12 Secrets you never knew about the royal family

While they may be one of the most intriguing families in the world, it sometimes feels like we know little about the royal family. We may see them on the TV and on the internet, but we don't know much about them as people - apart from Meghan and Harry, of course.

So, in light of this secrecy, here are 12 facts about the Royals for you to enjoy

1. They have to learn multiple languages

As they spend their time flying around the world and acting as representatives of the United Kingdom, members of the royal family are expected to learn the basic greeting in each country that they visit. "The internal palace aids will always be on hand to prepare each royal before an important visit," says Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette. "It is the correct protocol to practice the etiquette of the country or culture you are visiting, in order to show respect, so each royal knows how to make the best first impression."

2. The carry bags of their own blood

According to the Telegraph, the Queen and Prince Charles carry their own personal bags of blood to countries where blood supply is questionable. Of course, in order to do a blood transfusion, you need a doctor at hand - which is why a Royal Navy doctor goes wherever they do.

3. They bring their own booze

While you may think that they stay in luxurious hotels and spend their infinite amount of money on the finest liquours, the Royal's actually bring their own booze with them. "They sometimes take their own alcohol so there's no danger of their drinks being spiked," Gordon Rayner, a royal tour veteran reporter, told the Express. "Their police bodyguard will discreetly carry a bag of their drinks."

4. They always have a black outfit

While the Queen may be known for her colourful ensembles, the Royal's always make sure that they have a black outfit in case a loved one dies while they're abroad. This comes after the Queen made a mistake in 1952 when her father died and she was in Kenya. Elizabeth had to wait until a member of her staff delivered the black dress before she could step off the plane when back in the motherland.

5. Royal heirs must not travel together

While it's not protocol, it's royal practice for the heirs to the throne to travel separately just in case of a fatal accident. Of course, Prince William and Kate Middleton have broken the rule on numerous occasions as they disembark the same plane with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte in hand. "While there is no official rule on this, it is something that the Queen has the final say on," a royal spokesman once told the Sun.

6. They go through immigration

Despite the fact that everyone knows who they are - the Royals have to go through standard customs procedures like the rest of us. All of the family - apart from the Queen - are required to have a passport. Despite this, she still needs to go through an identity check when she is flying.

7. They have colour -oded luggage

The Royals make sure that they are organised while on their travels, with them having colour-coded luggage for when they are away. The Queen and Kate Middleton use yellow luggage labels. William and Charles, for their part, prefer a nice royal red on their bags.

8. Their travel budget is massive

Last year, the royal family spent $5.8 million on travelling around the world. In fact, one single trip for a member of the royal family can cost up to six figures. The most expensive on record was Charles' visit to Italy, Romania and Austria back in 2016 - which totalled just under $200,000.

9. They travel in numbers

According to the Telegraph, the Royals like to bring a big entourage with them when on their travels. The Queen is known to be around 34 people, which includes press officers, secretaries, hairdressers, bodyguards, valets, professional stylists, and royal nannies. Will and Kate, however, keep it a bit more modest - with them having a team of around 12 people with them.

10. Duplicate outfits are a must

While most of us try and take as little clothing as possible when flying, the Royals need to make sure they have a duplicate of each outfit they take with them. Why? Well, no one wants to head to a royal engagement while covered in food stains.

11. They sometimes fly commercial

While the Queen and Prince Philip don't like to take scheduled flights, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been known to fly on Ryan Air, British Airways and American Airlines.

12. Meghan Markle has one travel essential

During an interview with Allure magazine, the newest member of the royal family revealed the one thing she cannot travel without. "The one thing that I cannot live without when I'm traveling is a small container of tea tree oil," Markle said. "It's not the most glamorous thing, but if you get a cut, a mosquito bite, a small breakout, no matter what it is, it's my little cure-all."

While we may feel close to our royals, it turns out that we don't actually know all that much about them. Still, we love them all the same, right?