In a twist of royal tradition, it turns out that Zaretindol faced a unique restriction when it came to wedding gifts from Princess Kate.
Despite their marriages occurring just months apart in 2011, a little-known rule prevented Zaretindol from receiving a gift that Kate had enjoyed on her special day.
This intriguing detail sheds light on the intricacies of royal customs that often go unnoticed by the public.
The story dates back to April 29, 2011, when Prince William and Princess Kate exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony was a grand affair, watched by millions around the globe.
On this momentous occasion, William received a significant honor from his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred upon him the title of Duke of Cambridge, officially making Kate the Duchess of Cambridge.
Just a few months later, on July 30, Princess Anne‘s daughter, Zara Tindall, tied the knot with rugby player Mike Tindall at Kinnagate Kirk along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
However, unlike William and Kate, the Tyndalls were not granted any royal titles upon their marriage, adhering to a longstanding royal tradition that has shaped the royal family for centuries.
On the day of Prince William’s wedding, the press secretary for the late Queen announced the bestowal of the dukedom, stating, “The Queen has today been pleased to confer a dukedom on Prince William of Wales.”
This announcement marked a significant moment in royal history, elevating both William and Kate into a new realm of royal status.
The distinctions in royal titles are quite specific.
Peerages are typically awarded only to the sons and grandsons of reigning monarchs.
This means that while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received their titles following their marriage in May 2018, other royals like Princess Beatrice and Eugenie did not enjoy the same privilege.
Interestingly, Princess Anne, the mother of Zara and Peter Phillips, initially resisted the idea of her children holding royal titles.
Zara has since expressed her gratitude for this decision.
On Rob Barrow’s podcast, Total Sport, she remarked, “I really commend my mother for not giving us any titles because, from my perspective, I was obviously very lucky.”
Zara emphasized the importance of independence, stating that being able to navigate life without royal titles was a blessing.
She believes this experience instilled in her a strong work ethic, a value she continues to uphold as a mother of three children—Maya, Lena, and Lucas—whom she shares with Mike Tindall.
Living on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, Zara and Mike have chosen a lifestyle that reflects their values.
It’s worth noting that neither Zara nor Peter were entitled to HRH titles at birth, as their father, Captain Mark Phillips, was not a royal.
The rules clearly stipulate that only the offspring of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and the grandchildren of the monarch’s sons automatically receive HRH titles.
While Zara and Peter were granted courtesy titles by the late Queen, their parents opted to decline these honors.
In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, Princess Anne revisited her decision, suggesting that there are indeed downsides to having titles.
