All the Times Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol With Her Style
Meghan Markle is often described as a royal rule-breaker, which is both true and not true. Yes, the Duchess of Sussex does have a habit of breaking with royal tradition with her fashion choices—but on the other hand, there's no exact rule book. That means Markle isn't disregarding hard and fast protocols, per se, but instead challenging the way things have been done in the royal family for years.
Although the former Suits star has veered away from tradition when it comes to her clothes, at the end of the day, her stylists would never let her wear something truly not befitting her royal status. Instead, Markle knows everyone's going to be scrutinizing her royal outfit choices, and she's smartly using the opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a chic royal in the modern world. Needless to say, we're so here for that. Below here are 18 iconic times Markle's style—from messy buns to mismatched earrings—broke tradition.
Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal via Getty Images1/18July 6, 2019: Wearing Dior at Archie's Christening
Markle wore a gorgeous Dior dress for baby Archie's christening—a departure from the usual British designers royals like Kate Middleton have chosen for other such high-profile occasions. (Middleton's worn McQueen for all three of her kids' christenings.) A big part of Markle's wardrobe strategy is to champion female designers, and ever since Maria Grazia Chiuri was appointed Dior's creative director, Markle's been a fan.
Tristan Fewings/BFC2/18December 10, 2018: Wearing Dark Nail Polish
Occasion: Presenting at The Fashion Awards
Rule Broken: Royals traditionally wear the lightest of pinks or neutrals on their nails (Markle wore Essie's Ballet Slippers for the royal wedding, for example). Not so here: Markle broke precedent by wearing bordeaux on her nails at the Royal Albert Hall.
Getty Images3/18October 19, 2018: Wearing Wedges—and Taking Them Off
Occasion: Royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand; visit with local surfing community group OneWave on Bondi Beach
Rule Broken: One rule royals are expected to maintain at all times? Keeping their shoes on— especially while touring other countries. Members of the sovereign family―from Kate Middleton, who reportedly kept her shoes on at Manly Beach in 2014, to Princess Diana, who did the same at NSW Beach in Terrigal in 1983―have always adhered to the royal rule. But not Meghan: The Duchess broke protocol in October when she ditched her Castaner espadrille wedges at Bondi Beach during a tour with her husband, Prince Harry. (But it's a beach…so, duh!) What's more: This was a double rule breaking, as wearing wedges is supposedly frowned upon for female members of the royal family.
Getty Images4/18September 4, 2018: Wearing a Pantsuit
Occasion: The WellChild Awards in London
Rule Broken: Markle wore this chic black pantsuit even though Queen Elizabeth II reportedly prefers royal women in skirts and dresses.
Getty Images5/18August 29, 2018: Pairing Bare Legs With a Dress
Occasion: Meeting Lin-Manuel Miranda during gala following a charity performance of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
Rule Broken: Exposed legs are a big no-no among the royals. Protocol dictates that anytime you wear a skirt or a dress, stockings are a must. But in the thick of the August heat, Meghan ditched the pantyhose and went bare-legged in a black Judith & Charles tuxedo dress. Although this isn't the first time Meghan broke the rule, it is the first time she violated it since becoming a duchess.
Getty Images6/18July 14, 2018: Donning Trousers—and a Hat—at Wimbledon
Occasion: The 2018 Wimbledon women's finals, when Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams
Rule Broken: During the Wimbledon women's finals, Meghan Markle donned a pair of white pants and a striped shirt from Ralph Lauren. It's been reported that Queen Elizabeth II prefers the women in the family to wear dresses and skirts for official appearances, which is what Kate Middleton opted to wear while attending the event alongside her sister-in-law Meghan. Markle also wore a hat to the event, which, according to Hello!, is a no-no (she considerately carried it instead). Per Wimbledon's official website: "Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them."
Getty Images7/18July 11, 2018: Putting On a Pantsuit
Occasion: A visit to the Famine Memorial in Ireland
Rule Broken: Royal women typically wear skirts and dresses to formal events, but Markle, ever the rule breaker, has worn pantsuits on many occasions—like the above Givenchy look, which happened in July during a visit to Ireland.
