Carrying Purses

Markle defied royal tradition in November when she attended her first official engagement with Prince Harry carrying a burgundy and navy Strathbury tote bag.

According to royal etiquette expert William Hanson, royal women are encouraged to carry clutches, rather than purses with straps, to deter people from reaching to shake their hands.

Per tradition, people are only allowed to shake royal family members’ hands if they extend their hand first—not the other way around. This is why Kate Middleton is frequently spotted with purses instead of handbags.
‘It is protocol that you do not extend your hand to any member of the royal family (blood royal or those who have married into the family) unless their hand extends first,” Hanson told The Daily Mail.

Contouring Her Cheeks

Though it’s not an official rule, royal women traditionally keep their makeup simple and subtle. Though some women, such as Princess Diana with her blue eyeliner, have tiptoed outside the lines, most keep their makeup clean and natural-looking (i.e., Kate Middleton).

So Markle definitely made a statement when she wore fully contoured and rosy-blushed cheeks when she attended a Christmas Day church service in December.

Wearing a Messy Bun

The tradition for royal women to keep their hair sleek and fuss-free dates back to a decades-old rule barring women from showing their hair. Queen Elizabeth frequently nods to this tradition by keeping her hair hidden underneath a hat, while Kate Middleton has been photographed with her locks neatly tucked into a hairnet.

Given this tradition, Markle made big headlines when she stepped out twice with a messy bun. The look featured a loosely tied bun in the back of Markle’s head with loose, wispy strands flying across her face in the wind.

Not Wearing Pantyhose

Wearing a Canadian coat wasn’t the only royal tradition Markle broke on her engagement day. The actress committed a huge no-no when she stepped out to officially announce her engagement without pantyhose.

Markle’s decision to flaunt her bare legs went against an age-old tradition in the royal family encouraging women to wear stockings. According to “Today,” Queen Elizabeth hasn’t been photographed without pantyhose in 91 years, while Kate Middleton’s polished stockings are known to bring pantyhose back in style. Perhaps Markle is starting her own trend?

Wearing a Sheer Dress

Markle made a statement in her official engagement photos with Prince Harry when she wore a sheer gold-leaf-embroidered black dress with a long ruffled skirt. In comparison to Kate Middleton’s conservative white day dress, Markle’s transparent-looking dress sparked a heated reaction among critics. Many traditionalists criticized Markle’s sheer outfit, with some accusing her of not wearing underwear.

“Is she actually wearing a see through top in a royal photograph? What on earth is going on at the palace that this is being allowed!?? Has the Queen lost her mind?? Is Harry blackmailing everyone?” one critic wrote.

Wearing Ripped Jeans

Markle sparked a heated internet debate when she wore ripped jeans at Toronto’s Invictus Games in September. The actress caught the attention of critics when she paired an untucked white shirt with jeans ripped at the hem and knees. Many traditionalists compared Markle to Kate Middleton who rarely wears jeans, and if she does, they’re never ripped.

According to royal etiquette expert Diana Mather, jeans are considered very casual, which is why you’ll rarely see royals wearing them.

“Many places will not allow jeans as they are still seen as very casual wear, so it is better to play safe for both sexes,” Mather told BBC. “But if the duchess is outside walking the dogs for example, then jeans are fine.”

Her All-Diamond Engagement Ring

Markle’s all-diamond engagement ring might make us drool with envy, but it’s actually a tradition-breaker. For the past few generations, royal women have favored gemstone engagement rings over pure diamonds.

Princess Diana, Kate Middleton (who has Diana’s ring), the Queen Mother, and Princess Anne boasted engagement rings with sapphires, while Princess Margaret’s featured a ruby.

Wearing Non-British Brands

Traditionally, the royal family is expected to wear only British designers and brands, such as Burberry and Alexander McQueen. This is why it was such a big deal when Markle showed up at her official engagement announcement in a knee-length white trench coat by the Canadian brand Line the Label.

Markle, who is American but spent several years in Toronto shooting her show “Suits,” paid tribute to Canada again when she wore a collared camel coat by the Canadian brand Smythe in January.

Wearing Lip Gloss

For the same reason as avoiding contoured cheeks, royal women are discouraged from wear lip gloss, according to Harper’s Bazaar. The stickiness—which, as many know, can often lead to hair sticking on your lips—is something royal women want to avoid. So it surprised many when Markle showed up to a Christmas lunch hosted by Queen Elizabeth in December with a lip-glossed pout.

Wearing Mismatched Earrings

Mismatched earrings are still somewhat taboo in the regular world—let alone in the royal family. Markle turned heads when she wore two different earrings—one with three tiny stars and another shaped in V—at an official engagement in Wales in January.