Despite being polished into the poster child for being a classy member of the British Royal Family, Kate Middleton breaks a royal rule now and again.
Shocking, we know! Kate has so many of the royal rules nailed perfectly, from the prim curtsy to the fashion rules. However, there are so many royal rules out there, that we get it when they have to bend one or two. (Did you know they can’t play Monopoly?! PureWow confirmed that that’s a rule. Do you see what we’re saying?!
Most recently, Kate set off a debate on April 2023 when she arrived at the Easter Service with colored nail polish. Now, this is a tricky one: many say it’s an unspoken rule that women’s manicures in the family need to be natural, while others say it’s an antiquated rule. Either way, it got people talking, and it got people wondering what else Kate has done that strays from the usual royal rules.
Hint: she’s broken more than you think.
From her rather edgy fashion choices to her affectionate disposition, Kate has shown her more rebellious side now and again. Below, check out every single time Kate has broken royal protocol over the years.
Wearing Colored Nail Polish
Back in Easter 2023, Kate Middleton caused a bit of a stir when she wore colored nail polish for the first time. It’s a bit of an old, unspoken rule where you don’t wear colored nail polish for major Royal events. And the Easter Matins service is considered a big royal event, so it was a bit of a big topic amongst royal fans.
Letting Her Hair Down on Her Wedding Day
On Kate Middleton’s first day as a royal, she ended up breaking tradition. Before Kate, women wore their hair up on their wedding days, but on hers in 2011, she let her hair down.
When She Patted William’s Butt
2023 has been Kate Middleton’s edgiest year yet, because before the colored nail polish incident was the BAFTA moment caught on camera. While Kate and Prince William were talking around on the red carpet, cameras caught her tapping his butt in a rare moment of PDA. PDA is something royals can’t do, so this caused a bit of a shock amongst fans!
She Wore a Black Smokey Eye
It’s an unspoken rule of the British royal family’s appearance is that they have to wear natural makeup (and many reports claim it’s because that’s how King Charles wants it!) While Kate Middleton usually keeps it natural, she did stray a bit from that rule in 2013. During an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity at The National Portrait Gallery in April 2013, Kate arrived with a dark, sparkly smokey eye makeup we’ve never seen from her before that or since then!
She Re-Wears Clothes
One thing people adore about Kate’s fashion is that she is the Queen of fashion rewears. Despite breaking tradition, Kate is all about sustainability and knows that if an outfit looks good on her, there’s no shame in re-wearing it!
…Including Ones the Queen Hated
Fun fact: Queen Elizabeth II hated wedge-heeled shoes, but that didn’t stop Kate from rocking the sandal on many occasions (with her most recent time being in March 2022 in the Bahamas!)
Hugging the Public
A big rule that many other A-listers have talked about is how you’re not supposed to touch members of the British Royal Family. However, Kate occasionally gives out hugs to many royal fans!
She Sometimes Shows Her Knees
We know, so scandalous, but one royal rule states that women shouldn’t wear skirts that go higher than their knees. She hasn’t stopped that rule though from letting her rock mini skirts and higher pencil skirts in the past.
She’s the Family Photographer
It’s well-known that Kate has a passion for photography, acting as the family photographer on many occasions and for many portraits. However, this is a bit of a no-no with royal rules!
She Chose Different Schooling for Her Kids
While it’s typically for royals to be sent to boarding school, Kate keeps her kids close and together for school at a co-ed day school. Expert Jumaimah Hussain told Express: “It’s long been thought that Kate and William would want to give their children as normal a life as possible, so sending them to boarding school doesn’t seem like an option they would consider currently.”
They Have Only One Part-Time Nanny
When Kate and William welcomed their kids, many thought they’d hire multiple nannies to help out, per royal tradition. However, they decided against it and only have one part-time nanny that helps out when they’re out for royal engagements, per Fame10. Going off on this, Kate is a very hands-on mom, which is another thing uncommon in the generations before (except for Princess Diana!)
Openly Shows Affection to Her Kids
Much like keeping PDA on the down-low with their partners, members of the royal family need to keep their affection for their kids to a minimum in public. However, Kate is one proud mama and isn’t afraid to hold her kids close, hug them, and play with them in public!
She’s Open About Her Struggles With Motherhood
Royals are supposed to look and act picture-perfect, but like Princess Diana, Kate is open about her struggles with motherhood. “Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience,” she said back in 2017 per People. “However, at times it has also been a huge challenge. Even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not.”
She Allowed William in the Delivery Room
Despite royal protocol dictating that fathers are not allowed to be in the delivery room, Kate dubbed that William needed to be involved with the entire process, per EOnline.
She Does Grocery Shopping
Kate picks up her family’s groceries, and was known as a regular when living in Anglesey, per Fame10.
She Wears Black
Okay let us explain: members of the royal family are usually prohibited from wearing black outside times of mourning. In fact, The English Manner Chief Executive Alexandra Messervy previously said to InStyle per Marie Claire UK, “Generally it is thought that black is not usually worn unless in mourning, although Diana Princess of Wales did occasionally wear it for evening functions, and The Duchess of Cambridge has been known to do so.” But Kate looks great in the color, so that’s why people are letting it slide.
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