Getty Images8/18July 10, 2018: Dressing in Black
Occasion: A summer party at the British Ambassador's residence in Ireland
Rule Broken: Queen Elizabeth II reportedly prefers royals to wear black only when they're in mourning. However, Markle has worn black on several occasions.
Max Mumby/Indigo9/18June 14, 2018: Going Hatless
Occasion: A ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in Widnes, England
Rule Broken: According to the Daily Mail, Markle ruffled a few feathers during her first solo trip with Queen Elizabeth II when she didn't wear a hat. The tabloid reports that because the queen fashioned a hat with her outfit, it was understood that Markle would follow suit.
Getty Images10/18June 9, 2018: Wearing an Off-the-Shoulder Dress
Occasion: Queen Elizabeth II's Trooping the Colour ceremony in London
Rule Broken: Women in the royal family traditionally steer clear of dresses with off-the-shoulder sleeves, but for Trooping the Colour, Markle opted for this peachy Carolina Herrera dress with a bateau neckline.
Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images11/18May 19, 2018: Wearing a Non-British Designer for a Royal Wedding
Occasion: The Royal Wedding, of course
Rule Broken: Markle is believed to be the first modern British bride to wear a wedding gown from a non-British house. Of course, the designer—Clare Waight Keller—hails from the U.K., but Givenchy is decidedly French.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage12/18March 23, 2018: Wearing a Messy Bun
Occasion: Visiting the Titanic Belfast in Northern Ireland
Rule Broken: Markle's messy bun is one of her signature hairstyles, despite the fact that the royals tend to prefer a more every-hair-in-place look.
Getty Images13/18February 13, 2018: Accessorizing With a Cross-Body Bag
Occasion: Visiting Edinburgh Castle in the Scottish capital
Rule Broken: According to MailOnline expert William Hanson, "It is protocol that you do not extend your hand to any member of the royal family (blood royal or those who have married into the family) unless their hand extends first." That's why Kate Middleton often opts for a clutch—and why many people perceived Markle's cross-body bag from February to be a break with royal protocol. It left her hands free to accept handshakes and presents from well-wishers in Scotland.
However, it's important to note that there isn't a strict rule in place about the type of bag royals are allowed to carry. "It's more about personal comfort and what works for every given individual on the day," Victoria Arbiter, a royal expert, told Insider.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage14/18January 18, 2018: Wearing Head-to-Toe Black
Occasion: An official royal engagement (her third!) with Prince Harry in Cardiff, Wales
Rule Broken: Markle stepped out in a very chic monochromatic black look, but it again went against precedent: Head-to-toe black tends to be saved for more somber states of affairs in the royal family, like funerals and periods of mourning.
15/18January 18, 2018: Wearing Mismatched Earrings
Occasion: An official royal engagement (her third!) with Prince Harry in Cardiff, Wales
Rule Broken: Markle's official positioning as a royal fashion rule-breaker was solidified with her pick of earrings for her outing in Cardiff with Prince Harry. Beyond donning head-to-toe black (see previous slide for more on that), she also opted for mismatched earrings: a small "V" on the left, and a trio of stars on the right. It might have raised some royal eyebrows, but in our humble opinions, she looks great.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images16/18December 25, 2017: Contouring Her Cheeks
Occasion: Christmas Eve church service with the royal family
Rule Broken: This might seem like a minor detail—but royal-watchers spotted the fierce contour Markle wore here as something that's not usually done in the royal family. Most royals tend to keep their makeup on the super-light side.
Getty Images17/18November 27, 2017: Going Sans Tights
Occasion: Markle and Prince Harry's engagement photo call
Rule Broken: To officially announce their engagement to the world, Markle opted for a green P.A.R.O.S.H. dress under a white Line the Label coat. This was arguably the first time we saw Markle break fashion protocol, as she didn't opt for stockings with her look—a usual must for short dresses.
Karwai Tang18/18September 25, 2017: Wearing Ripped Jeans
Occasion: The Invictus Games in Toronto
Rule Broken: Some might remember these games as the first time Prince Harry and Markle held hands in public (needless to say, this was a couple months before he put a ring on it). More critical minds might remember it as The One Where Markle Wore Ripped Jeans. They're still considered very casual by the royal family—to the point where one of the only acceptable wears is for walking one's royal dogs (out of the sight of paparazzi cameras, we assume).
