Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was determined to bring her own style to the British monarchy when she entered her relationship with Prince Harry. The 43-year-old royal, however, reportedly clashed with long-standing royal traditions, particularly in regard to fashion and public appearances. One key point of tension was Meghan’s reluctance to adhere to the strict dress codes that the Royal Family follows, including the protocol of wearing nude tights.
Before stepping down as senior royals after their lavish wedding in May 2018, Meghan faced numerous royal conventions and rules. Members of the Royal Family are expected to follow specific guidelines on clothing, including wearing hats, certain mourning attire, and, for women, hosiery. Meghan, however, often challenged these traditions.
One particular rule that reportedly caused friction was the Queen’s preference for women to wear tights in public. Meghan frequently opted to go bare-legged, ignoring the royal custom. This choice allegedly frustrated the late Queen Elizabeth II, who valued the tradition of nude tights as an essential part of royal etiquette.
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter commented on the matter, telling *The Mirror*: “I would say that’s really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen requires.”
In contrast, Kate Middleton, known for her strict adherence to royal fashion codes, always follows the protocol, ensuring her outfits reflect her future role as queen. Even her young daughter, Princess Charlotte, reportedly follows these guidelines, according to *The Daily Record*.
Meghan’s aversion to tights reportedly began before her royal wedding. In his book, *Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors*, author Tom Bower describes an incident where Meghan and Kate had a disagreement about the bridesmaids’ attire. Kate, who had recently given birth to her son Louis, was reportedly too exhausted to engage in the debate about whether the bridesmaids should wear tights, a royal tradition. Despite this, Kate insisted that they follow the protocol, while Meghan, who was less concerned with tradition, disagreed.
The dispute did not end there. Bower also revealed that Meghan rejected Kate’s opinion on the length of Princess Charlotte’s dress, leading to further tension. Melissa Toubati, Meghan’s assistant at the time, along with dress fitters from Givenchy, were reportedly present when Meghan stood firm against Kate’s suggestions, showing little willingness to compromise.
This clash over fashion was just one example of Meghan’s struggles with royal customs during her brief time as a senior royal.
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