This article was originally published on WHerMoments
Oh, to be a kid again. For most of us, it was a time filled with playground shenanigans, wild games of "house," and giving Barbie Dolls terrible haircuts. But imagine if you had been a royal kid. Archie, Charlotte, George, Louis, and Lilibet may look like they have it all, but their lives are far from what we consider "normal." Just as the adult royals have to follow annoying, centuries-old rules, their kids are also plagued with strict guidelines — some weirder than others.
1. Nicknames are a no-go
Family members always have bizarre nicknames for one another, and the royal family is probably no different. The late Queen's nickname was alleged to be "Cabbage."
Sadly, no one is allowed to utter the words "Prince Georgie" or "Princess Charlie" out in the open.
2. Lots of godparents are required
Royals have everyone beat when it comes to godparents, as blue-blooded offspring are always assigned plenty. Prince George alone has seven godparents: Zara Tindall, Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Earl Grosvenor, William van Cutsem, and Julia Samuel.
Close behind him is Prince Louis, with six godparents, and Princess Charlotte, who has five.
3. Smile and wave
Ever heard of the "Windsor wave?" It's the royal family's go-to move when greeting the public, and all the royal children have to learn the suave, photogenic wave.
They look pretty darn cute waving their little hands at all of the adoring peasants — er, fans.
4. Have several names
One middle name isn’t nearly enough for a royal. Just ask Prince William Arthur Philip Louis or King Charles Philip Arthur George.
And yes, the British royal family reuse names a lot. For example, Princess Charlotte’s full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – “Elizabeth” is in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, while “Diana” is in tribute to Princess Diana.
5. Shorts for the lads
Boys are required to wear shorts in public. While you'd think a pair of snazzy trousers would be more formal, it stems from the fact that pants on young boys used to be viewed as...
middle class. Heaven forbid!
6. Dresses for the girlies
It's dresses all the time for the little royal ladies.
"They tend to wear smocked dresses as little girls when they are in public with their parents," royal expert Marlene Koenig explained to Harper's Bazaar in 2018.
7. No tiaras for the little ones
When you imagine a princess, you likely picture her in a fluffy cupcake gown with a sparkly tiara on her head. In real life, those sparkly headpieces are reserved for married royal women.
Sorry, Princess Charlotte!
8. They weren't allowed to call her grandma
Believe it or not, royal children weren't permitted to call Queen Elizabeth II grandma! But it's not like they called her Your Royal Highness, either.
She was actually known as "Granny" or "Gan-Gan." And according to the Daily Mail, Prince William addressed her as "Gary!"
9. Behind the wheel
Queen Elizabeth II was famously the only person in the U.K. permitted to drive an automobile without a license.
As for the royal kids, they're required to earn a driver's license once they're of age. Hmm, can we really trust mischievous Prince George on the roads?
10. The royal hierarchy applies at dinner time
The royal family walks into a room or takes part in a procession in the same sequence that they are in line to the throne, according to Delish. So, as head of state, the King enters first.
Then, they are followed by the Prince of Wales, first in line to the throne, and his wife, Princess Kate. Then, their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis will follow.
11. The Queen could protect the kids
Privacy’s hard to come by in the royal family, but there’s always a support system of family members who can help shield the children. Though the Queen had no legal custody of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she could still protect them from media intrusion.
And she did this for William and Harry after Diana died.
12. The Queen had to be the first person to hear baby news
As the head of state and of the family, the Queen was always the first individual — aside from the parents, of course — to hear about both a pregnancy and a birth. Apparently, Prince William used a secure phone to speak to his grandmother as soon as Prince George was born.
This honor will now be taken over by King Charles.
13. Royal babies have special shawls
When a royal baby leaves the hospital, they’re wrapped in a luxury hand-knitted shawl from the company G.H. Hurt & Son.
The firm has provided the royal family with baby blankets for over 60 years. And chances are pretty high that future royal babies will also be using these garments – they are very nice shawls, after all.
14. A royal baptism
Queen Elizabeth II insisted all members of her family get baptized. Even Meghan Markle was required to be christened before she wed Prince Harry in 2018.
The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the ceremonies and uses holy water from the Jordan River. It's likely this tradition will be carried on under King Charles' reign.
15. The baby’s first official unveiling is at their christening
Although a new royal baby may appear with their parents outside the hospital, that’s not their first official appearance. That would be the christening.
The royals usually release official photographs afterward, so everyone can get a good look at the new arrival.
16. The Honiton christening gown
When they're baptized as wee babies, royal kids must don a gown first worn by Queen Victoria's first child back in the 1800s.
But because that ancient gown is now fragile, royal babies wear a replica.
17. The reigning monarch has to give permission for a child to travel
Two heirs to the throne aren’t supposed to share the same airplane — just in case something terrible happens.
So, when William wanted to take nine-month-old George on tour to Australia, he had to ask the Queen for permission — and, fortunately, she granted it.
18. Etiquette training is a must
Etiquette expert Myka Meier says the royal children all take etiquette classes "as soon as they're old enough to sit at a table."
Teaching 5-year-olds how to curtsy and use "inside voices" sounds like a headache and a half!
19. Bon voyage!
Normal parents don't typically take their newborns on impromptu trips around the globe — but life is different when you're a royal.
Royal babies must be prepared to travel at any given moment, which is why they're issued a passport nearly the second they leave the womb!
