It’s no secret the royal family is required to abide by a long list of (borderline ridiculous) rules. While some—like wearing bright nail polish—aren’t strongly enforced, there’s one surprising guideline that’s not up for discussion: Religion.
According to the royal family’s official website, the Queen or King of England must be Protestant Anglican, not Catholic. If a member were to get baptized in the Catholic church, they would automatically be disqualified as an heir to the British throne. (Yes, you read that right.)
The rule might surprise some royal aficionados, but it’s right there in Parliament’s Bill of Rights. In it, Parliament laid out specific criteria that a Sovereign must meet, like being a direct descendant of Princess Sofia.
In addition, “A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne.”