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    1. Culture
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    3. Royal News

    This is apparently the only time Meghan Markle's fashion choice upset the palace

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 2 April 2019 In News

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    Meghan Markle has been known to rip up the royal rulebook, and whether it’s giving feminist speeches on the regular - even at her own wedding - or having an A-list baby shower, she’s not afraid to do things a little differently.

    This is no exception when it comes to her wardrobe choices, with the Duchess of Sussex making news every time she bypasses royal tradition to wear dark nail varnish or off the shoulder dresses.

    But, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl, while many of her decisions aren’t traditional, they are by no means breaking rules.

    ‘You read all the time about Meghan breaking protocol by wearing dark nail polish, Meghan breaking protocol by wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, breaking protocol by wearing black or by not wearing tights. She's not breaking royal protocol,’ Katie Nicholl told Glamour. ‘There is no book of royal etiquette. She's just doing things differently. I don't think that is causing huge problems at the palace — if Meghan steps out wearing dark nail polish, I don't think it's upsetting anyone.’

    meghan markle the queen baby shower new york

    REX
    (Image credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

    But the royal expert then went on to recall the one time Meghan did cause a stir with her wardrobe choices - and it’s all to do with headgear.

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    ‘I think possibly eyebrows were raised when she didn't wear a hat on her first official engagement with the queen, and I do think that was a mistake,’ the royal expert explained. ’But I think, other than that, people get their knickers in a twist unnecessarily so.’

    Meghan’s decision against wearing a hat was commented on at the time, with royal sources suggesting that the Duchess hadn’t understood the protocol.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    But when asked about the Queen and Meghan Markle’s relationship, it seems that there’s not even a hint of bad blood, with Nicholl insisting, ‘She likes Meghan. She's very impressed with her work ethic.’

    Well, that’s a relief!

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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