How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol at Her First Trooping the Colour

Meghan Markle‘s days of attending the annual Trooping the Colour ceremonies alongside the rest of the Royal Family are long over, but her first rule-breaking appearance is forever ingrained in history.

The Duchess of Sussex made her Trooping the Colour debut in June 2018, a month after marrying Prince Harry in a lavish London ceremony, in a look that breached royal protocol.

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In case you need a refresher, Meghan donned a pastel pink Carolina Herrera ensemble, which included the iconic asymmetric silhouette. However, she broke a major royal rule: no off-the-shoulder looks at major royal events.

You can see the photos below:

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 09: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex travels down The Mall in a horse drawn carriage during Trooping The Colour 2018 on June 9, 2018 in London, England. The annual ceremony involving over 1400 guardsmen and cavalry, is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen’s actual birthday is on April 21st. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 09: Harry Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex atend Trooping The Colour 2018 at Various Locations on June 9, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)

As you can see, Meghan looked absolutely radiant on that day and nailed the unofficial pastel-colored dress code. However, this royal protocol rule-breaking shocked many.

Bethan Holt even told The Telegraph at the time that Meghan’s look “will be compiled on her own terms. Hers is a 21st-century take on elegance that looks as pristine as is expected in her new royal role, but which also pushes some of the unspoken rules of the regal dress code.”

The British royal family has a lot of dress code rules: no off-the-shoulder looks, you can’t show your knees, nail polish has to be natural looking, wearing clutches in certain hands, and more, per Cosmopolitan. Now, obviously, Meghan isn’t the first to break the off-the-shoulder rule. Back on July 19, 2017, when she donned an off-the-shoulder red gown from Alexander McQueen at The Queen’s Birthday Party, and Diana donned this trend numerous times as a royal.

Meghan then arrived at 2019 Trooping the Colour; she donned a dark navy ensemble from Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, along with a fascinator by Noel Stewart, mere months after welcoming her son, Archie, per What Meghan Wore.

By the time Trooping the Colour returned from its 2020 and 2021 hiatus, Meghan and Harry had relocated to the US after leaving the Royal Family, and amid an ongoing feud with Prince William and King Charles, the couple will not make their return this year.

Per People, the couple are not invited to the festivities for a third year in a row.

Before you go, click here to see the 100 best photos of the royal family from the past 20 years.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle

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