This is why Meghan Markle has stopped wearing cross body bags

If you cast your mind back to when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just got engaged, she used to wear a lot of crossbody bags, like this £171 Oroton bag or this Strathberry tote, however, since getting married and becoming the Duchess of Sussex, eagle-eyed fans have noticed that she's stopped wearing them.

For the past few royal outings, the Duchess has been carrying a clutch bag, or nothing at all, and it's for the same reason Kate Middleton always carries a clutch bag.

Royal expert Penny Junor told Harper's Bazaar, ‘I suspect that when Meghan was an actress and not a member of royalty, she kept money, make-up, and the kitchen sink in her cross-body bags – as we all do. Now that she is a duchess, she doesn’t need anything more useful than lipstick, and possibly her phone.’

However, there may be another reason for this. According to etiquette expert William Hanson, the reason Kate, and perhaps Meghan, carries a bag is that it avoids awkward hand shaking situations.

At the time, he said, ‘It is protocol that you do not extend your hand to any member of the royal family (blood royal or those who have married in to the family) unless their hand extends first.’

And actually, since the Royal wedding, Meghan hasn't been on as many meet-and-greet events, which required her to have her hands free to shake hands with royal fans and accept gifts.

So there you have it.