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Meghan Markle broke major royal rule with engagement announcement
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement on Monday, and although many focused on the actress’ gorgeous bauble — a stunning three-diamond engagement ring designed by Harry himself - a few eagle-eyed observers noticed his bride-to-be had broken an unwritten royal rule.
The 36-year-old looked ultra stylish in a winter white wrap coat from Toronto-based brand ‘Line the Label’, but she decided to forgo wearing something else - a thing considered a fashion faux-pas for members of the royal family.
It's something the Queen has done for all her years in the public eye, and Kate Middleton has adopted as well.
According to The Cut, there’s an unspoken rule among royals that dictate women wear pantyhose.
Queen Elizabeth has been wearing hosiery for 91 years, while the Duchess of Cambridge prefers glossy, sheer nylons.
Meghan, 36, bravely decided to keep her legs bare, perhaps another sign that the royal family is becoming modern.
It's not the first fashion royal rule that has been broken by the couple of late. Prince Harry, 33, appeared alongside his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, at the Cenotaph in London, England on Remembrance Day to lay their wreaths.
Although Harry looked dapper in the uniform of a Captain in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals, he sparked controversy by sporting a full beard while on official duty in a British Army uniform.
Historically, full facial beards have aways been forbidden while on official duty (although some officers have been known to wear moustaches). “Prince Harry is letting us all down. There’s no place for beards in the Queen’s cavalry," a member of the elite cavalry regiment told The Mirror.
Meanwhile, this year marked the first time that Queen Elizabeth II watched the service from a balcony rather than perform her sacred duty and lay a wreath. Traditionally, the monarch lays the wreath to honour Britain’s war dead — but she had Prince Charles lay the wreath on her behalf.
According to palace officials, the Queen decided to watch the ceremony from the Foreign Office as she preferred to join her husband Philip (who had retired from official duties in the summer). It was a historic shift in the Queen’s 65-year-old reign and more than a few took notice.
“She is getting a bit older now so it’s probably fitting that he does start taking this on,” said Regimental Sergeant Major Kevin Stacey.
When it comes to Meghan's gorgeous 3.5 carat ring, which is said to be worth up to $460,000, it remains to be seen whether she'll wear the ring full time.
It's difficult to miss her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge’s impressive $400,000 engagement ring with 14 diamonds around a 12-carat sapphire, but pay close attention, and you’ll notice that some senior members of the royal family have chosen not to wear their wedding rings — including Prince William.
Before William and Kate got married in 2011, senior royal officials noted that the Duke of Cambridge wouldn’t be wearing a ring after the wedding ceremony. According to the Daily Mail, palace aides said that “Prince William isn’t one for jewelry — he doesn’t even wear a signet ring — and decided he didn’t want to.”
William isn’t the first royal to decline wearing a wedding ring. Prince Charles solely wears his family signet ring, but on his pinky finger instead of the ring finger
And like Will, Prince Philip doesn’t wear a wedding ring at all (and he’s been married for decades).
Both the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen are always seen wearing neutral-coloured nail polish, but this is likely not due to personal choice and more about royal etiquette. Royal wardrobe rules state that no coloured nail polish should be worn during public engagements.
The Queen follows this rule to a T, rumour has it she’s been wearing “Ballet Slippers” — a pale pink sheer finish nail polish shade by Essie, for nearly three decades!
But sometimes, even royal wardrobe rules can be broken — Kate has been spotted rocking a ruby red pedicure on the rare occasion she’s bared her toes in strappy sandals.
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