Prince Harry has copied a behavior that his wife Meghan Markle has done many times before. In doing so, the Duke of Sussex has broken a royal protocol that did not escape royal observers.
While attending the anniversary celebration of the Invictus Games in London, Prince Harry committed a minor faux pau that Duchess Meghan also accidentally did nearly a year ago. He, absentmindedly, shut the car door by himself as he emerged out of the vehicle that brought him to the venue.
According to Daily Express, photos showed that the car's chauffeur scrambled to close the door for Prince Harry, but he insisted on doing this himself. Duchess Meghan made the same mistake exactly one year ago while attending an event at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where she shut the car door on her own. The Duchess received both praises and criticisms for doing the unconventional move.
Members of the royal family are not supposed to open and shut car doors for their safety, according to Diana Mather, an etiquette expert. Prince Harry has been used to this protocol all his life while Duchess Meghan, while not comfortable in the beginning, is slowly getting used to the practice. This protocol was in place during a time when carriages were the main mode of transport; hence, it might seem outdated today.
"[This is] yet another silent signal that Meghan is going to be doing things her own way and helping adapt and progress the British monarchy," another etiquette expert William Hanson told Daily Express.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth is reportedly not keen on discussing Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan during a recent riding trip among friends and subjects. It was the one topic she insisted must be off-limits, and guests have been warned not to mention the Sussex royals, according to FOX News.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan reportedly disappointed Queen Elizabeth when they decided to skip a trip to Balmoral, the Queen's summer home, which should've been a summer tradition. Reports stated that they didn't want to fly to Scotland because their son, Archie Harrison, was still too young.
Instead, Duchess Meghan went on a surprise visit to the U.S. to cheer on the tennis match of her friend, Serena Williams, while leaving Archie at home with the nannies. The couple has also been preoccupied with preparing for their South African trip.
