To understand royal endogamy, it is useful to distinguish between the manifest and latent functions of customs and behavior. the manifest function of a custom refers to the reasons people in a society give it. its latent function is

The latent functions of a custom are the effect that the customs have on society, even those that are unspoken or unnoticed by the people who are affected by it. These could be social cohesion outcomes or unintended consequences that occur as a result of the custom or behavior.