While the British royal family has much of their lives and thoughts out there for the public to see, there are still many mysteries and questions left unanswered. Some little known tidbits about this family would really surprise you to find out too. Here are some interesting, odd, surprising, and quirky lesser known facts about the British royal family.
Little Known Facts About The Royal Family
Secret Movie?
The royal family filmed and aired a documentary about their lives that was seen in June of 1969, but has never been shown to the public eye again. Royal advisors and Queen Elizabeth decided not to air this film again due to the risk of showing the royal family’s inner lives.
The Queen’s Travel Habits
When the Queen travels, she not only brings along approximately 34 different people but also some interesting items and staff. She has a royal Navy doctor with her on travels, bodyguards, press officers, her kettle for tea, and much more. Even sometimes emergency bags of her blood!
No Two Heirs Travel Together
Just in case, the British royal family and other royals would never allow two heirs to the throne to travel together. This way if a fatality occurred from some accident, the lineage would still be protected and safe.
Royal Births Were Female Attended
Before recent times, it was customary to only have females attend a royal birth or be in the delivery room. This means that fathers wouldn’t actually be present for the delivery of their children.
The Queen’s Birthday Is Celebrated Late
When thousands gather to celebrate the official sovereign’s birthday in June, they are celebrating for the Queen. However, her real birthday is in April. This means the Queen technically gets two birthdays to celebrate and has for years.
Dressing Rules
There are quite the fair share of odd or uncommon dress rules and traditions within the royal family. This includes dressing well or properly for dinners, weighted skirts for the Queen to avoid the wind blowing them up, and more specific requirements.
Kate Honors Diana
Kate Middleton has been known to follow in Diana’s footsteps as well as pay tribute to her in many everyday actions. Kate has been seen to wear similar or almost identical outfits that Diana wore, as well as sitting the same way (instead of crossed legs, closed knees and crossed ankles).
No Bright Nails
Another common custom in the royal family is to never have bright or unseemly colors for their nails or manicures. Even when their outfits may be bright, their nails are always soft and more natural looking colors.
Early Christmas
According to tradition, the royal family actually opens their gifts before Christmas. Typically this is at teatime on Christmas Eve rather than the next day when most people open their holiday gifts.
Careful Dinners
During royal dinners, the Queen is the one in charge. Queen Elizabeth likes to choose her dinners from her menu book, and during a royal supper you are supposed to stop eating the minute the monarch stops eating. Better learn to keep up!
Multiple Incomes
Most people assume that the British royals earn income from their taxpayers, but they actually generate their own income from commercial properties as well as from the money tourists and locals spend to visit royal homes or properties.
Just like everyone else, this family certainly has many interesting stories and habits. The amount of new and less common things you could learn about the royal family or its members could never end. However, these were some of the most intriguing little known facts you can learn for a start.