THE royal family is usually the picture of elegance and class – but some members have shown they have a hidden rebellious side.
While royals typically follow strict dress codes for public engagements, a number of the royals have got secret tattoos and piercings behind closed doors.
From the glam British socialite with a tiger tattoo to the princess with a circle inking behind her ear, we reveal some of the quirky body additions…
Princess Eugenie
Her uncle may be king, but that hasn’t stopped Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter getting a tattoo in a rather visible location.
Princess Eugenie, 34, who is mum to August, three, and Earnest, one, has a small circle tattoo behind her ear.
This was visible as she wore her hair down in loose girls at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
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The inspiration behind the tattoo hasn’t been revealed, but some have speculated that it could represent the cycle of life – or perfection and wholeness.
Eugenie isn’t the first royal to get a tattoo, with her great-great-grandfather King George V – who reigned between 1910 and 1936 – having two.
He reportedly got a dragon and a tiger tattoo on his arms during a 1881 visit to Japan as a teenager with his brother Prince Albert Victor, who got a pair of storks.
George’s inkings were chosen to “symbolise the East and the West.”
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Lady Amelia Windsor
She’s been known as the “most beautiful royal”, but some have hailed Lady Amelia Windsor, 29, as the most “rebellious too”.
Contributing to this image is the fact she has multiple tattoos on her body.
The glamorous model and socialite is the granddaughter of the Queen‘s cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
Lady Amelia has a small tattoo on her ribs, three bear cubs on her wrist and a tiger on her back.
According to a chat with Elle, she said the bears represent herself and her two siblings, Lady Marina and Edward Windsor.
She explained: “One is of three bear cubs, which represent my brother, sister and I because we saw three cubs in Canada when we were really little and thought they were us on the beach.
“It was a really magical moment.”
Both sisters also have piercings, with Lady Amelia having piercings along her ear lobe and mid-helix, with Lady Marina Windsor being spotted with a tragus piercing in 2012.
Lady Amelia isn’t a working royal, so can be more relaxed with her choices, according to former royal butler Grand Harrold.
He previously told FEMAIL: “As we know she is not even in the top 30 in line to the throne, so she will be aware that she can get away with personal choices such as tattoos or modelling for international fashion houses.”
Zara Tindall
A number of royals have been accused of being “rebels” over the years – including Zara Tindall.
The Queen’s eldest granddaughter was forced to deny claims she had been straying from royal tradition after she was pictured with a tongue piercing at 17.
The daughter of Princess Anne famously revealed her tongue stud to the rest of the royal family at Prince Charles’ 50th birthday party in 1998.
It’s reported that she had the piercing at a tattoo parlour close to her boarding school – the Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.
In an unearthed interview with Tatler magazine in 2011, Zara laughed off her image as a “royal rebel”, explaining these days, she’s more likely to be found cooking spaghetti bolognese for her husband, Mike Tindall.
“At least I didn’t have it coming out of my nose, or anything,” she said at the time.
At the time, it was believed that Princess Anne didn’t mind, but asked if she was still able to speak properly.
It was also rumoured that the royal had a belly button piercing.
She joked that she “wouldn’t have a leg to stand on” if her daughters Mia, 11, or Lena, six, get one in future.
But Zara — wed to ex England rugby star Mike Tindall, 46 — added: “I’d rather they came home with a piercing than a tattoo because at least a stud can be removed.”
Meghan Markle
While the Duchess of Sussex, 43, appears to only have one piercing in each ear lobe, she often channels the multiple piercing look.
We’ve seen Meghan wear cuffs which give the impression she has multiple holes.
While there are no official “rules” on piercings within the royal family, it’s thought there are stricter traditions to adhere to for senior members of the firm.
With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping down from royal duties in 2020 they are now more free to channel a more relaxed dress code.
Princess Sofia of Sweden
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden caused a stir when he married former topless model Sofia Hellqvist.
Sofia, who has a pierced belly button, achieved fame as a glamour model a decade ago.
And she also has multiple inkings – including a sunburst tattoo at the top of her back – which was clearly on display at her 2015 royal wedding.
She also has a butterfly on her ribcage and one on her ankle.
She also appeared on a raunchy reality TV show called Paradise Hotel, where the sex-fuelled antics of singletons are shown as contestants compete to stay in a luxury resort.
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
She’s the youngest daughter of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III and has been dubbed a “wild child” in the past.
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, 60, has often showed off her various inkings.
The former model, swimwear designer and singer has a dragon tattooed on her upper back.
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In addition to this, she also has a flower bracelet around her wrist and a ring tattooed on her finger.
Tragically, Stéphanie was in the car with mum Grace when they crashed while driving around a bend, leading to the famous actress’ death in 1982.
The strict shoe rule all royal women follow
WE notice lots of things about royal women, from their impeccable outfits and glossy hair, but there is a strict rule when it comes to shoes too.
For official engagements or outings when representing the royal family it’s considered bad etiquette to wear open shoes as they’re seen to be too informal.
And this is a rule all of the women in the royal family have to abide by.
Taking a look back at Kate Middleton’s outfits, she’s always one to wear a court style and it turns out it’s not by choice (even though they do always look great).
Female guests at the royal wedding were also told to avoid flashing their toes. That wasn’t the only dress-code instruction either, they were advised to wear dresses that covered their shoulders and that were midi length or longer.
