any generosity of spirit felt by individuals should be directed to those more in need.

source: royal.uk