Meghan Markle Is Following in Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana's Footsteps by Breaking Royal Protocol

If you hear that someone is breaking royal protocol (opens in new tab), there's a good chance your mind goes immediately to Meghan Markle. From talking about her royal relationship in  (opens in new tab)Vanity Fair (opens in new tab) to (GASP) closing her own car door (opens in new tab), the Duchess of Sussex has been bucking royal traditions since her engagement to Prince Harry.

Meghan's signature openness has made her a star of the new royal documentary, Queen of the World (opens in new tab), in which the former actress discusses intimate details from her wedding day. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight (opens in new tab), the doc's executive producer, Nick Kent, explained why Meghan's candor in the doc was such a big deal — and how it actually aligns her with other royal women, like her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana, and even the queen herself. 

“A powerful example of that is the piece of blue fabric in the dress. That was a very private gesture that she made, to have that piece of fabric sewn in, nobody knew about that. The fact that she was happy to share that, you know, it’s quite an intimate insight," he explained. "The other thing, is that it’s a mistake to think that the monarchy stays the same. In a sense, reinventing how you fulfill your duties as a member of the royal family is something that’s not a new thing. So in a funny way, she’s kind of following in the tradition of the queen herself and Princess Diana."

Both Diana and Elizabeth did do their share of royal rule-breaking in their day. Diana famously bucked royal tradition in several ways to make sure her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, had normal childhoods (opens in new tab) (which included such childhood rites of passage as going to see movies and eating McDonald's and attending nursery school (opens in new tab)). The Princess of Wales also took iconic fashion risks as a royal (opens in new tab).

Earlier in her reign, Elizabeth broke tradition by welcoming her husband, Prince Philip, into the delivery room (opens in new tab) for the birth of their youngest child, Prince Edward. More recently, the queen ignored royal tradition and hugged Michelle Obama (opens in new tab) (who wouldn't?). Clearly, Meghan is in good company when it comes to breaking royal rules.