Royals

Why Meghan Markle has been banned from wearing trousers on her next Royal Tour

She doesn't wear the pants, apparently...
Loading the player...

Since marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has continued to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a working royal in 2018.

Whether it’s her exciting declaration on her Royal Family bio page of being a “proud feminist”, or speaking out on female empowerment, the new Duchess of Sussex has fast become the ultimate role model.

Obsessed with the royals? Like our Facebook page Now To Love Royals for the latest news on your favourite royal family members!

Even in the style stakes, the 36-year-old has thrown out the royal rule book.

But according to a shock new report from the Mail on Sunday in the UK, Meghan Marke’s desire to wear trousers on her upcoming tour of Australia has ruffled a few feathers within the royal household.

The publication claims the former Suits actress, who has stepped out in several stylish tuxedo pants over the past few months, recently made a bulk order of designer trousers to wear on her upcoming tour of Australia – but the decision was ultimately vetoed by Prince Harry.

Want more celeb goss? Listen to the latest episode of the Woman’s Day Uncensored Podcast, where the team discuss MAFS‘ Dean Wells finding God, Bob Irwin’s dying wish to see his grandchildren and Victoria and David Beckham’s complex relationship.

The Duchess dazzled in this chic Alexander McQueen pant suit back in February.

“The style is said to be barely tolerated by Royal aides, who want her to stick to the traditional demure skirts and opaque tights,” the Mail on Sunday claimed.

“And Harry, who has been sitting in on some of Meghan’s meetings at Kensington Palace with ‘special projects teams’ from various designers, is said to have given the thumbs-down to a masculine Stella McCartney tuxedo suit his wife picked out for a glitzy evening event during the tour,” the news outlet added.

While all of her public outings have gone off without a hitch, behind the scenes it’s believed Meghan has been “expressing frustrations” with many of the monarchy’s stringent customs and traditions.

Of course, Meghan isn’t the first royal to favour the style.

Loading the player...

Duchess Catherine rocks a slim-fit trouser like no other!

Princess Diana turned heads in this daring tuxedo in 1988.

Her late mother-in-law Princess Diana was a huge fan of the tuxedo-style pant, famously rocking the look back in 1988.

Duchess Catherine has also attended several royal engagements in trousers, most recently donning a pair of slim-fit trousers during Commonwealth celebrations in London back in March.

Despite the push-back from her husband and royal courtiers, the Mail on Sunday insists that “Meghan is determined to remain her own woman.”

The Queen is said to prefer royal women avoid trousers.

Like all matters within “The Firm”, the final call is always made by the Queen, who reportedly is “uneasy” about royal women in trousers, unless they are jodhpurs.

As Duchess Meghan continues to pave her own way, royal aides are reportedly trying to help guide the American starlet around royal protocol.

“Meghan is being told she needs to stop dressing like a Hollywood star and start dressing like a Royal. Meghan wanted to wear a tuxedo-style suit but Harry said it wasn’t traditional enough,” an insider explained.

Before her first royal appearance with the Queen last month, the Mail on Sunday report that the 92-year-old’s dresser Angela Kelly reached out to Meghan advising her she should wear a hat because her grandmother-in-law would also be in one.

However, Meghan decided to leave her hair out, and go sans hat.

As we countdown to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming royal tour of Oz in October, all eyes will be on the Duchess’ wardrobe. And if we see her wearing pants, we’ll be giving her a mental high-five.

Hats off to her! Meghan Markle was reportedly advised to wear a hat for her first joint appearance with the Queen last month, but she went bare-headed.

Related stories