Family secrets, strange traditions, and bizarre rituals are the standard for most families.
After all, the things that make you and your relatives seem weird can also bring you closer together.
Plus, many family quirks end up becoming cherished memories later in life.
WhenBuzzFeedasked readers to share their strange family stories, the responses were priceless.
One person revealed that their family keeps a rubber chicken hidden in the kitchen.
These families are living proof that the world is chock full of oddballs.
If the royal family can let their freak flag fly, then so can you.
Despite all of their idiosyncrasies, these strange revelations will remind you that the royals are anything but relatable.
So, strap yourselves in because it’s about to get royally weird.
However, many Westerners see the raven as an omen of doom and destruction.
With their menacing eyes and haunting calls, it’s easy to justify their eerie reputation.
And as it turns out, even the royals are superstitious about ravens.
The Tower of London is a castle almost a thousand years old that sits in the heart of London.
The flock has its own caregivers, known asravenmasters, who tend to their every need.
Plus, the royal ravens get treated to extravagant meals, such as blood-soaked biscuits.
When it comes to the monarchy, gift-giving is no easy task.
After all, the dynasty already has all of the riches they could ever want.
This begs the question: What do you get for the family that has it all?
Turns out, the royal family has received a lot of heartfelt and personal gifts from the public.
Britain’s allies also go all-out with their royal gift-giving.
All of these creatures found permanent homes at the London Zoo.
Despite the family’s graciousness, some gifts do remain off-limits.
For example, the board game Monopoly is a no-go with the royals.
Therefore, the royal family takes extreme measures to shield themselves from an early grave.
AsThe Sunreported, the royals are required to do just that.
Although it may seem a bit creepy, these blood bags are a vital precaution.
This weird protocol is especially handy for traveling to locations where donor blood isn’t readily available.
To mitigate the risk of a medical emergency, there are other rules that globetrotting royals should follow.
For instance, a royal ban on shellfish helps the family dodge food poisoning (via theBBC).
This rule stems from a real-life event involving the late Queen Elizabeth II.
At the time of his death, Elizabeth was deep in the backcountry of Kenya.
When the pigeons return, trainers calculate the average speed of each bird, and the fastest pigeon wins.
However, not everybody is impressed with this royal hobby.
Animal rights groups condemn pigeon racing as inhumane and have criticized the royal family for taking part in it.
Royal dinner conversations are carefully curated
For some of us, large gatherings can be quite overwhelming.
Royal dinner guests aren’t expected to do anything besides kick back and enjoy the lavish dining experience.
At the royal dinner table, conversations follow a simple flow.
Why do our fair kings and queens need two birthdays, you may ask?
The answer gives the impression of quite simple: they just want to.
The annual tradition was instituted in 1748 by King Charles II.
Thus, Trooping the Colour takes place each year during the month of June.
It’s also an opportunity to see the monarchs in person as they ride on horseback or carriage.
That’s because the royal family takes a hostage during the event.
Like any royal event, it involves a flashy royal procession and some traditional monarchical relics.
The hostage is usually a member of the Metropolitan Police.
No captive has been harmed so far, but plenty have gotten to enjoy a bit of royal hospitality.
This means that you likely won’t hear the monarchs dropping any dirty words.
Curiously, though, curses aren’t the only words on the royal family’s blacklist.
In fact, there’s a medley of seemingly normal words that are forbidden to pass through royal lips.
No self-respecting royal would dare utter the word “toilet.”
If you want to talk like a royal, forget about using the word “couch.”
In the palace, they sit on “sofas” instead.
“Perfume” is another word that the royal family snubs their noses at.
Instead, the regals would advise you to say “scent.”
According toInsider, the familial link between these monarchs is Queen Victoria.
Prince Philip was the great-great-grandson of Victoria by his maternal lineage.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was Victoria’s great-great-granddaughter through her paternal side.
Prince William and Princess Catherine are also distantly related.
The royal “it” couple are eleventh cousins, once removed.
