Revealed: The exact moment that signalled Meghan Markle wasn’t ready to become a royal

Although Meghan Markle‘s stint as a working member of the Royal Family was short-lived, it was eventful.

She only had a handful of engagements before her marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018, with the couple working together as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for less than two years before they dramatically stepped down as senior royals in January 2020.

But during her time in the royal spotlight, Meghan showed time and time again that she was prepared to break well-established royal rules that had existed for generations.

One of the most noteworthy examples was when she and Harry visited Wales on their third royal engagement in January 2018.

On the trip to Cardiff Castle, Meghan proved she was just as popular as her then husband-to-be as crowds cheered her name and swamped her in hugs.

However, her first visit to the country also demonstrated that she was comfortable ripping up the royal rule book when a fan asked if she could have an autograph – something which royals are forbidden from giving.

The longstanding ban is in place due to a fear of fraud, as there’s a risk of royal signatures being copied or forged if their handwriting can be studied.

Meghan Markle raised eyebrows when she appeared to sign an autograph during a walkabout at Cardiff Castle on January 18, 2018

The person who seemingly got Meghan to go against her royal training was Caitlin Clark, then aged ten 

Meghan’s first visit to Wales in 2018 was seen as an early sign that she was prepared to break the Royal Family’s rules

Charles, who has a duty to regularly sign important documents of state, usually responds to these requests by politely saying, ‘Sorry, they don’t allow me to do that’. All of the royals have had to similarly let people down over the years.

But it appears Meghan thought she was not bound by royal protocol. When a fan asked her for an autograph she couldn’t seem to resist the very Hollywood habit that she had formed during her time in the TV series Suits. 

The person who seemingly got her to go against her royal training was ten-year-old girl Caitlin Clark, who innocently asked her: ‘Hi Meghan. Can you sign my book?’

However, instead of simply signing her own name, Meghan thought she would find a clever loophole and instead wrote ‘Hi Kaitlin’ – with a K instead of a C – and adding a heart and a smiley face.

Luckily Caitlin didn’t seem to mind the misspelling, telling reporters at the time, ‘I don’t really care. My heart is still racing. I’ve never got a royal autograph before. This is going to make everyone jealous.’ 

Also on the trip to Cardiff, Meghan allowed one well-wisher, security guard Anthony Herbert, then aged 45, to kiss her on the back of the hand – even though it’s traditionally protocol that royals do not let themselves be kissed by a member of the public.

As well as autographs and kisses, Meghan pushed the boundaries of royal etiquette by taking a selfie-style photo in Cardiff.

The trip to Cardiff was the beginning of Harry’s attempt to show Meghan around the UK before she became his wife

Meghan, then 36, broke the normal rules of royal behaviour when she wrote in a schoolgirl’s notebook, as royal autograph hunters normally go away empty-handed. She wrote ‘Hi Kaitlin’ – albeit misspelt with a K instead of a C – and added a heart and a smiley face

Meghan seemed to find her old Hollywood habit of signing signatures hard to break. Pictured: Signing an autograph outside the Trump Soho hotel in 2014, during her time in the TV show Suits

One of the first to meet Meghan during her trip to Cardiff in 2018 was security officer Anthony Herbert, then 45, who greeted her by bowing and kissing the back of her hand

At Cardiff Castle, which has a history dating back to Roman times, the couple attended a Welsh culture festival

Instead of the more traditional dress and a pair of court shoes, which is the standard uniform for a working royal, Meghan opted to wear a pair of black skinny jeans for her trip to Wales in 2018

Meghan met delighted fans who had waited in the cold at Cardiff Castle during her walkabout

Hundreds of people greeted Harry and Meghan in Cardiff, waving Welsh flags

Ordinarily royals are warned off selfies, as they could pose a security issue because of the closeness they necessitate.

Despite having only recently joined the Royal Family, Meghan knew the rules, as she had been caught telling one person who had asked for a selfie that she was ‘not allowed’ during a previous engagement in Nottingham.

However, in Cardiff Meghan found yet another loophole. The person she made the exception for was 18-year-old sixth-former Amy Thomas, who had asked for a selfie but handed her camera to her mum, Michelle, who took the shot.

She told reporters: ‘I asked for a selfie but maybe that’s not allowed, so my mum took the picture. Meghan asked me my name and we talked about how cold it was. She was really lovely.’ 

Meghan’s tendency to be comfortable breaking the Royal Family’s rules before she had even officially joined it by marrying Harry raised a few eyebrows at the time. 

Its members are taught royal etiquette and traditions by household staff from a young age, but as Meghan married into The Firm at 36, she had obviously not been brought up to understand all of the rules and customs.

The American actress had to learn how to give a proper royal handshake, to stand up when the monarch does and to avoid any PDA.

Sixth-former Amy Thomas asked Meghan for a selfie, but handed her camera to her mum Michelle who took the shot in Cardiff in 2018

Amy and Meghan’s selfie-style photo was taken by her mum Michelle

But it appears the rule-breaking got lost in amongst all the Meghan mania. Royal supporters queued outside Cardiff Castle from 6am as they waited in the biting cold for the US-born actress and her besotted prince

Meghan and Harry were greeted by one woman in Cardiff in the proper formal tradition, with a curtsey

Children passed flowers to Meghan through the barrier when she visited Wales in 2018

Meghan was clearly touched by the outpouring of support she received at that time from the British public

Meghan Markle shaking hands outside Cardiff Castle on January 18, 2018

Her training also included how to greet dignitaries – and expect to be greeted – as well as how to behave on royal engagements and the intricacies of palace life.

And although the autograph ban may seem arcane, it is taken very seriously by those in the institution. 

But it appears the rule-breaking got lost in amongst all of the Meghan mania. Royal supporters queued outside Cardiff Castle from 6am in the biting cold for the chance of seeing the US-born actress and her besotted prince. The couple eventually arrived an hour later than planned due to a train fault.

Instead of the more traditional dress and a pair of court shoes, which is the standard uniform for a working royal, Meghan opted to wear a pair of black skinny jeans.

It seemed she was determined not to give her behaviour or her fashion sense a regal makeover. 

She teamed the look with an off-the-shoulder checked top – another daring choice for an official engagement.

People welcomed Meghan with open arms, handing her gifts when she stopped to say hello

Meghan’s choice of black skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder checked top were daring choices for an official engagement – but ones that showed she did not want to give up her old identity

Celebrity stylist and fashion designer Lucas Armitage told FEMAIL at the time that it was a sign Meghan was not ready to completely give up her old identity. 

He explained: ‘Meghan isn’t someone who plays by the rules with any aspects of her life, especially when it comes to style.

‘She isn’t letting her upcoming nuptials have an impact on her style choices and she is staying true to her signature look instead of adopting the typical royal makeover.

‘This is a clear message that it’s her way and she isn’t changing, which I think is a bold move.’

And although Meghan’s choice to break protocol during the trip to Cardiff were noticed by some, not everyone picked up on the clues that would foreshadow the difficulties to come. 

Most of the headlines claimed the trip was a success, as the future duchess was pictured smiling widely and seemingly enjoying meeting her newfound royal fans.