With Meghan Markle committing a faux pas by sitting cross-legged at an event, we take a look at some etiquettes that she has to follow
A little more than a month post her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle is still easing herself into her new role. The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly undergoing a six-month training session with the Queen’s private secretary. She is taking lessons on acing the curtsy, perfecting her wave and mastering her knowledge of dining etiquette.
Recently, during the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards at the Buckingham Palace, Meghan came under fire for sitting cross-legged. Realising her mistake, Meghan later repositioned her legs adopting a more elegant pose. During official engagements, royal women are supposed to ensure that their knees and ankles touch at all times, in order to protect their modesty while clad in a skirt or dress. The ‘Duchess slant’, as it’s called, is the most popular position adopted by Kate Middleton, too, which involves crossing the legs at the ankle and angling them to one side. Here are other rules Meghan has to follow as royalty.
Nailing It
(She flaunts a pale pink shade during her wedding)
Female members of the royal family, as a general rule, steer clear from brightly-coloured and dark nail polishes. Even Kate often finishes off her manicure with a clear or nude varnish on her tips as neutral shades are the order of the day. The Queen, however, is a fan of nail polish brand Essie’s pink-nude shade ‘ballet slippers.’ Meghan also opted for this subtle hue on her wedding day.
Shoe Affair
(Kate Middleton sports wedges during her trip to Mumbai )
Although a popular footwear style, Her Majesty is not a fan of wedges. As a result, both Kate and Meghan cannot wear them for official events. The Duchess of Cambridge, however, has sported the style on a couple of occasions in the past including her visit to Mumbai.
Saying No To Selfies
(A fan tries to take a selfie with Kate Middleton)
While Meghan must have clicked a thousand selfies with fans during her acting days, as a Duchess she’s not allowed to do so. During one of her first official events with Harry, the former actress had to decline a couple who asked her to pose with them. The rule is said to be in place for security reasons and also to encourage crowds to interact with the royal members rather than merely take a picture with them.
Mane Attraction
(Meghan flaunts a messy bun)
Meghan made the messy bun chic as she repeatedly sported it during various official engagements. In fact, she went one step further and recreated her signature style as part of her bridal look. As a rule, royals are supposed to be impeccable at all times with no strands out of place. This is why Kate either sports a sleek blow dry or neat low buns. Also, headgear is an essential part of their dressing. In fact, up until the 1950s, upper-class women wore hats all the time because it was not correct for them to show tresses in public.
Skin Show
(While Kate goes for a sleeved ensemble, Meghan flaunts a cold shoulder number)
During her Trooping the Colour debut, Meghan flaunted a pale pink Carolina Herrera dress, which she teamed with a Philip Treacy hat. The off-shoulder style was a marked departure from the usual long-sleeved silhouettes that the other royal women are required to wear for the event.
No Autographs Please
Although signing messages to fans comes quite naturally to the Suits actress, as a royal family member, Meghan isn’t allowed to give autographs. The rule is to protect the family from having their signatures being copied or forged. Meghan did kind of break the protocol last month by writing a message for a young girl, but ensured she kept her name off it.
Table Manners
There is a long list of rules for royalty to follow while seated at the dining table. For one, they can’t begin eating their meal until the Queen has started. Furthermore, when the Queen stops eating, everyone must stop as well even if they are not done. There’s also a correct way to drink tea during tea time, using the thumb and index finger to hold the top of the handle, and sipping from the exact same spot each time, so as to not ruin the rim of the cup with lipstick.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Prince Harry, Meghan Markle")
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}