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| Meghan Markle was allowed to wear the Queen Mary Bandeau tiara on her wedding day to Prince Harry for a reason. Here, the couple are pictured during their carriage procession towards Windsor Castle on their wedding day on May 19, 2018. Photo: Aaron Chown/AFP/Getty Images |
By Lauren Dubois, International Business Times
She may only have a title of Duchess, but there’s a very good reason why Meghan Markle can wear a tiara when the occasion calls for it, but Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who are direct descendants of Queen Elizabeth II, cannot.
According to People Magazine, the reason why Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, can wear a tiara over Prince Andrew’s own daughters, is one that goes back to simple royal tradition. Barring some circumstances, tiaras are reserved for married women in the royal family, and most brides don’t wear them for the first time until their wedding day.
The rule was applied and in effect ahead of Markle’s May 19 nuptials to Prince Harry as well, and she did not don a tiara until her wedding day when she wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, also lived by the rule prior to her April 2011 nuptials to Prince William. Her first tiara was the Queen’s Cartier Halo on her wedding day, and she has only donned others on a handful of occasions since then.
Women in the royal family also only usually wear tiaras during major white-tie events, which is why Markle has not worn another since her wedding day.
However, Princess Eugenie will get her shot at joining her cousin’s wives soon enough, as she is expected to debut her first tiara on her own wedding day, which is scheduled for Oct. 12 at the same church where Prince Harry and Markle said their vows.
According to People, when Eugenie walks down the aisle to marry fiancé Jack Brooksbank, the tiara many are betting that she will wear is the same one her mother, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, wore on her wedding day. That headpiece, the York Diamond Tiara, was specially commissioned for the Duchess as a gift from Queen Elizabeth.
Of course, the reason why Eugenie and her sister have been unable to don tiaras isn’t the only thing they don’t have in common with Middleton and Markle. While Markle notably ended her career as an actress, which included a successful run as Rachel Zane on “Suits,” because she is considered a “full-time” royal and devotes her time to that, the sisters don’t have as high a status. Currently, at 8th and 9th in line to the throne, they are only considered “part-time” royals and can hold down jobs outside of their royal duties.
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