When it comes to being a member of the Royal Family, there are countless rules and customs that you have to meet. While those who have been born into the family have a head start, the people who marry in are also required to conduct themselves in a certain way.
Whether it is how to bend down in public or how to step out of a carriage, there are many rules to follow – and it would appear that when it came to the Princess of Wales’ introduction into the Firm almost 14 years ago, her instruction came directly from the late Queen herself.
Ahead of the Prince and Princess of Wales wedding in April 2011, Kate was said to have been given lessons from her future grandmother-in-law about her role and how she was expected to act.
You may not realise how many important rules the female members of The Royal Family have to follow so as to protect their dignity when they are out and about in public.
While there are also restrictions placed on other areas of royal life – such as not posing for selfies or signing autographs – it is issues around clothing and conduct that require specific lessons.
According to the documentary Kate Middleton: Working Class to Windsor, she had private lessons that focused on ‘how to be a royal wife’. During these sessions, The Queen also helped her decide what her official royal title would be.
Journalist Ashley Pearson said in the documentary: “From the beginning, Kate Middleton had a great deal of support from the Royal Family which was really instructed by the Queen.
“This was to make sure she knew as much as she could possibly know and what to do in every situation – bearing in mind, of course, that she didn’t grow up in this world.”
As for what Kate’s so-called ‘princess lessons’ involved, Ashley gave details on how the most important element of the teaching was about ‘preserving her modesty.’
She continued: “There were things like learning how to get out of a carriage without exposing your modesty and learning how to bend down to get flowers from a young girl without exposing your modesty.
“Things that you would never think you’d have to learn but, of course, a woman in her position would certainly need to know.
“There were all kinds of small details and little bits of etiquette – how to sit, who to curtsy to, who not to curtsy to, what fork to use and whatever else they felt she needed to know. She was actually given lessons on how to be a royal wife.”
The Princess isn’t the only royal who had to have lessons on her future role. During his school days at Eton College, young Prince William would walk up the hill and come for tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle and would be prepped for his future as king.
Royal expert Robert Lacey explained: “There has always been a special closeness between William and the Queen, and she has taken a particular interest in him. When William became a teenager, she would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through the papers. It was William’s constitutional education.”
The late Queen on the other hand had different schooling. It is said that she had an “aptitude for learning”, but has never taken an academic exam in her life. She was instead educated in weekly lessons in the rules of constitutional monarchy by the vice provost of Eton College, Henry Marten.
