How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol at The Fashion Awards

Meghan Markle showed up to The Fashion Awards 2018 in an unexpected nail color you never see Royals wearing. Check out photos inside.

Arm, Beauty, Shoulder, Hand, Performance, Human body, Photography, Elbow, Gesture, Finger,
(Image credit: Getty Images)

You don't usually see members of the royal family with flashy nails. Prim and polished shades, like pale pink and sheer neutral, are more their style. Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton famously love Essie's iconic nail polish in Ballet Slippers, a quintessential soft pink shade. However, Meghan Markle attended The Fashion Awards 2018 on Monday night donning what appears to be a burgundy polish. This nail color is, well, different for the Duchess.

There's a reason you've never seen Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth wearing a vivid nail color in public. According to People, it's unofficial royal protocol to stay away from bright nail polishes, because they can be too distracting. The neutral nail color trend within the Royal Family has been a thing since 1989. People also reports that Queen Elizabeth's manicurist specifically requested the Essie nail polish in Ballet Slippers because it was the "the only color Her Majesty would wear."

Here's what Meghan's nails looked like last night.

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(Image credit: Tristan Fewings/BFC/Getty Images)

Arm, Beauty, Shoulder, Hand, Performance, Human body, Photography, Elbow, Gesture, Finger,

(Image credit: Joe Maher/BFC/Getty Images)

In the past, Meghan has played it safe with conventional nail shades. Like on her wedding day, when she wore a sheer pink shade.

Nose, Skin, Hand, Finger, Nail, Close-up, Jewellery, Ear, Neck, Fashion accessory,

(Image credit: John Sibley - WPA/Getty Images)

And at the Prince of Wales 70th birthday party when she wore a blush pink hue.

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(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

She went for a super-bare nails that look like a translucent neutral when she and Prince Harry visited Nottingham.

Face, People, Facial expression, Beauty, Smile, Street fashion, Fashion, Lip, Human, Hand,

(Image credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Markle clearly wasn't concerned about her nails not blending in at the British Fashion Awards. This is a prime example of Markle doing her own thing when it comes to "rules." It's almost 2019, and strict "protocol" when it comes to beauty feels like a thing of the past. I must say, she's very much on trend with winter's most popular nail color, and I vote for more dark nail polish appearances to come.

Are you into vampy burgundy shades, too? Shop these similar nail colors below.

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Maya Allen
Former Beauty Editor

Maya Allen is the former Digital Beauty Editor at MarieClaire.com where she covered makeup, skincare, haircare, wellness, you name it! She has a 15-step skincare routine, owns over 200 red lipsticks, and enjoys testing the latest and greatest in beauty. On most weekends, you can find her at her happy place, which is her makeup vanity. There, she’s usually blasting her speakers while singing along to lyrics at the top of her lungs, and making sure her highlighter is on point.