Meghan Markle Reflects on Challenges of Adapting to Royal Rules
Senior royals, tasked with representing the monarchy at public engagements, are bound by a set of formal and sometimes unusual rules. Princess Kate, who has spent years mastering these customs in preparation for her future role as Queen, is known for her adherence to royal protocols.
Meghan Markle, despite her successful career as an actress before marrying Prince Harry, initially found it challenging to navigate these strict rules. Since stepping back from royal duties, Meghan has been open about the difficulties she faced in adjusting to her new role.
Recently, observant royal fans noticed that Meghan has diverged from a key royal tradition that Kate continues to uphold—specifically, the prohibition on giving autographs. During a recent visit to a children's hospital, Meghan took Polaroid photos with young patients and signed them as keepsakes, a gesture that breaks with traditional royal practice meant to prevent fraud.
In contrast, during the Chelsea Flower Show’s Children’s Picnic last year, Kate was asked for her autograph by a child but had to decline, explaining that royal protocol forbids it. "I can't write my name, but I can draw," Kate reportedly said, adding, "My name's Catherine. I'm not allowed to write my signature; it's just one of those rules."
While Prince Harry has stated that many claims about Meghan "breaking royal protocol" were exaggerated, Meghan herself has acknowledged the challenges she faced in adapting to royal life. In their Netflix documentary series, Meghan described joining the monarchy as a "baptism of fire" and noted that there was no formal training on royal customs. "I needed to learn a lot," Meghan shared, reflecting on the steep learning curve she encountered as an independent American adjusting to the traditions of the British monarchy.
