Meghan Markle will find the realities of royal life challenging once she is married to Prince Harry, royal experts claim.
The imminent royal wedding on 19 May at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle has sparked an infectious buzz across the nation.
But the former Suits actress is preparing to face a lifetime of pressure as an official member of “The Firm” once the vows are said and done.
Having earned her fame and fortune in Hollywood through hard work, Meghan’s life will change significantly once she enters an institution where protocol, deference and hierarchy are integral.
The intense scrutiny she has experienced from the media will reach new heights once she marries Harry, according to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
He told Sky News: “When she marries, her life will not be her own in many ways.
“The press will scrutinise the smallest slip.
“To some extent she will be used to this, but the exposure she had for Suits and her impressive online presence with The Tig and social media will be nothing compared to the enormous press interest when she is part of the Windsors.
“Trips abroad will be extremely important. She and Harry will use them as charitable activists on a mission,” he added.
Meghan’s fashion may undergo a noticeable transformation in the eyes of the public upon global judgement of her, says Grant Harrold, former butler to Prince Harry.
He said: “The biggest changes we will notice in Meghan is her dress codes.
“Royal ladies do have their own styles as our Queen and Duchess of Cambridge have shown us over the years.
“Meghan will have her own style but it will be in keeping with royal dress codes, so we won’t see her wearing mini skirts or tights or nail varnish with glitter on them!”
Representing the royal brand in the right way could be testing for Meghan, Mr Harrold believes.
He said: “The most challenging part for Meghan might be to remember everything she does and says no longer reflects on just her but on the Royal Family.
“‘The Firm”, as we affectionately call it, has strict rules in place from the protocols, etiquette and the day to day running of the monarchy.
“Everything she says or does will now reflect on the royal brand. Meghan will, therefore, need to have this in the back of her mind every single day of her life.”
And watching her words at all times may become a great task for even someone like Meghan, who got a first taste of the limelight in 2004, says etiquette expert William Hanson.
He said: “The crown must always come first not the individual. Meghan will need to learn when to say something of note and when to say something that says something without saying anything.
“Meghan has come from a culture that is much more direct and succinct than Britain and also from a celebrity culture where the spotlight is focused on the individual, not the cause.
“From 19 May onwards, Meghan will have to adjust and temper what she says and does in order to not cause offence and not to become too opinionated about certain things.”
But the LA-born actress and humanitarian, 36, will be offered a wealth of advice from Kate Middleton, who married into the Royal Family in 2011 when she wed Prince William.
Of the guidance Meghan will receive from Harry and other Royal Family members, Mr Harrold said: “Meghan will learn the role of being a royal by watching and getting help and guidance from her future husband and sister-in-law.
“We can already see there is a great relationship forming between Catherine and Meghan and this will only help Meghan, and who better to learn from than someone who went through the same thing and mastered it beautifully?
“I am also sure the Queen will be there to offer advice when it is needed.”
Mr Fitzwilliams added that William and Kate, who also live at Kensington Palace, would be the most helpful to Meghan.
He said: “Meghan will need guidance from Harry but also William and Kate, who are neighbours at Apartment 1A of the Palace, and who will be most supportive.”
Protocol aside, Meghan’s greatest personal challenge in her new role will undoubtedly be wanting to make a positive change with the causes she supports.
Already a passionate humanitarian, she was previously a counsellor for international charity One Young World and spoke at the 2014 annual summit in Dublin on the topics of gender quality and modern day slavery.
Meghan, who identifies as a feminist, has also worked with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women as an Advocate.
Back in February, while on her first working engagement with William, Kate and her future husband, Harry, Meghan showcased her support for the #MeToo and Times Up campaigns against sexual assault, harassment and inequality.
Mr Fitzwilliams believes that Meghan, who was selected as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine this year, could change the future for women if she uses her newfound power wisely.
He said: “The future of the monarchy lies in the hands of the younger senior members of the Royal Family, they are all enormously popular as Meghan will be and when she wants to hit the ground running.
“With her support for #MeToo and the Times Up movements and also LGBT causes in the Commonwealth, these are issues that she will take up as she will gender equality and also.”
Mr Fitzwilliams said that Meghan’s influence is “unique” in comparison to other royals.
He added: “As an ‘ethnic chameleon’ who wasn’t white enough for the white roles or black enough for the black roles, she will reach out to persons of colour who might feel the Royal Family were remote.
“This will have enormous appeal in Commonwealth.
“Courtiers are a conservative breed but in Meghan, they’ve got an original.
“She knows she must avoid party politics but expect her legacy to be in the causes she promotes with Harry and her to be a truly unique royal, not just because she is biracial and a divorcee and our first American princess but because of what she achieves with Harry on behalf of others.”
:: Sky News will broadcast live in Windsor the week before the royal wedding with all the build up to the big day, with exclusive live coverage of the wedding in UHD in a special programme from 9am to 3pm on Sky News and Sky One on Saturday 19 May.
From – SkyNews
