Meghan Markle aimed to leave her own imprint on the British monarchy when she began her relationship with Prince Harry.
The 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex reportedly clashed with Queen Elizabeth II‘s traditional views by choosing to show her legs in public.
Before Meghan stepped back from her role as a senior member of ‘the Firm’ after their opulent May 2018 nuptials, she encountered a host of historic customs and peculiar regulations that come with marrying into the Royal Family.
Royals are expected to adhere to stringent dress codes and etiquette while in service to the crown, which includes specific mourning attire, hats, and hosiery—elements Meghan initially found challenging.
It’s well-known that Meghan occasionally bent these rules, including one particular tradition that the late Queen held in high regard.
Opting to forego nude tights under dresses and skirts, Meghan preferred to go with bare legs, a move that royal commentator Victoria Arbiter claims left the Queen feeling frustrated due to her perceived lack of respect for protocol, emphasising the importance the monarch placed on women wearing tights in public.
Speaking to the Mirror, Arbiter remarked: “I would say that’s really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen requires.”
In contrast, Kate Middleton meticulously follows these protocols, curating a royal wardrobe befitting a future queen, and even extends this attention to detail to her daughter, Princess Charlotte.
Meghan’s aversion to tights can be traced back to her wedding day, when it was reported that she had a disagreement with her sister-in-law, 42, over the issue. In Tom Bower’s book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors, he revealed details of the dispute.
It was suggested that Kate firmly believed the bridesmaids should wear tights in accordance with royal guidelines. Despite their differing views on the matter, Tom wrote: “Since she had just given birth to Louis, Kate was too fatigued to cope with a disagreement about whether the bridesmaids should wear tights.”
He added: “Following protocol, Kate believed they should. The Californian was uninterested in royal traditions.”
“That disagreement was followed by an argument about the length of Charlotte’s hem,” Tom continued.
“Kate thought it was too short, and anyway did not fit. Melissa Toubati, Meghan’s assistant, and the dress fitters employed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, witnessed Meghan emphatically reject Kate’s observation. Compromise was not a trait Meghan embraced.”
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