The royal family’s security team ensures that, in certain situations, senior members are not required to wear a seatbelt.
Over the years, we’ve come to learn about the many unusual rules royals must follow—from always packing a black outfit when traveling to the strict ban on two heirs flying together on the same flight.
But it doesn’t stop there. Even the words they’re allowed to use are regulated, and senior members often have extra rules to abide by. For example, Kate Middleton reportedly has five more protocols to follow than her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle.
That said, not wearing a seatbelt while traveling in a car is illegal in the UK. So why is it that we almost never see the royals buckled up?
The decision was made with their safety in mind by members of their security team, who prioritize ensuring royals can be quickly extracted from a vehicle in an emergency.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, British security expert Michael Chandler explained: “The main reason royals might not wear seatbelts is because of security considerations. As you might imagine, there’s concerns about extracting a principal from a vehicle as quickly as possible.”
He also mentioned that this approach is based on risk assessment. For longer journeys, wearing a seatbelt is generally seen as a safer option. As Chandler added: “There’ll be a risk assessment, the outcome of which will determine whether or not there needs to be extra precautions. They do actually wear seatbelts, probably much more than people realise.
“On those occasions where they’re travelling relatively quickly through London or on motorways – they will certainly wear seatbelts.”
He also pointed out that convenience plays a significant role in the decision, especially when it comes to the length of the car journey.
Chandler explained, “If they’re in and out of a vehicle, royals will be less inclined to fit their seatbelt every time they get out of the car.”
As for King Charles, while he has “legal immunity” as the reigning sovereign, the expert emphasized how rare it would be for the police to stop a royal over something as minor as a traffic offence.
Chandler continued, *“They’re unlikely to be arrested when it was a decision made by someone who’s looking after them.
In short, the police who provide the protection aren’t likely to be challenged by their policing colleagues.”*