The Royal Family rulebook is long. From adhering to a formal dress code (to prioritise modesty, formality, and tradition) to not signing autographs to prevent forgery, members must also be politically neutral, always travel with a black mourning outfit, and even avoid shellfish. We could go on…
Granted, some rules are stricter than others, which is why these days, it’s not uncommon to see a senior member veer from tradition. May we direct you to when Kate playfully patted Prince William’s bum on the red carpet (couple goals), or the dozens of times the pair have taken selfies with fans?
The bottom line? As the monarchy modernises, royals are looking to connect more authentically with the public. And, displaying a bit of human emotion (over sticking to centuries-old customs) is the perfect way to do that.
Everyone’s clicking on…
Here, we’ve rounded up all the times King Charles has broken royal protocol:
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King Charles gave the Prince and Princess of Wales a new privilege
In late 2025, King Charles appointed his son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton (who, by the way, are consistently voted the most popular members of the family according to YouGov), as Grantors of Royal Warrants. This is a huge privilege for the pair, as it’s usually reserved for the monarch and their partner — something that hasn’t changed in 116 years.
In terms of what the Royal Warrant is, it’s bestowed on businesses that have supplied goods or services to the Royal Household for at least five years (and are genuinely loved by the Royals). Therefore, as Grantors, William and Kate will be officially allowed to endorse brands. These brands are then able to display the royal warrant crest on their products and website.
King Charles broke a 500-year tradition during a Vatican visit
In October 2025, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the Vatican to meet with the new Pope Leo. Historically, there has been conflict between the Church of England (which Charles is the head of) and the Catholic Church (which the Pope is the leader of), thanks to a decision made during King Henry VIII’s reign.
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To unpack, the Pope refused to grant an annulment between Henry and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, after she failed to give him a male heir. So, in 1534, he decided to create the Church of England and appoint himself the Supreme Head.
So where does the breaking of the 500-year-old tradition come in, you ask? During King Charles’ visit, the monarch and the Pope prayed together in the Sistine Chapel, beneath the iconic Michelangelo painting. This marked the first time a British monarch and a pontiff had prayed together at a church service since the 16th Century.
King Charles and Kate share heartfelt moment at funeral
2025 was clearly a rule-breaking year for the King. In September, members of the Royal Family attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral. While congregating outside following the service, King Charles and his daughter-in-law, Kate, shared a touching moment: she kissed him on the cheek as an act of support. It was yet another example of the close bond the two share.
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King Charles switched up the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour
Both the King and Kate experienced health battles in 2024, undergoing cancer treatment. During the Trooping the Colour in June that year, (an annual military parade and ceremonial event that marks the British Sovereign’s Official Birthday), Charles ensured that his daughter-in-law stood beside him on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The switch-up was viewed as a mark of respect for Kate, as the previous year, it was William who was next to the monarch. Former royal butler Grant Harrold told OK! Magazine at the time: “It is changing protocol to show the King and Kate united with each other and going through similar battles, so I would say this is down to the King’s preference. The balcony [line-up] is orchestrated, so I have a feeling the King said to Kate, ‘You stand next to me.'”
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King Charles hugged a fan
Back to 2025 now, and in a visit to Bradford earlier this year, King Charles broke protocol again by embracing a fan. While attending an exhibition displaying the work of Bradford-born artist David Hockney, the monarch was snapped hugging a young supporter. FYI, this move is generally considered to be against Royal rules, for reasons including security concerns, traditional formality, and professional decorum.
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Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader’s Digest, ITV’s Woo! and Vice’s NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.