Five strict rules every royal bride HAS to follow
Royal weddings are widely publicised and look absolutely stunning. But there are some behind-the-scenes rules that dictate how each and every royal wedding goes, including these five.
1. Permission is needed from Her Royal Highness
Unlike most of us, royal couples must get the tick of approval before they can get engaged, thanks to the Royal Marriages Act 1772.
The Queen is also well within her right to say no to couples, with one example being the time she prevented her sister Margaret from marrying war hero Peter Townsend.
Luckily, Queen Elizabeth has approved almost all of the royal weddings in the last few decades.
2. Royal brides-to-be undergo training
For those brides-to-be who aren’t born royal, there are some things they need to learn before they can join the royal family.
‘Commoners’ are taught royal customs and protocols before their big day, including how to curtsey, how to carry themselves, and even which hand to carry bags in.
They also learn how to work with security personnel to ensure that they’re safe.
3. Wedding outfits are somewhat restricted
Though choosing a wedding dress is one of the fun parts of the preparations, royal brides must choose a dress that follows royal standards of fashion, has the Queen’s approval, and can’t be too revealing. Brides are also only allowed to wear British designers on their special day.
The wedding day also comes as the first time royal brides can wear a tiara - a right limited to married royals.
But, the tiara isn’t designed to match their dress or accessories, and is instead chosen from the Queen’s own collection.
Royals are also restricted in their choice of wedding rings, as all royal wedding bands (for the bride and groom) must be made from Welsh gold gifted to them by the reigning monarch.
4. Brides must follow bouquet traditions
Flowers are another important part of the wedding tradition, and royal weddings have some particular rules they need to follow.
For their own bouquets, brides can choose whatever flowers they like, but sprigs of myrtle should be featured. The tradition of including myrtle in bouquets dates back to 1858 and the wedding of one of Queen Victoria’s daughters, and it has been included in almost every bouquet since.
After the wedding, royal brides must also follow another tradition regarding their bouquets. While many ‘commoner’ brides choose to dry or press their flowers as mementos, royals must lay their bouquets at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
The tradition, done out of respect for those who lost their lives in war, was started in 1923 by Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen’s mother. She placed her flowers at the tomb in memory of her brother, who died at the 1915 Battle of Loos.
5. Official portraits are a MUST
Taking photographs during weddings is a must for almost every bride, and the royals are no exception.
Every newlywed royal couple is required to pose for official portraits after their ceremonies, and usually take individual portraits and photos with different members of the royal family and bridal party.
Though it can be a lengthy process, the photos become a treasured memento for each wedding.
Image: Getty Images