Every Time Meghan Markle Has Broken Royal Fashion Protocol

Meghan Markle is breaking royal style protocol — even down to her nails. At the British Fashion Awards in December, she sported dark nail polish, a bold departure from royal manis we've seen in the past. It's rumored that Queen Elizabeth II only prefers pale nail polish (and finds bolder colors "vulgar") so most Royals comply by wearing muted shades, except Meghan, of course. The Duchess' dark nail polish was a much better complement to her black Givenchy gown, don't you agree?

One of the most confusing Royal Fashion rules of all time? That you can't ditch your shoes on the beach during official royal visits, especially if you're a female member of the royal family. Kate Middleton reportedly kept her shoes on at Manly Beach in 2014, and Princess Diana did the same at NSW Beach in Terrigal in 1983. As she is wont to do, Meghan totally broke protocol and ditched tradition, kicking off her shoes at Bondi Beach mid-October. Can you blame her?

Meghan Markle visited Bondi Beach alongside husband Prince Harry in a shoe style that's considered taboo among royals: the wedge.The reason behind the unofficial shoe ban? Queen Elizabeth simply doesn't like them. "The Queen isn’t a fan of wedged shoes," a source told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl in 2015. "She really doesn’t like them and it’s well known among the women in the family."

To comply, Meghan and Kate often wear wedges when they're not in the Queen's presence. This time around, Meghan chose the Castaner Carina Wedge and lucky for us, they're still available on Shopbop.

While meeting with Lin-Manuel Miranda during a gala celebrating a charity performance of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London, Meghan ditched the pantyhose and went bare-legged in a black Judith & Charles dress. Royal protocol dictates that she's supposed to wear stockings anytime she sports a skirt or a dress — a rule that Meghan has broken before, but not since becoming Duchess, as Allure points out. TBH, who could blame her? It's summer, and it's hot. I wouldn't want to wear pantyhose, either.

While it’s been reported that Queen Elizabeth II prefers women in the family to choose dresses and skirts for official appearances, Meghan opted for a pair of white pants and a striped shirt from Ralph Lauren for this most recent Wimbledon match, which she attended with sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

For the event, Meghan chose an off-the-shoulder two-piece Prada look which she received some flack for. Though the Queen has been known to wear the same silhouette (in her younger years), it’s not often that skin is shown in that manner for a daytime event.

Meghan has been known to wear crossbody bags. While it’s not actually prohibited, most royals opt for clutches so that they can respectively avoid shaking hands with everyone they meet.

Though most royals are known to opt for tights or pantyhose, even in nude, Meghan boldly ditched the more conservative accessory for her official engagement announcement.

Though it's not technically fashion, Meghan Markle's signature messy bun is a bold departure from typical royal hairstyles, which are traditionally neat with nary a hair out of place.

The Duchess often dons her favorite white Panama hat to catch friend Serena Williams's tennis matches, but unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to this year. Hats are discouraged in the Royal Box as they could block the view of people sitting behind the wearer. Meghan eventually acquiesced with this particular rule, opting to carry her hat in her hand instead.

Even their engagement photos were a deviation from royal fashion protocol. Meghan chose a stunning sheer dress for the occasion, and while the gown was still respectfully demure, the transparent material was certainly a break from tradition.

Meghan Markle appreciates the virtues of a perfectly-tailored suit, but other members of the royal family may not be thrilled about her sartorial choices. It's reported that she wants to wear a tuxedo-style suit when she visits Australia in the Fall, but Prince Harry doesn't approve. Even her less formal suits are considered a bit rogue; royal women usually stick to a repertoire of skirts and dresses.

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