Meghan Markle Broke Royal Tradition With Her Accessory Choice
Meghan Markle has been handling the flurry of attention since her engagement to Prince Harry remarkably well, and the public is loving it all, from her sorority photos to her former teachers’ recollections of her. Her style is already on point, even rivaling that of the Duchess of Cambridge, and she’s already following the rules — if not every tradition. One recent tradition she didn’t follow had to do with her handbag.
Markle was photographed on her first official outing as Prince Harry’s fiancée in Nottingham on Friday. For the occasion, the royal-to-be wore a long navy overcoat, a khaki skirt, and carried a handbag.
Markle carried the wonderfully colorblocked Strathberry’s Nano Tote ($667). The tote sold out within 11 minutes, a testament to the actress’ sartorial influence. What was really significant about it, though, was the sharp contrast to the way Kate Middleton carries her belongings.
The Duchess is rarely seen without a clutch, and the reason behind it is to avoid awkward handshakes, according to Daily Mail. Etiquette expert William Hanson says that “the Duchess of Cambridge may well prefer not to shake hands with certain people — but there are other ways to achieve this, as used by The Queen and other members of the royal family, than opting for a clutch over a bag with a strap.”
It’s protocol to not be the first one to extend your hand to a royal, whether they’re royal by blood or have married into the family; you must wait for them to extend their hand first. Markle, unlike Middleton, appears to not be worried about people ignoring this protocol as she kept her hands free by opting for this handbag style. Hopefully, people won’t abuse her decision and remember their manners!
What do you think of Meghan Markle’s accessory choice? Tell us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Chris Jackson/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage)