Kate Middleton always appears in public dressed to the nines, with impeccable hair and makeup, and a radiant smile on her well-groomed face. Little girls (and not only little girls) all over the world try to emulate her and dream of becoming a princess. Of course, from the outside, life in the royal palace can evoke admiration and envy. However, few realize the responsibilities and restrictions this status imposes. Kate, perhaps, is not to be envied.
The mysterious aura surrounding pregnancy
No one in the pregnant princess’s entourage—let alone outsiders—can know the sex of the future heir in advance. Whether the baby will be a boy or a girl is strictly forbidden to be mentioned until the very birth. Even if the expectant mother’s relatives are aware of the baby’s sex, they are obliged to keep it a secret until the very end.
And the fact of pregnancy itself cannot be mentioned until at least 12 weeks have passed. However, in Kate’s case, this rule had to be broken. The fact is that all three of Kate’s pregnancies were accompanied by severe morning sickness. Due to her poor health, the princess was unable to attend events. The secret had to be revealed to justify her absence.
Autograph ban
In any city or country Prince William and Kate Middleton visit, they are immediately surrounded by a crowd of fans. But, unlike other celebrities, members of the royal family are not allowed to sign autographs, no matter how much they are asked.
The fact is that the princess’s personal signature can only appear on official documents. This ban is imposed for security reasons—to prevent anyone from forging Kate’s signature later.
You can’t make money with your profession
Kate Middleton is a professional photographer. She posts stunning photos on the British royal family’s account, but she does so for free. The princess is not allowed to sell her photos. Members of the royal family are not allowed to earn their own income—this is stipulated in protocol.
You can’t eat seafood
It’s unknown who and when decided to protect the royal family from the risk of poisoning from shellfish, oysters, and other seafood. Perhaps there was an unpleasant incident related to this. One thing is certain: today, neither Kate nor anyone else in the family is allowed to eat seafood, lest they endanger their lives.
Down with bright nails!
If Kate ever loved bold nail polish, she’s had to put that aside since becoming Prince William’s wife. At the behest of Queen Elizabeth II, royal women are now restricted to wearing only subdued nail polish colors.
Elizabeth herself has worn “Ballet Slipper” nail polish her entire life—a pale pink, almost sheer color. Kate Middleton doesn’t object or try to challenge this tradition: she looks great in the light pink and nude shades she usually chooses.
Ban on fur items
As is well known, the climate in the UK is not exactly warm: winters are quite cold. Despite this, royals are not allowed to appear in public wearing fur clothing or footwear. They must demonstrate respect for wild animals by wearing something else.
Kate Middleton was once photographed wearing a fur hat. It was Christmas, and the weather was bitterly cold. The hat, however, could have been made of faux fur—that’s allowed.
But another incident sparked public outrage: when Kate was spotted wearing possum fur mittens. Everyone in England knows that this animal is caught in traps to make beautiful and warm garments from its fur. The mittens on the princess caused quite a scandal – they were perceived as a provocation.
Restraint in public
While ordinary people might embrace and even kiss while walking down the street, such behavior is unacceptable for a prince and princess. They must exercise restraint. The most they can do is hold hands.
However, after the Princess of Wales’s long battle with cancer in 2024, which ultimately led to remission, she and Prince William relaxed this rule so strictly. Apparently, the couple realized that nothing is more important than love, family, and genuine feelings. Now they can even hug in public if they feel like it.
You can’t vote
Interestingly, there’s no official ban on monarchs voting in elections. This is a matter of tradition—it’s been this way since the reign of Elizabeth II: she believed that members of the royal family should remain impartial in political matters and not favor any candidate.
Perhaps after some time this unspoken rule will change, because now Charles III has become king, and he may have his own view on this issue.
No miniskirts or daring necklines
As a young woman, Kate Middleton sometimes indulged in short dresses, and she also loved form-fitting clothing—her perfect figure allowed for both. Incidentally, the prince fell in love with her after seeing her walk down the university runway in a sheer dress that revealed her underwear.
But after becoming the prince’s wife, Kate lost that privilege. Now, the princess’s destiny is exclusively modest and reserved looks. These are the rules of the game—and she accepts them.
