So… Why Don’t Royals Sign Autographs?

“My name’s Catherine. I’m not allowed to write my signature, it’s just one of those rules,” she once explained during the Chelsea Flower Show in 2022 when asked why she couldn’t sign schoolchildren’s drawings.

The Royal Family typically steers clear of autographs altogether, largely because of the concern surrounding forgery. Their signatures hold weight—and could easily be copied or misused.

The same logic applies to selfies. They’re discouraged because snapping a picture often means turning your back on a royal, and it places fans in close proximity, raising safety considerations.

That said… the rules aren’t ironclad. Royals have broken both autograph and selfie norms more than a few times.

Rules Royals Have Bent (Or Broken)

Traditionally, public displays of affection—like hugging, holding hands, or kissing—aren’t the done thing. But Prince Harry and Meghan famously held hands during official engagements when working royal roles still applied to them.

Royal men aren’t generally expected to wear wedding rings either. Yet Prince Harry embraced the custom, just as his father, brother, and grandfather did. And yes—Harry broke another unofficial royal tradition when he married Meghan, who had previously been divorced.

Of course, Harry’s father, King Charles, also broke norms when he married the previously divorced Camilla in 2005.