10 Bizarre Royal Traditions All through Historical past

Welcome to the downright weird world of royal traditions. All through historical past, monarchies have been a breeding floor for eccentric customs that can have you ever scratching your head in disbelief. Be part of us on a whimsical journey as we discover ten bizarre royal traditions all through historical past that can make you marvel, “What were they thinking?”

Associated: Ten Tough & Terrible Queens Who Ruthlessly Ruled Their World

10 Step Calmly: Quirky Christmas Dinner Weigh-Ins

The vacation season is a time for pleasure, merriment, and, apparently, stepping on the scales earlier than dinner. Imagine it or not, there was a peculiar custom amongst some European royals that actually turned Christmas dinner right into a weighty affair.

It’s Christmas Eve, and as a substitute of decking the halls, the royal household is lining as much as step on the scales. Why, you ask? Some royal households—notably the Habsburgs of Austria—had a moderately distinctive method of guaranteeing their vacation indulgences didn’t get out of hand.

The Habsburgs, famend for his or her considerable feasts and lavish celebrations, aggressively prevented their royal waistlines from increasing an excessive amount of. Earlier than sitting right down to get pleasure from their festive feast, every member of the family was required to do a pre-dinner weigh-in. If the numbers on the dimensions had surged since their final weigh-in, effectively, it wasn’t precisely a silent evening for the responsible social gathering.

Think about the dinner desk discussions: “Oh dear, looks like Prince Leopold had one too many mince pies this year.” It’s like a royal model of The Greatest Loser, however with extra crowns and fewer treadmills.

9 Royal Romance: The Custom of Approval for Matrimony or No Crown

Within the annals of regal historical past, the custom of needing matrimonial approval—or no crown—stands out for all of the unsuitable causes. Image a dashing prince and a beautiful princess falling head over heels in love, however maintain your horses. Earlier than they will waltz down the aisle, they have to move the final word take a look at: the royal stamp of approval.

Relationship again to medieval occasions, this custom was no mere formality. It was the royal equal of a high-stakes poker sport. Marriages weren’t nearly romance. They have been political maneuvers. Alliances cast over goblets of mead and courtly intrigue. So, when Prince Charming got here knocking, he needed to get a thumbs-up from the powers that be.

Think about the nerve-racking scene: The prince sweating bullets, the princess anxiously twirling her locks, and the courtiers whispering like gossip-hungry magpies. If the monarch didn’t deem the match appropriate, sorry, Charlie, however no crown for you!

However love has usually discovered a method to conquer custom. Historical past is brimming with tales of star-crossed lovers defying the percentages, from secret rendezvous to daring elopements.

8 File Each Reward: A Royal Ritual of Extravagance

Think about holding a meticulous log of each present you obtain—each trinket, bauble, and treasure. Sounds exhausting, proper? For royals all through historical past, this was not only a quirk however a grand custom.

Within the hallowed halls of monarchy, recording presents was a show of luxurious, a testomony to the wealth and affect of the crown. From the shimmering jewels bestowed by international dignitaries to the unique animals gifted by distant lands, each current was rigorously cataloged.

Again within the days when kingdoms held sway over different realms, receiving presents was a diplomatic dance. A grand gesture from a neighboring monarch might signify allegiance or alliance. On the similar time, a uncommon artifact from a distant land might trace at commerce alternatives or political favor.

Let’s not overlook the sheer extravagance of all of it. Image rooms overflowing with priceless artifacts, cabinets bending below the load of ornate trinkets, and scribes scribbling away to doc every merchandise—a spectacle match for the grandest royal courts.

7 Journey Tango: Required Separate Carriages for Direct Heirs

Some of the peculiar traditions all through historical past has been the notion that direct heirs can not journey collectively. Image a royal household embarking on a journey, however wait! The inheritor to the throne and their quick successor can not share the identical mode of transportation. It’s like a real-life sport of royal chess with carriages as a substitute of pawns.

Relationship again centuries, this custom stems from the necessity to shield the lineage and make sure the monarchy’s survival. Think about the horror if each the king and his inheritor have been to fulfill an premature demise on the identical treacherous journey. It’d be a royal disaster.

Traditionally, this rule has led to some fairly extravagant journey preparations. Separate carriages, totally different ships, you identify it. Something to make sure the bloodline stays intact and the dominion doesn’t descend into chaos.

However let’s be actual right here: it’s additionally a logistical nightmare. Are you able to think about the scheduling conflicts and the sheer quantity of additional planning required to maneuver the royal household from level A to level B?

Discuss drama behind the scenes.

6 Royal No-Go: The Monopoly Ban in Excessive Society

Monopoly is the sport of economic domination and household feuds. However guess what? Enjoying Monopoly was a particular no-go for royal households. Shocked? So was I after I stumbled upon this quirky custom.

Whereas the remainder of us peasants are busy bankrupting one another in pleasant Monopoly battles, royals have a strict rule in opposition to it. Why? Effectively, it hits too near residence for his or her liking. Monopoly’s ruthless property buying and selling and monopolistic tendencies didn’t sit effectively with sure monarchies who most well-liked to take care of a extra, let’s assume, dignified picture.

