Meghan broke royal protocol when she attended Trooping the Colour according to etiquette expert, writes ELIZA SCARBOROUGH

From the moment Meghan Markle made her debut at Trooping the Colour in 2018, it was clear she was not going to be a royal who quietly blended into the background.

Fresh from her wedding to Prince Harry just weeks before, the Duchess of Sussex arrived in an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress in a soft blush pink shade with a matching Philip Treacy hat.

While fashion lovers lauded her modern and elegant choice, however, royal watchers raised their eyebrows.

The reason? Her shoulder-baring frock broke with royal tradition, a move that in hindsight might be seen to have foreshadowed the Meghan’s challenge to the monarchy.

The dress was a striking departure from the typical demure looks normally favoured at such occasions events.

Laura Windsor, the UK’s Queen of Etiquette, explains that for royal occasions such as Trooping the Colour, being modest and conservative is key.

‘Shoulders should always be covered, and the golden rule of dressing is to adhere to protocol. Protocol is there for a reason as every time it is breached, a member of the Royal Family becomes headline news.

While fashion lovers lauded her modern and elegant choice, however, royal watchers raised their eyebrows

Meghan wore a pink bespoke Carolina Herrera Pink Off-The-Shoulder Separates and was accompanied by her husband, Prince Harry during the journey

Meghan’s bare shoulders were on show on the famous balcony whilst chatting to her father-in-law King Charles

‘Meghan was a member of the Royal Family and should have respected protocol. By breaching protocol, she was sending a pretty clear message.

‘In my view, that made her a poor decision-maker.’

She wonders if Meghan felt – mistakenly – that she could single-handedly overhaul the dress codes of the Windsors.

‘I would expect an emotionally mature person to respect the tradition and protocol of a country. Meghan chose to take her own independent path with her fashion choices.’

Trooping the Colour is one of the most important dates in the royal calendar, a time-honoured celebration of the sovereign’s official birthday, steeped in centuries-old protocol.

Members of the Royal Family turn out in their finest, adhering to an unspoken yet rigid dress code that prioritises formality and conservative elegance.

Every outfit is more than just a style statement, it is a carefully curated nod to tradition and respect for the monarchy’s customs.

‘The bottom line is that the outfit always has to fit the occasion,’ says royal expert Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette.

‘It has to be modest, elegant and appropriate, and it should never distract from the role.’

She believes that when dressing for a royal event, the last thing you want is to spark a public debate about a poor outfit choice or be caught breaking royal etiquette.

According to fashion etiquette expert Liz Wyse from Debrett’s: ‘A royal attending an event will expect to be the centre of a great deal of focus and scrutiny whatever they wear, and they are likely to prioritise their own unique style and ease.’

The late Queen, Camilla and Kate were all dressed in co-ordinated powder blue ensembles, a striking show of unity.

Meghan, however, stood out in her soft pink dress, further solidifying her status as an outsider to royal tradition.

To some royal insiders, this was more than just a sartorial choice, it was a message. Royal women, from the late Queen to Kate, have long adhered to an unwritten but closely followed set of style rules, which dictate appropriate hemlines, sleeve lengths, and colour palettes.

The Duchess of Sussex enjoyed her first Trooping The Colour and was seen waving to the crowds

Trooping the Colour is one of the most important dates in the royal calendar, a time-honoured celebration of the sovereign’s official birthday

Etiquette expert Laura Windsor says that Meghan frequently bent or even ignored royal dress codes

Meghan, ever the Hollywood starlet, brought a touch of red-carpet glamour to the palace balcony even though that style is usually for evening events

Off-the-shoulder gowns are typically reserved for evening events, not daytime occasions steeped in military history. But Meghan, ever the Hollywood starlet, brought a touch of red-carpet glamour to the palace balcony.

The decision to wear such a contemporary silhouette was the first in a series of fashion choices that would come to define Meghan’s time as a working royal.

Even before her engagement to Prince Harry, she had made clear her preference for modern, structured designs that in contrast with the more traditional royal look.

Often pushing boundaries, over the course of her short tenure as a working royal, Meghan regularly returned to the off-the-shoulder neckline, appearing in similar styles at multiple events.

Etiquette expert Laura Windsor says that Meghan frequently bent or even ignored dress codes and opened herself to scrutiny to get attention and display her independence.

Although Meghan certainly has her supporters, and plenty had hoped she would help modernise the monarchy, Ms Windsor is critical.

‘A confident and happy person doesn’t adopt disruptive behaviour but shows respect and decorum,’ she says

Meghan’s choice to wear an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress at Trooping the Colour was just the first move.

Her approach to royal dressing was unapologetically defiant – a declaration of independence in the eyes of some.

Fashion has always been a powerful form of expression, and in Meghan’s case, it spoke volumes. Whether intentional or not, her style choices often sent a clear message: she was here to do things her way, even if that meant shaking things up.