Meghan Markle laughs at pantyhose royal rule she had to follow when she represented late Queen
The Duchess of Sussex opened up on a podcast episode with Emily Chang
Meghan Markle is opening up about one of the more surprising royal rules she had to follow during her time as a working member of the royal family – and it involves panyhose.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, reflected on the strict dress code during a candid interview on The Circuit with Emily Chang. It aired on August 26, the same day season two of her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, premiered.
Meghan Markle admits she was forced to wear “nude pantyhose”
During the interview, Emily asked Meghan whether she ever felt tension trying to appear “relatable” while holding the title of duchess.
“No, I don’t find [that],” Meghan replied. “I’m just being myself. So I think, probably, it was different several years ago where I couldn’t be as vocal.”
Meghan then laughed as she recalled one particular example.
“I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time,” she said, giggling.
She admitted the rule felt outdated and unnatural.
“Let’s be honest, that was not very myself. I hadn’t seen pantyhose since the ’80s, when they came in the little egg? That felt a little bit inauthentic. But that’s a silly example.”
Meghan used the anecdote to illustrate how much her life has changed since stepping away from royal duties in 2020.
The mum-of-two added: “When you’re able to dress the way you want to dress and you’re able to say the things that are true and you’re able to show up in the space really organically and authentically, that’s being comfortable in your own skin. Of course, I’ve had different chapters in my life. But right now, I don’t feel that I need to prove anything.”
Royal fashion rules
This isn’t the first time Meghan has spoken about how fashion rules shaped her experience in the royal family.
In her 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the Duchess revealed that she deliberately dressed in muted tones while representing the monarchy to avoid drawing attention.
Meghan explained that during her time in the UK, she “rarely wore colour.” Recalling the strict rules, she explained that she couldn’t match Queen Elizabeth II’s outfit at group events. However, she also had to avoid wearing the same shades as other senior royals.
Referencing Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla, she explained how she navigated the unspoken rules.
“So I was like, ‘Well, what’s a colour that they’ll probably never wear? Camel, beige, white.’ So I wore a lot of muted tones, but it was also so I could just blend in.
“I’m not trying to stand out here. There was no version of me joining this family and not doing everything I could to fit in. I don’t want to embarrass the family.”
Meghan and Prince Harry, 40, stepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020 and relocated to California, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
While Meghan builds her personal brand through ventures like With Love, Meghan and her As Ever lifestyle business, the couple has made it clear they are carving their own paths outside the monarchy.
Read more: Meghan Markle’s fears over Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet reading negative things about her
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