The British royal household, identified for his or her love of video games and sports activities, reportedly banned Monopoly altogether from their residences. Are you able to think about the king flipping the board as a result of somebody landed on Park Place with a lodge? Unthinkable!

Hey, who wants Monopoly if you’ve bought actual castles and estates to handle? Plus, with all of the political and financial energy struggles, the very last thing these royals wanted was a reminder of their very own potential monetary downfalls.

5 Hats Off to Custom: The Royal Command of Ladies’s Headwear

Stepping again to when style guidelines have been as inflexible as fort partitions, we come across a peculiar royal custom that provides a splash of eccentricity to formal affairs: necessary hats for ladies. A hat isn’t just a trendy accent. It’s a decree as outdated as time (effectively, at the very least a number of centuries). The development dates again to the 18th century when hats have been each a style assertion AND an emblem of social standing.

Within the courtroom of Queen Victoria, donning a hat was a non-negotiable ticket to the social gathering. The larger, the higher – as if every hat had a secret mission to outshine the chandeliers. Girls of the courtroom competed in grace and the peak of their headgear. Rumor has it that the taller the hat, the nearer one stood to the throne—an unstated hierarchy etched in feathers and ribbons.

Quick ahead to the current day, and whereas we might have traded elaborate headpieces for modern fascinators, the custom lives on. Even in trendy occasions, royal occasions see a sea of hats bobbing like ships in a regal sea.

4 Drenched in Royalty: The Custom of Necessary Royal Baptisms

Within the wild and wacky world of royal traditions, right here’s a gem that may make you do a double-take: the requirement that each royal offspring make the leap—fairly actually —into the world of baptism. Throughout varied royal households all through historical past, this ritual wasn’t only a quaint spiritual ceremony. It was virtually a must-do on the royal to-do listing.

Image little princes and princesses, barely out of their royal cribs, getting doused in holy water with the form of aptitude that will make a seasoned water park fanatic jealous. The custom, rooted within the perception that baptism cleanses the soul and secures a divine favor, has seen its justifiable share of quirks.

In medieval Europe, royal infants have been baptized in fashion. Some ceremonies featured ornate golden fonts, whereas others boasted unique visitor lists that make Hollywood purple carpets appear like informal yard gatherings. The grandiosity of those occasions wasn’t only for present—it was a solution to reinforce the concept that the royal bloodline was heaven-approved.

3 The Dinner Dilemma: If the Queen Isn’t Consuming, You Don’t Get to Both!

Think about being seated on the grand eating desk of Buckingham Palace, eagerly eyeing these delicious hors d’oeuvres, however wait—there’s a catch. If Her Majesty isn’t nibbling away, neither are you! It’s like a high-stakes sport of gastronomic roulette, the place your urge for food is on the mercy of the queen’s.

This custom traces again to the times of yore when monarchs held absolutely the energy of life, demise, and dinner. If Queen Victoria determined to push her plate apart, you possibly can overlook about indulging in these delectable delights. It was as if the very act of chewing was topic to royal approval.

This custom nonetheless holds sway within the hallowed halls of Buckingham Palace. So, subsequent time you end up within the king or queen’s firm for a meal, maintain a eager eye on the royal fork. If it’s resting peacefully on the porcelain, you may wish to rethink reaching for that Yorkshire pudding.

2 Royal Jetsetters: Pack One Black Outfit

Among the many royal customs lies a peculiar mandate: Royals should pack one black outfit. Amid the opulent trunks stuffed with coronation robes and diamond-encrusted tiaras, there lurks a single garment of mourning.

Relationship again to the Victorian period, this custom discovered its roots in royal journey etiquette. Royals have been anticipated to be ready for any eventuality, together with the premature demise of a fellow monarch or dignitary. Thus, offering a black ensemble ensured they may appropriately mourn ought to the necessity come up.

Over time, the custom has advanced from a sensible necessity to a symbolic nod to custom and decorum. In at present’s world of personal jets and high-speed trains, the necessity for mourning apparel could appear out-of-date. Nonetheless, it endures as a testomony to the enduring rituals of royalty.

1 Shell Shock: The Forbidden Takeout Story in Royal Delicacies

One eyebrow-raising customized stands out in royal traditions: the ban on shellfish takeout. Imagine it or not, historical past has witnessed royal palates steering away from seafood-to-go, and it’s not nearly avoiding soggy fries. Relationship again to medieval occasions, this peculiar follow originated from the concern of meals poisoning, as shellfish are inclined to spoil shortly.

Image knights in shining armor combating dragons, solely to be defeated by a nasty batch of oysters. It would sound like a satirical story, however monarchs took this ban significantly for hundreds of years. The infamous King George II of England was so paranoid about potential foodborne sicknesses that he abstained from indulging within the delights of shellfish exterior the palace partitions.

This gastronomic decree prolonged to royal banquets and state affairs, leaving royal cooks puzzled about methods to serve up a lavish seafood unfold with out risking the wrath of a abdomen rebel. Quick ahead to the current day, and whereas meals security requirements have drastically improved, the ban on shellfish takeout stays a whimsical nod to a time when even kings feared the wrath of a rebellious lobster.