Citizens of monarchies, how strict are etiquette and protocol rules around your monarch and senior members of the royal family? Are people expected to speak and behave in certain ways when interacting with royals?

4 comments

1. Oh, this reminds me of my favorite fun fact about Switzerlands smallest neighbor: Lichtenstein.

   In Lichtenstein the formal form of speech (German: Sie) is *not* used. Contrary to the German speaking parts Switzerland, Austria or Germany you’ll even use the informal form (Du) with total strangers, your boss, literally *anyone*. Except for members of the royal family who are referred to with the formal form.

2. I’m anti-monarchic to the core but I cringe every time the king visits some place and people shout ¡Felipe!!!! Goddamn, I would not tolerate a stranger calling me by my first name. If you don’t want to say “¡su majestad!” (your majesty) at least “Don Felipe”. I may be against the institution but he is nevertheless the head of state, like it or not.

   Rules are very strict and established, but the king and his father before him are very chill when braking protocol. Famously, Juan Carlos I, as a king, in the middle of a Hispanic-American summit, with all Hispanic-American delegates and heads of state, shouted to Hugo Chávez “¿por qué no te callas?” (why don’t you shut up?) as he was continuously interrupting the Spanish president.

   I later public appearances it’s been broadcast how princess Leonor (heir apparent) corrected his father in public for little protocol breaches, with him thanking her to bring it up to attention.

   Official ceremonies are quite planned. In those cases, if a person (public figure, foreign diplomat,…) breaks protocol it’s intentional and quite rude, since they knew they were doing it. For everyone else, in random unplanned situations, as mentioned, they are rather chill.

3. I think we have one of the least strict monarchies of them all. In a formal setting there are probably some rules. But in general I think you can say what you want about our Royal family. For example, our king has the frequently used nickname prins pils (prince pilsener). Apparently when he was young and studied he likes to party and drink a beer (or two).

4. Just be polite when it comes to the Swedish king and Queen. We call them Kungen ( the king) and Silvia ( the queens name), sure you cant hug them because they are not your family or friend. I met the King and he said Hi and walk off doing his kingly things and an friend of mine has spent 10 minutes with the King in a small tent due to a hailstorm, they talked about Scouts and how start a fire.

   Our King is happiest when he sniffing his begonias.

   I know British royal reporters has hard time relaxing to Danish and Swedish, none formality.