Meghan Markle: Why the Queen changed the Royal rule book for Prince Harry's fiancée

Lucia Binding27 April 2018

The Queen has "changed the rule book" for Meghan Markle because she was “desperate” to start royal life before marrying Prince Harry, experts have said.

Ms Markle, 36, has conducted more royal engagements than any other previous brides-to-be including Princess Diana and Kate Middleton.

The former Suits actress is set to wed Prince Harry on May 19 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

She has accompanied her fiancé to engagements in Birmingham, Northern Ireland, Cardiff and several in London.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum

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She also spent Christmas with the Queen and the rest of the Royal family at Sandringham House, Norfolk - a first for any unofficial royal.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “The royal rule book was changed to allow her to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the first royal fiancée to do so.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Women's Empowerment reception hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
Getty Images

“A committed feminist, she is proof of a more inclusive royal family who will unquestionably benefit from her worldwide profile.

“Her chemistry with Harry is perfection, the two are already making their mark together and she can’t wait ‘to hit the ground running’ to help others in the causes she believes in.

“The world’s spotlight will be on the wedding which will be a magnificent piece of theatre and as a former actress she will know how to use her profile as a senior royal to champion the causes she so passionately believes in."

Ms Markle said she hoped to “hit the ground running” as she joined Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to discuss the Royal Foundation in February.

By next Wednesday, she will have taken part in five engagements in just six days, including joining Harry for official Commonwealth duties on behalf of the Queen.

The couple attended the Women’s Empowerment reception at the Royal Aeronautical Society on Thursday night.

Getting on with it: Meghan Markle is embracing royal life with Prince Harry 
Getty Images

Mr Fitzwilliams added of her busy schedule: “Meghan will be a very different type of royal.

“As soon as their long-awaited engagement was announced, she and Harry visited Nottingham and we saw how expertly she worked the crowds as she has subsequently in visits to other parts of Britain.

“Meghan mania is a potent force and she has coped with the avalanche of press interest extremely well.”

Ms Markle joined the royals for Christmas at Sandringham
Getty Images

Royal expert Phil Dampier revealed that the Queen’s “pragmatic” thinking has allowed Ms Markle to get so involved with royal work ahead of the wedding.

He told the Standard: “These are very different times.

“Being at Sandringham at Christmas and doing all of these pre-wedding jobs would not have happened 20 or 30 years ago.

“The Queen as always is pragmatic and realises Meghan is desperate to get started and make a contribution.

“The fact they are not married yet doesn't seem to matter anymore. At 36, she is the same age Diana was when she died. Meghan is a mature woman and wants to get on with it.”

Ms Markle will also attend a reception celebrating Sydney’s hosting of Invictus Games at the Australian High Commission on Saturday.

On Monday, she is scheduled to join Harry for the 25th Anniversary Memorial Service of Stephen Lawrence's murder.

Kensington Palace announced that Ms Markle will attend several events commemorating Anzac Day next Wednesday with Harry.

In contrast, Princess Diana made a handful of engagements after her engagement announcement to Prince Charles in February 1981, along with a few polo matches.

After Kate Middleton became officially engaged to Prince William in November 2010, she didn’t make her first official engagement until February 2011 where she launched a boat for the RNLI.

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