7 Royally Screwed-Up Facts About the Royals That Are Sadly the Royal Truth
It’s common knowledge that if you go looking through laws and rules of the past, you’re going to find some weird stuff. It was a different world back then, one where sticking an ice cream cone in your back pocket was a way to steal horses.
When you couple the natural weirdness of yore with something as inherently complicated as the British Royal Family? You’re guaranteed to end up with some rules and details that are as puzzling as they are built on pomp and circumstance.
Here are seven totally strange, but totally true facts about the royals…
They Can’ t Eat Shellfish
This rule comes from Britain’s reticence to entrust their ruler’s fate to the quality of a given batch of oysters. Shellfish — and its risk for food poisoning or other foodborne illness — has taken it permanently off the royal menu. Which makes you wonder if they’re also forbidden from enjoying some late-night Taco Bell.
Two Direct Heirs Can’ t Fly Together
Another rule borne from keeping their monarchs safe is that two direct heirs are never allowed to fly on the same plane, so as to avoid a king-sized Day the Music Died scenario. A weird, further wrinkle caused by this is that when an heir’s child turns 12, they’re forced to fly solo, no parents allowed.
The King or Queen Has No Passport or Driver’ s License
This one only applies to the head honcho, and is an interesting outcropping of clerical impossibility. Because driver’s licenses and passports are issued in the King or Queen’s name, they aren't able to issue one to themselves. Not that they’re in particular danger of being forced to identify themselves. They also don’t need to pass a driving test, so it’s probably a good thing that they’re usually in the back seat.
They Celebrate Two Birthdays
Another complication that might make their official documents difficult to fill out, if they had them, is their birthday. That’s because the King or Queen have two birthdays in the eyes of the Crown. First, the one they were actually born on, and their “official” monarchical birthday. Double the gifts, or blood tributes, or whatever it is they demand come birthday time!
They Can’ t Give Autographs
Similarly related to the power royals legally hold, it’s a bit understandable that they’re forbidden from signing autographs. Unfortunately for the unadorned face of your King Charles rookie card, the risk of forgery prevents them from handing out their John Hancock.
They Have Handshake Training
Given that their biggest responsibility is, as far as I can tell, wandering around and smiling at people, it’s important that they’re trained in proper greetings. This extends to their handshakes, which they're trained in to make sure the recipients feels they got the grip befitting a royal. If you want to experience one, though, you’ll have to hope it’s offered, as you’re never supposed to be the initiator of such an important handshake.
They Own Most of the Swans in England
Possibly the strangest and fakest sounding bit of trivia about the royals is that the King or Queen owns every swan in England. Is it actually true? Well, sort of.
The basis for the widespread swan ownership is very real. Dating back to when swans were considered highly luxurious animals and food, leading to rampant swan theft, their ownership needed legal clarification. So it was established that the King or Queen had an innate claim to any mute swan (a specific variety) living in open waters.
Is it impossible to own a swan if you’re not a monarch? No, but there’s a chance they could decide to claim your long-necked friend.