The royals are currently gathered at Balmoral for their annual summer holiday—including Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips and his new fiancé Harriet Sperling. And apparently Harriet is currently undergoing the infamous Balmoral Test, an unofficial "test" that the royals put new members through during their first visit to royal's Scottish estate.
Per a source who spoke to The Sun, "Everyone knows Peter is smitten and his family have accepted Harriett into the set up so she will likely pass the infamous Balmoral Test with flying colours."
So, what does the Balmoral Test consist of? According to The Telegraph, it's less of an official test and more of an unspoken set of social rules that everyone's judging you on. Think: how you dress for dinner (because yes, they all change for dinner), knowing where to sit, how to hunt, and essentially just fitting in correctly with the royal family.
Author Andrew Morton explained it like this in his book Diana: Her True Story:
“Ever since Queen Victoria bought the estate in 1848, it has had a special place in the affections of the royal family. However, the very quirks and obscure family traditions which have accrued over the years can intimidate newcomers. ‘Don’t sit there’ they chorus at an unfortunate guest foolish enough to try and sit in a chair in the drawing room which was last used by Queen Victoria.…Those who successfully navigate this social minefield, popularly known as the Balmoral test, are accepted by the royal family.”
Sounds, um, fun.
