How to Look and Behave Like a Prince or Princess

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Get expert tips on the etiquette and demeanor of a royal

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: August 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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General Royal Etiquette

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Looking Like a Princess

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Looking Like a Prince

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Royals are known for being poised, charming, and fashionable individuals who inspire others to behave with dignity and respect. You don't have to be a royal yourself to cultivate a similar vibe! Keep reading for tips on how a royal person behaves, along with specific guidance for princes and princesses, with help from an etiquette coach, an image consultant, and a style strategist.

Royal Etiquette Practices

Be humble while treating others with kindness, respect, and grace.
Support causes that you’re passionate about.
Dress conservatively in good quality fabrics and tailored clothing.
Choose your words and actions carefully.
Learn the basics of standing, sitting, and walking like royalty.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Behave Like Royalty

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1
Treat others with kindness and fairness. As public figures, royals are required to interact with people from every socio-economic, educational, religious, ethnic, and racial group represented in their country and abroad. They must treat everyone they meet with the same level of respect.
- To behave like a princess or a prince, appreciate and embrace the diversity of your community.
- Treat everyone you meet as though they, too, are royal. Royals make everyone feel important and valued.
- Take the time to talk to people. Listen to their concerns, stories, and requests.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Tami Claytor is an etiquette coach and image consultant with over 20 years of experience.

Kalee Hewlett is a celebrity stylist & confidence coach who helps clients build confidence and dress for success.

Natalie Tincher is a style strategist & wardrobe specialist who specializes in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort.

Alena Le Blanc is a personal stylist and the founder of Le Blanc Label, the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations.
2
Practice humility. Members of the royal family are extremely privileged—their lineage, socio-economic status, and power afford them every opportunity and perk imaginable. A true royal, however, never flaunts their status or brags about their title. Instead, they remain humble and unassuming. You can demonstrate this character trait using the following pointers:
- Celebrate the people around you and showcase their accomplishments.
- Giving credit to those who have helped you.
- Refrain from name-dropping.
- Stop yourself from correcting others.
- Limiting the amount of time you spend talking and bragging about yourself.
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3
Remain composed during irritating or embarrassing situations. Princesses and princes are expected to handle every situation with grace and poise. Instead of reacting negatively, they choose to remain calm, collected, and positive. This conscious choice allows them to remain in control of their emotions, actions, and words. Develop your poise and composure by sticking to the following rules:
- Overlook minor annoyances.
- Brush off embarrassing situations.
- Be graceful and remain positive through stressful situations.
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Consider your words and actions carefully. Since royals are high-profile individuals, their words and actions are closely scrutinized by the media and the public. To avoid a scandal, they must choose their words wisely and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. While it is unlikely that the paparazzi will hound you, if you want to act royal, you must hold yourself to high standards.
- Be careful about what you post on social media. Avoid posting inappropriate pictures, videos, and messages.
- Think before you speak.
- Act in a respectful and dignified manner.
5
Support causes you’re passionate about. Princesses and princes are role models—their charitable deeds inspire others to be selfless. While becoming a socialite means you can support a cause, it’s expected of royals to use their privilege and position to benefit those with less power. They dedicate their time, voice, and money to causes that they care about.
- Identify an issue or organization that you support. The issue could be anything, from promoting women’s rights to protecting endangered species.
- Dedicate your resources to advancing the organization’s mission. Start a social media campaign to bring attention to the issue you're championing.
- Allow your actions to demonstrate what it means to be selfless.
6
Maintain excellent posture while standing. First, bring your heels together and turn out your toes. Slide one heel along the inner edge of your foot until it reaches the arch. Tuck in your stomach, pull your shoulders back, and keep your chin parallel to the ground.^{[1]
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- As part of their public duties, members of the royal family are required to attend galas and events. During these outings, the royals must stand with excellent posture for hours on end.

Section 2 of 3:

