11 January 2024 , 13:36
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As a member of the royal family, Kate Middleton has a life of privilege that most of us can only dream of. But there are also a set of strict rules in place that the Princess must follow - and some of them are a little surprising.
The list is fairly extensive - from bowing and curtseying correctly, to how to exit a car. But there are also strict guidelines in place for when the royals meet members of the public, and that includes no autographs.
The family are not allowed to write their signatures down for fans because of the risk of it being forged. Schoolchildren discovered this fact when Kate attended the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023.
"I can't write my name, but I can draw," she told a group of youngsters, instead offering drawings of a flower, a tree, and plants to children who asked. She told another child, "My name's Catherine. I'm not allowed to write my signature, it's just one of those rules."
Similarly, while visiting Cardiff in 2018, Meghan Markle reportedly wrote something in the autograph book of a young girl named Caitlin Clark, but she didn't sign her name. Instead, she wrote: "Hi Kaitlin" with a heart and a smiley face.
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King Charles has also been known to turn down such requests, politely telling fans, "Sorry, they don't allow me to do that." He did, however, slightly break protocol in 2010 when he signed an autograph for a victim of devastating floods, writing 'Charles 2010' on a piece of paper.
Given their popularity and public interest, members of the royal family are also given instruction on how to properly conduct themselves - and that includes sitting properly.
Women should ideally not sit with their legs crossed at the knee. Instead, legs and knees must be kept together, with crossing at the ankle. Kate typically keeps her knees and ankles tightly together and slants her legs to one side. Princess Diana was known for sitting in the exact same way when out on engagements, and Meghan also adopted the pose when she joined the royal family.
It's thought the royals are also instructed on how to hold a tea cup correctly. Etiquette dictates that you hold the top of your cup handle with your thumb and index finger and only sip from the same spot, to avoid multiple lipstick stains. And keep your pinky finger in!