The British Royals are one of the most famous families in the world. But beneath the pomp and ceremony, they are a family like any other – and one thing we can all know from our own lives is that every family has its quirks. So, from little-known privileges to bizarre ‘rules’, here are a few fun facts that make the Royal Family so unique.
The King Doesn’t Need a Driving Licence
That’s right. The king is permitted to drive on UK roads without a driving licence. As monarch, he doesn’t even need to pass a driving test or have a registration plate on his car. This is because driving licences are issued in the name of the monarch, which means they don’t need to issue one to themselves. The same goes for passports, meaning King Charles III can leave the country without the same documentation as everyone else. These privileges aren’t extended to the rest of the Royals and only passed to the King upon the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Despite his lack of a licence, the King is said to have a fleet of luxury vehicles including vintage Rolls Royces and Jaguars.Queen Victoria was the First Monarch to Live at Buckingham Palace
The balcony at Buckingham Palace is synonymous with state occasions. But it was only in 1837, centuries into the existence of a British Royal Family, that Queen Victoria made it the main royal residency. Built originally as a much smaller building called Buckingham House, the site that would become the Palace was built for the Duke of Buckingham, who remained the owner until King George III bought it as a private residence for his wife, Queen Charlotte, in 1762. Today, parts of Buckingham Palace are open to the public throughout summer, with hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoying a glimpse of the magnificent State Rooms. If you’re feeling peckish post-sightseeing, check out our list of the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace with the Victoria Memorial in front (© coward_lion/iStock)
Queen Elizabeth II Had Her Shoes Broken in For Her
Imagine being so busy you don’t even have time to break in your own shoes. Queen Elizabeth II was famously a workaholic, so she needed to enlist someone to do the task for her. The idea was that she couldn’t afford her shoes to be uncomfortable or give her blisters when on official business, so she had someone else walk in them first to ensure they were just right when it came to her public appearances. That job went to Angela Kelly, Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to the Queen from 1993 until her death in 2022.By Royal Command, They Don’t Eat Shellfish or Garlic
Official Royal business frequently involves a combination of lavish dinners, public appearances and private meetings. As such, certain things are regularly off the menu for the Royals. For one, they’re advised to avoid eating shellfish for fear of food poisoning derailing their official trips. Garlic, too, is a ‘no-no’ for the family when on official duty; this ‘rule’ was brought in out of consideration for others, including the many dignitaries the King and co. are seen shaking hands and chatting with. Still, when not on duty, the late Queen Mother was said to have been a big fan of the opulent seafood dish eggs Drumkilbo from The Dining Room at The Goring.
The Royals are missing out on the many fruits of the sea (© tirc83/iStock)
Elizabeth I Had a Sweet Tooth
Elizabeth I reigned from 1558-1603 and oversaw a time of exploration and the discovery of new worlds. During this time, spices became popular and the now-ubiquitous potato was first brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh. It is also said that Elizabethan food was often extravagant, colourful and full of sugar. The Queen herself was a victim of her unfettered access to sugary delights, which naturally took its toll on her teeth. With anaesthesia also unavailable at the time, she had no intention of letting a dentist loose on them. Eventually, her teeth are said to have turned black. It’s a shame she was never able to experience the array of puddings and desserts available to diners today – including British classics like apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding.Love all things Michelin?
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The King Owns the British Seabed
It’s unlikely the king will ever need to do anything with it, but The Crown Estate owns the British seabed out to 12 nautical miles from the shore. This might seem like an odd thing to own, but the ruling does have a purpose. 12 nautical miles is the territorial limit, beyond which are the high seas. As The Crown owns the seabed, anybody who wants to operate a marine farm off the coast of the UK must obtain a seabed lease. So, next time you tuck into some delicious British seafood, you’ll know it has the royal seal of approval. And if you’re not sure where to go for the best fish and shellfish in London, we’ve got you covered.
The King owns the British seabed out to 12 nautical miles from shore (© Philip Thurston/iStock)
The Royals Always Travel with Black Clothing
Typically, you won’t see a member of the Royal Family wearing black unless it’s Remembrance Day or a period of mourning. Nonetheless, all the family take a black outfit with them whenever they travel. This came about because Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth II) was on a state visit to Kenya when she learned of her father's passing in 1952. After arriving back in the UK, she had to stay on the plane until a suitable mourning outfit could be brought to her. From then on, the late Queen made a point of insisting all Royals travel with black clothing to avoid a similar situation.The Family Has a Rich Sporting History
Queen Elizabeth II was a huge fan of horse racing, and it’s very much something that runs in the family. The current King and Queen have now taken on her impressive stable of horses and this is not King Charles’ first foray into equine sport. He has ridden in amateur steeplechases before and played Polo into his late 50s; in 1986, he was part of a polo team that won the coveted Queen’s Cup. More impressively, Princess Anne competed in the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and her daughter Zara Tindall even won a silver medal as part of the UK’s Eventing team at the London 2012 Olympics.
Polo, a favourite sport of the Royal Family (© EL Studio/iStock)
They Buy Dreadful Christmas Gifts
We all struggle to find the perfect gifts for loved ones at Christmas. But for the royal family, it must be even tougher. After all, luxuries are something they’re more accustomed to than most of us – what do you buy for the family who quite literally has everything? You might be surprised to hear that for the current crop of Royals, the answer is to go tacky and bring a sense of humour to proceedings. Traditionally, the family gather on Christmas Eve – as befits their German heritage – to exchange gifts. Some of the most notable presents given over the years include a leather toilet seat given to (then) Prince Charles by Princess Anne and a ‘grow your own girlfriend’ kit given to Prince Harry by Catherine, Princess of Wales, when he was still single.NEW City Guides:
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