How to Look Like a Princess

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1
Sit by carefully lowering yourself to the chair with knees together. Stand with your back to the chair so your calves hit the edge of the seat (and so you don’t miss the chair when sitting). Bend your knees as you lower your bottom onto the edge of the seat. Keep your knees together as you slide to the back of the chair. Bring your feet to one side, while tucking one ankle under the other ankle.^{[2]
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- When crossing your legs while seated, etiquette coach Tami Claytor recommends “keeping the lower portion of your legs as close together as possible, so it looks like one leg. Your ankles touch each other at a slant. However, you don’t cross your legs when you're wearing a long gown or a short skirt to avoid the skirt rising.”^{[3]
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- Stand by carefully returning yourself to your original position. Once fully upright, stand in your original position with one foot in front of the other and your front foot heel touching the arch of the back foot.
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Walk gracefully take each step from heel to toe. Place all of your weight on your back foot. As you step forward with your back foot, your heel should brush the instep of your front foot. Your stride should be approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in length. Land on your heel, roll through your instep, and end with the weight on your toes. Repeat this process as you continue to walk.^{[4]
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- Claytor also suggests that "a lady should always walk with her head held high. In other words, keep your chin parallel to the floor. Don't move your arms a lot to maintain this good posture. Don't slouch, no matter how tall you are."^{[5]
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- Princesses seem to glide instead of walking. While their stride appears natural and effortless, it is actually quite a technical and challenging skill to master.
3
Dress with fashionable conservatism. Princesses are fashion icons—they are celebrated for their chic, classic, and conservative style of dress. With a little effort and creativity, you can imitate their fashion-forward, yet prim and proper, looks by dressing well and paying attention to the details in any look.^{[6]
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- Princesses don’t expose a lot of skin. Make sure the hemlines of your dresses and skirts hit just above your knees. Cover up your arms, chest, midriff, and back.
- Invest in high-quality staple pieces that never go out of style. Splurge on a trench coat, a skirt suit, a black blazer, a white blouse, and closed-toe shoes.
  - Pair high-end and low-end pieces of clothing and jewelry (maximum 2 pieces), like Duchess Kate to make your outfits unique and more accessible.
  - For casual occasions, wear a pair of straight-legged jeans, a blazer over a basic top, and pumps or flats. Accessorize with a scarf, simple jewelry, and a clutch.
  - Wear a skirt suit or a coat dress to make a formal look stylish. Accessorize with a bold hat, pumps, and simple jewelry.
  - For special events, wear a simple evening gown in a bold color made from high-quality materials like “velvet and satin silks—rich, beautiful fabrics deliver elegance and a richness to your look," notes Image Consultant Kalee Hewlett.^{[7]
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Apply natural-looking makeup. Princesses enhance their beautiful features by choosing subtle makeup looks. For special occasions, they amp up the drama with a bold eye or a daring lip. Use some of the following ideas to achieve their effortless look:^{[8]
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- Apply a matte foundation and concealer.
- Define your brows with eyebrow pencil.
- Wear soft charcoal smoky eyeshadow with liquid liner and black mascara.
- Apply rose blush to the apples of your cheeks and a complementary lip color.
5
Perfect the blowout look for perfect princess hair. In addition to their striking good looks, royals also have incredible hair. To achieve their enviable locks, princesses have a team of professionals coloring, cutting, treating, and styling their hair daily. Here are some ways you can achieve a similar style:
- Treat yourself to regular blowouts at the salon. Get your hair professionally colored and cut.
- Curl the ends of your hair every day to create a finished, professional look.
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Manicure your nails and keep them looking neat. Princesses have perfectly manicured nails. They often wear light, neutral colors of polish. Visit the nail salon regularly or give yourself manicures at home.
- If you don’t like colored polish, apply a clear top coat to your nails.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Look Like a Prince

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1
Stand with your toes out and knees together. Start with your heels together and your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Then, turn your toes out at a slight angle while keeping your knees together. Allow one arm to hang naturally at your side; bend the other arm slightly at your side. Bring your head and neck forward slightly.^{[9]
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- Like princesses, princes are required to stand for hours at public outings. While at these events, or in the public eye, their posture must be impeccable.
Start by setting your feet flat on the ground. Bend your knees and keep them together—do not cross your legs. Rest your hands on one knee. Sit up straight in your chair—do not slouch backwards or lean forward. When it is time to stand, raise yourself slowly from your seat.^{[10]
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3
Walk by placing each foot intentionally in front of the other. When a prince walks, he strides with decorum and a purpose. As you step forward, place each foot gently, yet firmly on the ground to avoid stomping. Allow your arms to follow the cadence of your stride. Keep your body and head facing forward at all times—a gentleman does not twist his body.^{[11]
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- Whenever possible, avoid walking in a frantic rush.
A prince looks presentable and fashionable at all times. Even his casual wear is impeccable. For casual outings, throw on a pair of well-fitting jeans or chinos. Add a button-up shirt or polo and grab a sweater for good measure. Finish off your outfit with a leather belt, a nice watch, and a pair of boots, loafers, or joggers.^{[12]
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EXPERT TIP

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist
Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist

Cultivate a high-end look through minimalist shapes, neutral colors, and quality fabrics. Look for clothing or accessories crafted from luxurious natural materials. Opt for simple yet classic designs with earth tones and neutrals like black, white, beige, and navy. Make your style exude sophistication and class.
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Dress up in a well-tailored suit. For slightly more formal occasions, male royals always wear a perfectly tailored suit. Invest in a high-quality suit and splurge on the tailoring—you won’t regret it. Style strategist & wardrobe specialist Natalie Tincher emphasizes how “a well-fitting inexpensive suit helps a man look more stately than an ill-fitting expensive suit."^{[13]
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Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Interview} Pair your suit with a freshly pressed shirt, a complementary colored tie, and a pair of leather dress shoes to look rich even when you’re not.^{[14]
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- For a touch of flair, accessorize with a pocket square and cufflinks.
6
Embrace a morning suit for daytime activities. When royals attend daytime formal affairs, like weddings or horse races, they wear a morning suit. This outfit consists of a tailored coat, a matching waistcoat, and striped trousers. This look is often accessorized with a tie, a top hat, a cane, and a pocket watch.^{[15]
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- An all grey morning suit is a popular alternative to the traditional morning suit.
7
Pull out a tuxedo for special occasions. When a male royal makes an appearance at a formal evening occasion, he is always dressed in black tie attire. This consists of a traditional black tuxedo and bow tie. Like other suits royals wear, the tuxedo is tailored to perfection. When dressing well as a man, you may sometimes have to put on a tux yourself. Here are some tips on wearing a tuxedo correctly:^{[16]
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- Always pair your tuxedo with a freshly pressed shirt that has a turned-down collar and a pleated bib.
- Elevate your look with a brilliant pair of cufflinks and a pocket square.
- Keep your distinguished look going strong by wearing a sophisticated wristwatch.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I still have sort of a carefree spirit as a princess? I'd rather be plain, old me than look regal if I can't at least be a little bit carefree.

Community Answer

Yes. It just depends on your character.

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How do I know that I am a princess?

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Unless you are descended from real-life royalty, you can't be a real-life princess. But anyone can me a pretend princess, so embrace your inner love and go ahead!

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How do I give a speech like a queen?

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Adopt an accent, if appropriate. Accents almost always make you sound more sophisticated. Hold yourself very erect, and use formal language.

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Tips

Be gentle and kind.

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Give to charity.

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Warnings

Avoid acting snotty or pretentious.

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If you pretend to be someone you’re not, others may take you for an attention seeker.

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