If you’re a fan of the royals, then you’ll want to look at some of the unusual UK laws revolving around them. In the United Kingdom, there are many laws that date back hundreds of years. 

Some of these UK laws are still in effect today and revolve around the former queen and the new king. 

Is it True That Placing a Stamp Upside Down is Illegal?

The Treason Felony Act of 1848 said it’s an offence to “place any mark upon His Majesty’s coin or currency with intent to deface the same”.

While that act doesn’t mention anything about stamps, you might have heard the rumour that it’s against the law to place a postage stamp of the monarch’s head upside down on an envelope.

However, the law has still yet to be proven as it remains a myth because Royal Mail allows stamps to be placed upside down.

Parliament Members Cannot Wear Armour?

It’s actually against the law for parliament members to wear armour in the Houses of Parliament? The law was put into place back in 1313 by King Edward II.

The logic behind this law was to prevent violence that had formed between two parties in parliament. The statute forbidding bearing of the Armour Act (1313) is in effect today.

Whales/Sturgeons Need To Be Offered To The Reigning Monarch

The whale’s head and spermaceti should be offered to the king, while the remains should be given to the person who had found the whale beached.

The law dates back to 1322 and was stated by King Edward II. In Iceland, a law very similar is in place that states if a whale is beached, it must be reported to the local sheriff. Thereafter, the sheriff will decide whether the King or Queen gets it.

Be Careful Of Who Your Pet Mates With!

If you own a pet dog, cat or rabbit and it mates with an animal that belongs to the royal family, then this is classed as actually breaking the law.

If you were caught to be breaking this law before 1965, then this would have resulted in you as the owner of your pet being charged with the death penalty. That sounds crazy, right? 

Killing A Swan

Killing an animal itself is quite cruel, but if you’re looking to harm a swan in the UK, think again, because they are protected.

It’s illegal to kill or even attempt to injure a swan in the UK, and this is because they now belong to King Charles III and therefore they are off limits.

This legislation goes back to the 12th century; the crown claimed all ownership of the swans as a preventive measure to make sure people did not eat them. If you’re ever looking for an animal to eat or hunt, try to avoid swans in the UK as you may face legal prosecution for it.

Conclusion

Here are some weird laws that revolve around the monarchy of the UK that is still in place in the United Kingdom today. While some of these laws may seem a little random, they actually date back hundreds of years. 

So if you’re keen to teach people about the history of the UK; maybe mention some of these strange laws as they are quite interesting and fun to learn about.