6 times the British royal family broke protocol, from Meghan Markle wearing Dior at Archie’s christening to Princess Diana’s dance with John Travolta

Jun 27 , 2021

From Queen Elizabeth to Prince William and Kate Middleton to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – who has broken the most royal rules over the years? Photos: @yesqueensandconsorts; @theroyalfamily/Instagram, AFP

Harry and Meghan holding hands on an official visit to Africa raised eyebrows, as did Kate Middleton calling Prince Charles ‘grandpa’ during the G7 Leaders Summit

But even Queen Elizabeth breaks her own royal rules sometimes, inviting non family members to Christmas at Sandringham three years in a row for starters

From Princess Diana to Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle to Queen Elizabeth, members of the royal family have all had to adhere to strict protocols and unwritten rules over the years – however some have managed to deal with them better than others.

So what are some of these rules and who broke them?

“Never complain, never explain”

The queen mother and her daughter, Queen Elizabeth. Photo: @yesqueensandconsorts/Instagram

Queen Elizabeth’s famous “never complain, never explain” rule was in fact first coined by British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli in the mid 19th century, and went on to be adopted by British aristocrats and the queen mother in the 1930s. It soon became a motto to live by.

But Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seemed happy to break this rule with their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, which led to public criticism of the royals – although this was after they’d already stepped back as working members of the family.

PDA is OK in photos, but not in public

PDA in official portraits is one thing, but quite another when out in public or touring other countries together. Photo: @theroyalfamily/Instagram

It’s normal to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge being affectionate in photos on their Instagram pages. However, when on royal duty or travelling, public displays of affection are frowned upon by the palace as a sign of respect for more conservative cultures. Prince Harry and Meghan broke this rule while on tour in Africa by holding hands and touching each other’s backs while meeting local children and visiting a museum in Cape Town.

No wearing black

Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta at the White House in 1985. Photo: @johntravolta/ Instagram