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The royal wedding may be over, but Meghan Markle still has a lot to learn as she settles into her new role as the Duchess of Sussex.
Now that she’s officially part of the royal family, she has lots of new rules to adhere to, including rules on how she eats, how she dresses and even what board games she is allowed to play.
According to the Mirror, Meghan still has to curtsy to her now sister-in-law Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, even though Meghan is now a duchess herself.
This is because Kate is higher up in the royal ranks than Meghan. Kate’s husband, Prince William, is second in line to the throne and her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and one-month-old Prince Louis are third, fourth and fifth in line after their father.
As Meghan’s new husband, Prince Harry, is lower in the royal ranks as sixth in line to the throne, it is expected of Meghan to curtsy to Kate Middleton.
It’s not just curtsying that is used to display the line of succession, Prince Harry and Meghan are also required to always walk behind the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This rule is not just placed on Prince Harry and Meghan – Prince William and Kate must also walk behind Prince Charles, who is next in line to the throne. According to Harpers Bazaar, Prince Phillip even has to walk a few steps behind Queen Elizabeth, his wife.
Of course, Kate is not the only one Meghan has to curtsy to. She's also required to curtsy to every member of the royal family who is more senior than her – that includes the Queen and Prince Charles' wife, Camilla Parker Bowles.
Things become complicated when Meghan is with or without Prince Harry – if she is on her own, she will have to curtsy to Prince Harry's cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but if she is with her husband, she isn't required to curtsy.
There are even some royal family members that Meghan will only have to curtsy to if their husband or wife is in the room with them. For instance, Meghan will not have to curtsy to Sophie, Countess of Wessex if her husband Prince Edward is not in the room.
Curtsying is just one rule Meghan will have to get to get used to.
In stark contrast to her acting days on Suits, Meghan's no longer allowed to take selfies, sign autographs or even have her own social media accounts.
In terms of dress, Meghan will have to be dressed prim and proper. Don't think about painting your nails red – royals are expected to opt for nude or pail pink nails. And although she's already broken this rule, Meghan is also expected to wear stockings at all time, even on the hottest summer days.
Read more: The weirdest new rules Meghan Markle will have to follow as a duchess.
Top Comments
Do the royals curtesy to each other when they’re in private, or just at public engagements? I can’t imagine having to be so formal with my own family in a private setting.
I'm pretty certain they bow and curtsy in private too. It's probably so natural to the born and long-time royals now that it's not weird.
Can’t see Meghan bobbing up and down all the time. Imagine if she was at a function where many royals attend and has to keep tabs on whose husband was with who! Curtesy to the Queen out of respect and leave it at that. No way I’d be curtsying to Beatrice or Eugenie! I think we will see some easing of some of those ‘rules!’
Why? Just so Meghan doesn't have to show deference to a Royal higher up in the ladder than her? I doubt she is complaining of her new found obligations.
Not while the Queen is still around. A recent ring-in American won't be the one changing hundreds of years of etiquette. Stuff might change a bit when Charles is king, but not by much.
Just because she was on a TV program once doesn't mean centuries of protocol and etiquette will be changed on her directive.
With the right sound-track and back-beat with the bobbing, bowing and curtsies- once you speed it up makes for a Royally wicked mosh-pit.
DJ Qweenie inda' house.