20. Eating shellfish is a non-negotiable no-no
The royal kids are forbidden to eat any kind of shellfish, as it commonly causes food poisoning. But considering children don't typically gravitate to food that's locked in a hard shell and smells like the ocean...
we're sure they don't mind.
21. Royal babies are usually breastfed
It’s not something they would do in public, but royal mothers do tend to breastfeed their children. Queen Elizabeth II and Diana reportedly did so, while Kate was rumored to breastfeed her kids.
Meghan opened up about her breastfeeding experience to Oprah as well.
22. Mandatory royal engagements
We're sure you remember being dragged to boring family events as a child. Well, the royal kids are required to do the same.
They're taught to act appropriately at weddings, christenings, and public events, such as the Queen's birthday ceremony.
23. Bilingual babies
The royal kiddies often grow up learning a second language. The late Queen spoke French, as does King Charles and Prince William.
Princess Kate also began teaching little Prince George and Princess Charlotte how to speak Spanish.
24. Hear ye, hear ye
The strict protocol for these British Royal juveniles begins at birth. It's a tradition that their arrival is immediately announced to the public.
A notice with the baby's delivery time is posted outside of the Buckingham Palace gates.
25. No political opinions here
Even the royal children must remain impartial regarding politics and cultural affairs. When Prince George donned an England Lioness jersey in 2019, the media went wild, saying that it showed he favored one U.K.
soccer team over another.
26. Bridal party duties
The royal children are expected to act as the page boy and flower girl at royal weddings, and those cuties always steal the show.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte entranced nearly everyone at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2018 wedding.
27. They must follow security measures
Security guidelines are tight.
Safety is an everyday priority, and each royal child has security with them at all times, even while attending Thomas's London Day School.
28. Always accept a gift
The public loves gifting the royal children with flowers and toys, but royal protocol declares that the reigning monarch decides what they can keep after accepting.
29. Serve your country
As per centuries-old tradition, the highest-ranked royal boys are expected to serve in the military one day.
King Charles served in the Navy, Prince William served in the Air Force (eventually becoming a civilian air ambulance pilot), and Prince Harry joined the Army (eventually becoming a helicopter pilot).
30. The baby’s sex isn’t disclosed until after the birth
There are no gender reveal parties for royals, as no member of the public must know the sex of the baby until the birth itself. Sometimes even the parents are in the dark.
Before Prince George was born in July 2013, it was reported that Prince William and Kate Middleton had chosen not to learn whether their new arrival would be a boy or a girl.
31. The birth announcement is exhibited on an easel
That’s not just any easel, though.
It’s a custom that dates back to the 19th century, but there’s also a nod to modern times these days: after the easel announcement, royal spokespeople will also release a statement on Twitter.
32. An unofficial town crier also announces the news
An archaic tradition? Sure, but a fun one.
Ever since the days of yore when many people were illiterate, a town crier has been on hand to announce any new royal births. And there’s an unofficial town crier, Tony Appleton, doing just that whenever the need arises. Appleton proclaimed the births of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis... even though he is not employed by the Palace.
33. No surname is needed for a royal baby
Royals are obliged to register the birth of a new child, even if practically the whole world already knows of the little one’s existence. Interestingly, though, no surname needs to be included on those forms.
Still, the British royal family members can choose a surname of their own. Prince George reportedly uses “George Cambridge” around his classmates, for example, while William has been known to go by “William Wales.”
34. A large maternity team is needed
Many people must be on hand to ensure a royal birth goes well.
Three midwives, three anesthesiologists, four pediatricians, and two obstetricians were just some of the people involved with Kate's pregnancies.
35. Royal pregnancies are kept under wraps
Celebrities often announce pregnancies relatively quickly, but that’s not typically the case with the British royal family. For them, things are supposed to remain an absolute secret until at least three months have passed.
Even the midwives aren’t allowed to reveal a single detail. An exception was made for Kate, though, as when pregnant with George, she had to go to the hospital to be treated for extreme nausea.
36. Bodyguards are required for royal children
It’s terrible to think your child may need a bodyguard, but that’s a sad fact for the royal family. For instance, William and Harry had bodyguards, and now so does the new generation.
George has at least two who accompany him to school. Better safe than sorry.
37. Guns mark the birth of a royal baby
Whenever a new royal baby is born, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery lets off a gun salute to celebrate the birth. Union Jack flags are also flown from all governmental buildings.
So, you can be pretty sure that anyone near the salute will know that a royal baby has just arrived.
38. Post-birth outfits are carefully considered
Imagine having your fashion sense critiqued right after having a baby. Well, that’s what the royals have to go through.
Just ask Kate — every one of her post-baby hospital appearances was planned for maximum effect. After giving birth to George, her polka-dot outfit seemed to be a tribute to one of Diana’s most famous dresses.
39. Landmarks light up for a new royal baby
London landmarks love a royal birth! When Prince George was born, popular tourist destinations such as the London Eye and Tower Bridge lit up in blue.
Even locations overseas followed suit, as the waters of Niagara Falls and the Peace Tower in Ottawa were turned a similar hue for the occasion.
40. No baby showers
“A lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate,” royal-watcher Victoria Arbiter told The Sun in October 2018.
“There’s nothing they can’t go out and buy themselves.”