The INSIDER Summary:
- The royal family must follow a set of etiquette rules in order to uphold their proper reputation.
- There are small but important rules regarding the way you sit, curtsy, and hold a tea cup.
- Perhaps most importantly, Queen Elizabeth II is always first when part of a procession.
From the way you eat to the way you walk down a flight of stairs, here's what it takes to have the manners of a royal.
Sit like a royal
One of the worst things a woman in the royal family can do — as far as etiquette rules go — is sit with her legs crossed at the knee. Legs and knees must be kept together, although crossing at the ankle is fine. One popular pose is called “the duchess slant,” coined by Beaumont Etiquette and named for the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Her go-to sitting position involves keeping her knees and ankles tightly together and slanting her legs to the side. It keeps her posture modest and makes her legs appear longer. In fact, the late Princess Diana was known to sit the exact same way.
Make your curtsy subtle
Royal curtsies don’t need to reach the floor; simply put one leg behind the other, bend your knees, and bow your head slightly. However, deeper curtsies and long pauses are a sign of respect and formality, for instance, when meeting Queen Elizabeth II.
Dress appropriately
The royals have a knack for being fashionable. Princess Diana’s fashion sense was functional but classy, one that many women still copy today. The Queen famously wears neon outfits on more occasions than not. Kate Middleton loves different patterns and textures. Yet they all have one thing in common: They dress modestly and for the occasion.
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