Royal Rebel: Meghan Markle's British Law Breaks

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has broken many British royal protocols since becoming a royal. From wearing dark nail polish to closing her own car door, Meghan has subtly challenged the status quo.

One of the most notable breaches of royal protocol was Meghan's decision to wear a crossbody bag. According to royal expert William Hanson, royals always carry a clutch as a means to avoid shaking hands. Meghan's choice to wear a crossbody bag was seen as a comfortable and practical way to carry her belongings, but it deviated from the traditional way royals interact with others.

Another notable break from tradition was Meghan's choice to wear a sleeveless dress to her first Trooping the Colour. The off-shoulder silhouette of her pale pink outfit was considered a break from royal protocol, as fashion tradition usually dictates that royal women do not wear revealing styles.

Meghan has also been known to express her political opinions, which is generally not done by royals. During a royal tour of England, Meghan struck up a conversation with pro-choice activists and politicians, indicating her stance on women's reproductive rights.

These are just a few examples of how Meghan Markle has quietly broken British laws and challenged the expectations of what a royal should be.

Meghan Markle wore dark nail polish to the British Fashion Awards

On 10 December 2018, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards to honour Givenchy's designer, Clare Waight Keller. For the event, Markle wore an asymmetrical black velvet dress by the French fashion house, stacked gold bracelets, matching metallic Tamara Mellon sandals, and notably, dark nail polish.

Although it was not an official rule, it was widely rumoured that Queen Elizabeth II was not a fan of coloured nail polish and that royal protocol dictated that women should wear only nude shades. Markle's choice of nail colour was, therefore, a bold one and a departure from her previous public appearances as a royal, during which she had opted for light nail polish or natural, bare nails.

Markle's dark nail polish was not the first time she had bent or broken royal rules. Other instances include her continued public displays of affection with Prince Harry, her choice to close her own car door, her decision to announce her son Archie's birth on Instagram, and her attendance at a royals-only event while only Harry's fiancé.

She closed her own car door

When Meghan Markle arrived at London's Royal Academy for her first solo engagement as Duchess of Sussex, she made a small gesture of independence that shocked the world. Markle arrived in a fancy black car wearing a fancy black Givenchy dress. She then proceeded to shut the car door, a task usually performed by a member of staff for members of the royal family or a dignitary.

This action caused an uproar on Twitter, where the news was the top trending story. It was almost unheard of for an on-duty royal to nudge a car door closed. This led to speculation as to whether Markle was a down-to-earth princess.

The significance of the action

This action is significant as it highlights the differences between Markle's approach to royal duties and the traditional approach. Markle has been known to break with royal protocol on several occasions, both before and after her marriage to Prince Harry. This includes wearing dark nail polish, having an opinion on abortion, wearing a sleeveless dress, and wearing a crossbody bag.

The impact of Markle's actions

Markle's actions have had a significant impact on the British monarchy, modernising it and making it more relatable to the public. Her actions have also caused some controversy, with some people criticising her for breaking with tradition. However, others argue that she is a positive role model, especially for women, by challenging the status quo.

The future of the monarchy

It remains to be seen whether Markle's actions will have a lasting impact on the British monarchy. Some argue that she is helping to modernise an outdated institution, while others believe that she is disrespecting tradition. Ultimately, the impact of Markle's actions will depend on how the monarchy chooses to respond and adapt to changing times.

She expressed her opinion about abortion

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has been known to break royal protocol on several occasions, both before and after her marriage to Prince Harry. One instance of this was when she expressed her opinion about abortion.

In July 2018, Meghan Markle attended a fancy garden party in Dublin as part of her official royal tour of England. At the event, Markle spoke with a few pro-choice activists and politicians who had supported Ireland's recent abortion referendum. One feminist journalist, Una Mullally, tweeted about her positive interaction with the Duchess, while Senator Catherine Noone tweeted: "The Duchess and I had a chat about the recent referendum result — she watched with interest and was pleased to see the result." Noone later deleted her tweet and sent out a second tweet saying: "I should say she seemed pleased — she was interested and very measured, not political at all."

Markle is a vocal feminist, so her stance on women's reproductive rights was perhaps to be expected. However, it is generally considered a breach of royal protocol for members of the royal family to share their political opinions publicly.

This was not the only time that Markle broke with royal tradition. She also wore dark nail polish to the British Fashion Awards, closed her own car door, wore a sleeveless dress to her first Trooping the Colour, wore a crossbody bag, and ignored the royal family's unspoken policy on wearing pantyhose. She also wore a Dior dress to Archie's christening, rather than a piece by a British designer, as is traditional.

In addition, Markle broke with tradition by getting married in May. Queen Victoria is said to have believed that it was unlucky to marry in the fifth month of the year, due to the superstitious rhyme: "Marry in May, and rue the day."

She wore a sleeveless dress to her first Trooping the Colour

Meghan Markle's attire has been the subject of much discussion since she joined the British royal family. One notable instance was her choice to wear a sleeveless dress to her first Trooping the Colour.

Trooping the Colour is a ceremony that marks the official birthday of the British sovereign. It is a significant event in the royal calendar, and those who attend are expected to adhere to certain dress codes. While there is no official rule dictating that royal women must wear sleeves, it is considered an unspoken tradition. Markle's decision to wear a sleeveless dress was, therefore, seen as a break from royal protocol.

The pink, off-the-shoulder dress designed by Carolina Herrera stood out among the outfits chosen by other female royals, who tend to favour dresses with sleeves. Markle's choice sparked debate among royal watchers, with some criticising her for not following established norms and others defending her right to express her personal style.

This incident is one of many occasions where Markle has chosen to interpret royal protocol in her own way. Her modern approach to royal dress codes has sparked conversations about the need for change within the monarchy and the role of fashion in expressing one's values and personality.

Her coat of arms did not include her family name

Meghan Markle's Coat of Arms Did Not Include Her Family Name

When Meghan Markle married into the British royal family, she received a personalised coat of arms, which traditionally goes to the father of the bride ahead of the wedding. Markle's coat of arms, however, was bestowed upon her alone, as she is estranged from her father, Thomas Markle, who did not attend the wedding.

The coat of arms includes a blue background, symbolic of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Markle's home state of California, and two golden rays, symbolic of the state's sunshine. The design was approved by the Queen and created with the help of Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms, the senior officer of the College of Arms.

While the coat of arms does pay homage to Markle's roots, it does not include her family name. This breaks with tradition, as Kate Middleton's coat of arms, for example, reflects not only her family name but also her mother Carole's maiden name, Goldsmith.

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