Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be abandoning protocol in a big way on their royal tour

Here’s everything to know…

Here’s everything to know…

The Sussex family are officially on tour, with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and of course baby Archie travelling to South Africa for the first leg of their 10-day tour.

The millennial couple have always been known to rip up the royal rulebook, so it’s hardly surprising that already on day two of their tour, the royal couple have broken protocol.

Yes, the couple are changing up royal tours, not only insisting on a casual entrance into Cape Town, forgoing the traditional red carpet welcome, but they are also asking for members of the public to address them by their first names. Not only this, the Duke and Duchess are reportedly insisting that people do not bow or curtsy to them.

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‘This isn’t a holiday and they don’t want it to look like one,’ a royal source told Vanity Fair of the couple’s schedule of 86 official engagements.

‘This has been months in the planning and a lot of hard work has gone into the schedule. Their Royal Highnesses want to do some serious work on the ground, particularly at a community level.’

Going on to talk about the lack of formalities on this tour, the source continued: It’s very much how they want things done. There is no protocol that says you have to bow or curtsy when you meet them, it’s really up to the individual.’

We’re wishing harry and Meghan a very happy tour!

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.