Meghan Markle ripped up Queen's rule and 'took a side' as royal rift deepened

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Meghan struggled with one aspect of royal life that the Queen always upheld (Image: Getty Images)
Meghan struggled with one aspect of royal life that the Queen always upheld (Image: Getty Images)

Meghan Markle once ripped up the Queen's protocol during a visit as the rift between her and husband Prince Harry and the rest of the royals deepened.

Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as working members of the royal family in 2020 sent shockwaves through Buckingham Palace. The Queen confirmed the news, adding that the pair "remain much-loved members of the family".

The couple also released a statement, adding that they would continue to support the organisations they had represented during their time as working royals. But there was one part of the statement at the very end that's been hotly contended.

They noted: "Service is universal." Many believe it shows the pair suggest everyone and anyone can serve their community, however others saw it as a huge snub to the Queen and rest of the royals.

The couple now live in California with their two children Archie and Lilibet, following an explosive interview with Oprah and subsequent Netflix documentary. Harry also revealed several other bombshells on his life growing up in the royal family in his memoir Spare.

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The couple cited privacy as a driving factor for them stepping down from the Firm, but entertainment reporter Ashely Pearson also said there was a struggle in Meghan's tendency to "pick sides" in things like politics and public debate. The former actress was known for her humanitarian work before meeting Harry, having worked with the likes of World Vision and been an advocate for the United Nations.

She remains vocal on women's rights, among other causes. But this could be seen as ripping up the Queen's protocol as members of the Firm often don't give their opinion on such matters in public. This was especially salient given the late Queen's position as Head of State.

When Meghan visited Ireland shortly after an abortion law had been defeated, the proud feminist broke this rule. Speaking to the 2020 Amazon Prime documentary, 'Meghan Markle: Changing Traditions', she said: "Meghan Markle is not someone who just wants a pretty designer dress and a glass of champagne.

"She is actually engaged and interested in the politics and the storylines of where they're going. In fact, she got in trouble not that long ago when she met someone in Ireland who was in Parliament, I believe, and congratulated them on the defeat of a bill that would have nullified abortion in Ireland, and said, 'That's great'.

"She ended up getting in trouble because the Irish politician tweeted, 'Oh I had this great conversation with Meghan and she congratulated us on the defeat of this initiative.' And everybody was like, 'You can't take a side Meghan, you can't defend any position.'

"I think, in all honesty, one of the most difficult and challenging things in this whole experience for Meghan, is the royal tradition of not taking a side, of not showing your political leaning, of not having opinions. That is something that I think Meghan has already and will very much continue to struggle with."

The visit saw Meghan attend a garden party at the British ambassador's residence in Dublin. Shortly after, then Irish Senator Catherine Noone tweeted that she had "had a chat" with the royal about the May referendum that approved scrapping Ireland’s abortion ban, and wrote: "She watched with interest and was pleased to see the result."

Hannah Kane

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