Royal family's 'secret test' for potential new members of the monarchy

During the Channel 5 documentary 'Secrets of the Royal Palaces', narrator Glynis Barber and royal commentators Ingrid Seward and Richard Kay discussed the Royal Family's

tradition. Ms Seward noted that other previous girlfriends of the Prince of Wales had failed the test before he met Princess Diana.  Ms Barber said: "In September 1980 Prince Charles

asked the Queen to invite his latest girlfriend, Diana Spencer, to Balmoral for the weekend. "This was a positive sign that this relationship was important to him. "For any

potential wife or husband, there is a secret tradition that takes place at this royal palace." Mr Kay added: "The Balmoral test is a pretty terrifying moment for any would-be royal

girlfriend. READ MORE: PRINCE WILLIAM TOLD TO ‘TAKE A LEAF’ FROM PRINCE HARRY'S ROYAL EXIT "You are really given the once up and down by the rest of the Royal Family. "You

have really got to know your Ps and Qs." Ms Seward said: "When you stay in one of the royal residences there is a lot of pressure to try and get it right. "Other girlfriends

of Prince Charles had fallen down." Ms Barber explained: "Prince Charles was getting a bit of a reputation as the man about town and was showing no signs of settling down.

"After a series of failed relationships, pressure was mounting from within his family to find a suitable match." Royal commentator Penny Junor added: "He was over 30 and had a

string of girlfriends in the past. "His father felt it was really important that he settled down and stopped being a playboy, playing the field and find a wife."