Royal Wedding Photos Reveal Key Differences Between Kate And Meghan's Special Day

First up of the two women who signed up for the monarchy, we have none other than Kate Middleton. A daunting prospect, no doubt, but it wasn't entirely outside of Kate's realm. Coming from a wealthy upper-class British family with ties to the aristocracy, the future Duchess slipped seamlessly into the traditional atmosphere. But the reality of what royalty really means is something most outsiders could never fully understand.

So for Hollywood actress Meghan Markle, it might've seemed like experiencing some level of fame could've prepared her for the juggernaut of royalty. Still, Meghan hadn't grown up in extremely rich circles. Her father, who was well-off and worked in television, and her mother, a social worker and yoga instructor, divorced when she was six. As you can tell, Markle's upbringing was more modest than others who've married royals.

In an iconic fashion moment, Kate Middleton emerged in her $450,000 classically elegant Alexander McQueen gown. With a nine-foot train and intricate lace, the dress was one to remember. While Meghan's gown isn't as lauded, it was just as elegant. Her boatneck silhouette and 16.5-foot long veil balanced simplicity with royal grandeur. Not to mention, she included something blue, which was a piece of the dress worn on her first date with Prince Harry.

For the rings, both Harry and William chose jewels that had belonged to their mother. The Duchess of Cambridge's engagement ring is set with a 12-carat blue sapphire, with a price tag of $400,000. As for Meghan Markle's $350,000 ring, her framing diamonds were once Diana's. And if that's not sentimental enough, the center was selected by Prince Harry in the place where their romance all began, Botswana.

Which prince was the better groom? Well, we'll let you judge. On their wedding days, both William and Harry donned their military regalia. William stood out in his red Irish Guard uniform, designating his rank as a colonel. Rather, Harry, who reached the rank of captain, wore the more common Blues and Royals uniform designated to the rank of major.

Just when you thought the royals couldn't sneak any more symbolism into every single element of the wedding, they proved you wrong. The bouquets, for example, were designed with a specific intention. Kate's was composed of all-white flowers, representing steady love and happiness. Meghan's, on the other hand, symbolized dedication and love. Plus, it even included some flowers that had been handpicked by Harry himself! 

Always one to rock a bit of color, the Queen looked radiant in the primrose yellow that she wore to the Cambridges’ wedding. And the same could be said about her in the pastel green number chosen for Harry and Meghan’s do, too. Staying true to her signature style, she paired her looks with white gloves, bold hats, and her trademark handbag. No favoritism at play then, or so it seems...

No, "waving" doesn't refer to the fun activity crowds do in arenas, but rather, the gesture the newlywed royals have to do to the crowd and millions of viewers across the globe. One of the first duties after saying “I do” is waving to crowds appreciatively in the carriage after the ceremony. Kate opted for a close-fingered wave, while Meghan kept things casual and natural.

Carrying the train is an important job that comes with added pressure. For the first royal wedding of the decade, Pippa Middleton was in the hot seat as Kate's Maid of Honor. The second couple did things differently, though. Meghan ditched the Maid of Honor entirely and instead asked her close friend's twin sons to be her page boys on the big day. N'aww!

Not every bride wears a tiara, but in the royal family, that's a non-negotiable. Kate's was borrowed from the Queen herself. It's worth noting that the tiara was gifted to Elizabeth on her 18th birthday, so it's a pretty big deal that she chose to share! Luckily, the monarch has quite the collection of tiaras, so Meghan also donned one of the Queen's pre-loved pieces. Taking a modern twist on tradition, Meghan personalized it by swapping in a diamond center stone. They weren't the only ones who turned heads, though. 

Both Carole Middleton and Doria Ragland wore pastel shades with matching hats to witness their daughters marry into royalty. In Middleton's case, her dress was designed by Catherine Walker, while Ragland wore a mint Oscar de la Renta creation. We're sure you'll agree — they both looked stunning. 

Prince Charles switched up his outfits for his son's weddings. The first time around, he went for a military look, wearing his regalia-covered royal uniform. Then, he put on a dashing three-piece gray suit for Harry and Meghan's wedding, complementing Camilla's outfit perfectly.

When it was her time to attend another huge royal wedding, this time as a guest, the Duchess of Cambridge caused a bit of stir with her outfit choice. While the receipts say her Alexander McQueen coat was a shade of "primrose yellow," some felt Middleton came awfully close to committing the ultimate taboo — wearing white to someone else's wedding.

Headlines swirled about the absence of Meghan Markle's father at her wedding and her partial-solo walk down the aisle. But traditionalists were assuaged when Prince Charles met her halfway. In contrast, Kate was escorted by her father, Michael Middleton.

