Kate Middleton had been a part of the Royal family since 2011, and Meghan Markle officially became a part of the clan in 2018. Being royal has its perks, but it surely doesn’t mean that they are all above the law.
Meaning, if the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex break the law, they are not exempted from prosecution. The wives of Prince William and Prince Harry can even be thrown in prison, according to Carly Read of Express.
"Although civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under UK law, The Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law," the royal family website stated.
Aside from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and other members of the Royal family are also not exempted from prosecution, fine, and jail time if proven guilty in breaking the law. Queen Elizabeth, on the other hand, is considered above the law and has sovereign immunity.
A royal breaking the law is already a huge scandal. So, there are certain rules to be followed to avoid even more controversy. If a member of the royal family breaks the law, they cannot be arrested in civil proceedings, according to the legal encyclopedia Halsbury's Laws of England.
Also, the arrests cannot take place in the presence of Queen Elizabeth or the reigning monarch at the time of the arrest. The suspected royal outlaws also cannot be arrested anywhere near a palace.
If people think that it's impossible for royal family members to break the law, they are wrong. In fact, the first member who was convicted of a crime was Queen Elizabeth’s sister Princess Anne.
Princess Royal was fined £500 and ordered to pay £250 in compensation and £148 in costs at Slough Magistrates’ Court after breaking the dangerous dog act law. Her three-year-old English bull terrier Dotty bit two children in Windsor in 2002, and she was convicted for the crime as she was responsible for her pet’s actions.
As for Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, it is quite hard to imagine them breaking any laws, considering how they are more aware about social media right now. The Duchess of Cambrdige and Duchess of Sussex know that they are living under the microscope, so they are more careful to not give anybody any reason to judge them.
