Top 5 Royal Wedding Etiquette Dos and Don’ts

Do: RSVP Right Away

Unlike Australian weddings, British RSVPs can often be a bit more formal. The response will likely be written out in a full sentence, for instance, “Mr. and Mrs. Henry Caulfield are delighted to accept your gracious invitation and look forward to witnessing this joyous celebration.”

Don’t: Touch the Royals!

It’s considered impolite to touch royalty in any way — even to shake hands — unless you’re invited to do so first. Instead, men should offer a slight bow from the neck and ladies can offer a curtsy when greeting the queen and the rest of the royal family.

Do: Cover Up

When in doubt, err on the conservative side when it comes to über-formal occasions. Women should plan on wearing a long gown and covering their shoulders for the Westminster Abbey ceremony. Men will be in full tails or formal military uniforms (like much of the royal family is expected to wear) when appropriate.

Don’t: Wear White

This one is pretty much a no-brainer, but don’t even think about wearing any variation of cream, ivory, or even beige. In fact, since it will probably be a black or white-tie wedding, most guests will probably stick to darker colours out of respect for the bride.

Do: Send a Gift

Number one way to get on the royals’ bad side: Not paying your respects. That means sending a nice wedding present ahead of time to the couple. Since they’ve been “shacking up” for the last eight months, we don’t think they’ll have a registry, in the traditional sense. Still, international dignitaries that attend may bring fine gifts that represent their country, while close friends and family could opt for crystal or china.