Those born into the Royal Family get a head start on the rules and customs. But many of those who join the family through marriage need to catch up on the rules required to be a Royal Family member.
Kate Middleton received lessons from the late Queen Elizabeth herself on how to be a princess before marrying Prince William in 2011.
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Kate received guidance from the Queen
There’s a vast number of rules female members of the Royal Family must abide by in their public appearances, including the proper way to curtsy and how to exit a carriage at a big event.
Kate Middleton received guidance on these rules directly from her late grandmother-in-law herself.
The rules aren’t just about behavior
While there are specific ways to conduct behavior and certain ways to dress, the rules the princess had to learn to abide by don’t just include ways of behaving in public. She also learned other acts that she was not allowed to do like taking selfies or signing autographs.
It’s all detailed in the documentary
In the documentary Kate Middleton: Working Class to Windsor, we learn that the princess had to take private lessons on “how to be a royal wife” prior to her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
She also had to decide her official Royal title
According to OK!, the princess also had to decide her official Royal title during those lessons, which the late Queen helped her with.
“From the beginning, Kate Middleton had a great deal of support from the Royal Family which was really instructed by the Queen,” says Journalist Ashley Pearson in the documentary.
They wanted to efficiently teach her everything
“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,” added the journalist.
The Queen’s presence was to help Kate fully grasp all that she needed to know as efficiently as possible.
The lessons focused on modesty
The “princess lessons” Kate had to undertake were mainly focused on preserving modesty.
“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,” explained the journalist.
Royal etiquette was also a main focus
The Princess had to learn “things that you would never think you’d have to learn but, of course, a woman in her position would certainly need to know,” according to the journalist.
There was also a focus on details in Royal etiquette which regards ways of behavior even at the home.
The lessons were incredibly detailed
“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,” the journalist shared before adding, “She was actually given lessons on how to be a Royal wife.”
Prince William also received lessons
While the Prince was born into this life, he was still the recipient of lessons at Eton College where he was prepared for his future role as king.
He would also often visit the Queen at Windsor Castle to receive advice.
The Prince and the Queen had a close relationship
Prince William and the late Queen had always been close, shared Royal commentator Robert Lacey. They said, “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.”
Safe to say both the Prince and Princess received sufficient lessons before taking on bigger roles in 2011.
