Coronation 2023: From Not Posing For Selfies To Accepting All Gifts- Know All The Royal Rules King Charles Has To Follow
King Charles' coronation comes with a list of laws that he must observe as Britain's monarch. While much has changed in the 70 years since Queen Elizabeth was crowned, some royal procedure has not.
New Delhi: On Saturday, May 6, King Charles will be crowned at Westminster Abbey, along with his wife- Queen Consort Camilla, in a ceremony filled with pomp, splendour, and solemn religious importance. Charles succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth when she died in September, and at 74, he will be the oldest British monarch to wear the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown. The coronation will be attended by approximately 2,000 guests which contrasts sharply with the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II, which was attended by 8,000 people from 129 countries and territories.
Notably, King Charles' coronation comes with a list of laws that he must observe as Britain's monarch. While much has changed in the 70 years since Queen Elizabeth was crowned, some royal procedure has not.
1. He Must Pack A Black Outfit Whenever He Travels:
According to protocol, King Charles will be expected to pack a black outfit while travelling in order to have something proper to wear if he is required to attend a funeral.
2. He Can't Sign Autographs Or Pose For Selfies:
To reduce the chance of their signature being forged, members of the British royal family are prohibited from signing autographs. The then-Prince of Wales did, however, violate royal convention when he wrote an autograph for a victim of the terrible flash floods in Cornwall in 2010, scrawling on a scrap of paper, "Charles 2010."
3. He Must Accept All Gifts:
Regardless of what he gets, the king is expected to accept all gifts graciously. The Royal Family's official states, ''The fundamental principle governing the acceptance of gifts by Members of The Royal Family is that no gifts, including hospitality or services, should be accepted which would, or might appear to, place the Member of The Royal Family under any obligation to the donor.''
4. He Has To Maintain Political Neutrality:
It is a well-known requirement that the royal family must maintain political neutrality. They are, however, permitted to raise awareness about some humanitarian issues, such as mental health and climate change.
5. He Can't Accept Food Or Drink From Strangers:
King Charles is forbidden from accepting food or drink from strangers for fear of becoming ill or poisoned. The same is true for shellfish, which royals are advised to avoid so that food poisoning does not disrupt their hectic schedules.
6. The King Must Follow Dining Etiquette:
The Queen was known to exclusively speak to the person to her right for the first course of dinner, then to the person on her left for the second meal. When Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton sat on Her Majesty's left during a luncheon, she told him off when he tried to talk to her at the start of the meal.
7. He Must Follow The Dress Code In His Trips:
When the royal family travels abroad for official engagements, it is usual for them to dress in costumes that include the country's culture.
8. He Is Not Allowed To Travel With Prince William:
According to royal etiquette, two immediate heirs to the throne must fly on separate aircraft in case something goes wrong en route.
9. The King Doesn't Need A Driver's License:
The only person in the United Kingdom who can drive without a licence is King Charles.
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