The Queen Is Letting Meghan Markle Do Something Usually Reserved For Senior Royals

Meghan Markle Effect — (Image credit: REX)

Quite the privilege!

She may only have been married for less than four weeks, but Meghan Markle is already throwing herself into her new job.

Meghan Markle will carry out her first public engagement without her husband today, accompanying Queen Elizabeth on a visit to Cheshire.

The pair will spend the day carrying out official duties, just the two of them, and will have lunch at Chester Town Hall as well as opening a bridge and a theatre.

It's a pretty big milestone for the Duchess of Sussex; by contrast, Kate Middleton was married to Prince William for a year before her first solo engagement with the Queen.

Perhaps more significant, though, is the privilege the Queen has let Meghan Markle have for the occasion.

The two travelled in the royal train – which is reserved only for the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla and their staff.

According to HELLO! US, Prince William has only ever ridden it once in 2003, while Prince Harry and Kate Middleton are thought never to have had the honour.

Lucky Meghan!

We like to think that this is because the pair are already getting on like a real house on fire.

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has also written for titles including Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, Glamour and woman&home. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results. When she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll probably find her reading or Netflix-ing.