Every diehard royal fan anticipates the newlywed couple's first public smooch. William and Kate shared their first liplock as husband and wife on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, chose to kiss right after their ceremony in front of the crowd gathered outside St. George's Chapel. 

Only a select group of those packed into the church pews for the ceremony were invited to the royal receptions. William and Kate's nearest and dearest celebrated in the lavishness of Buckingham Palace, while Harry and Meghan's guests popped bottles at Windsor Castle's St. George’s Hall. We'd have happily accepted an invite to either! 

Slipping into some staggeringly expensive gowns for the reception, Kate and Meghan both chose beautiful dresses that reflected their personal styles. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a classic and conservative Alexander McQueen number. While the Duchess of Sussex donned a sleek $157,000 Stella McCartney crisp-white halter gown.

When it came to the cake, William and Kate went all out. Their eight-tier fruitcake cost a whopping $160,000! But don't worry, there was a chocolate cake on standby for all of the fruitcake haters in attendance. In contrast, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ordered a smaller lemon sponge with elderflower syrup and Almalfi lemon curd, with an estimated price tag of between 60-75k. 

As old-school British elites, Michael and Carole Middleton were well prepared when it came to their royal wedding fashions. On Kate’s big day, Michael wore a traditional suit and top hat, and Carole sported a light blue tailored dress with a matching hat. And since it worked the first time, they wore almost the same thing to the next wedding!

What's the budget for a royal wedding? Well, a lot. In 2011, the monarchy shelled out $34 million for the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Upping the ante, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex threw a $55 million bash, even though they had 600 fewer guests than Will and Kate.

When William and Kate married, it was considered the wedding of the century, so a lot more people flocked to witness that piece of history. A crowd of about 2,000 turned up at Westminster Abbey. Far fewer people showed up to see Harry and Meghan wed, but then, they also had a much smaller venue. Numbers aside, the world still watched on as they became official members of the royal family, and there was no going back.

From then on, Meghan and Kate were beholden to the slew of unwritten rules that go hand-in-hand with royal life. For instance, royals aren't allowed to sign autographs because of a fear that members of the public could forge their signatures. Before Prince Harry and Meghan married, she found a clever way to connect with the public: she simply wrote, "Hi Kaitlin," in a young fan's notebook. Quick thinking, Meghan! Unluckily for duchesses, that's just the start of the bizarre — and downright absurd — rules members of the monarchy are forced to follow.

While it isn’t against any written laws, it is simply understood that royals won’t cast votes in U.K. government elections. A shame, since there is a personal interest here: the monarch has to endure a weekly meeting with the elected prime minister. But it is understood that as ceremonial heads of state, the British royals have a duty to keep politics separate from royal life.

Well, perhaps not a secret one, but there’s definitely a specific handshake style that the royals are taught to use. It involves grasping the other person’s hand firmly, looking them in the eye, and giving the hand one or two prim pumps. Smile and repeat…

The royals are big fans of teatime, and they know there’s a specific etiquette around how to drink the stuff. The cup must be held with the thumb and index fingers looped through the handle, with the middle finger underneath. And, contrary to what you may have been told, no pinkies should be held aloft!

Royal etiquette has it that when the Queen decides she has had her fill of posh nosh at the table, everyone else must also drop their forks. It is considered monstrously impolite to keep munching once the monarch has finished her meal.

When Prince Andrew was presented with the classic board game Monopoly at a function, he made it clear that there was no chance of him picking up from the Community Chest. “We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home,” he said. “It gets too vicious.” A case of too much Water Works for the competitive royals?

It may sound morbid, but this rule is merely practical. British royals are instructed to always pack – or have packed – a set of black clothes when traveling. That way, should someone important pass away while they are on the road, they can return home in proper and respectful mourning attire.

In another practical move, there is a rule stating that two heirs to the throne cannot ride on the same airplane in case of a fatal crash. However, second-in-line Will tends to take this rule with a grain of salt, as he and Kate often fly together with George (third), Charlotte (fourth), and Louis (fifth) as a family.

This rule is actually one that was written down in law in black and white. In 1772 the Royal Marriages Act came to be, and it dictates that British royals must seek permission from the reigning monarch before they pop the question. Godspeed, future brides and grooms!

Every royal bridal bouquet must contain myrtle, the delicate white flower from Germany. The custom’s origin dates all the way back to Prince Albert, whose grandmother once gave Queen Victoria a sprig of the stuff in the 19th century. Victoria later included some in her own daughter’s bridal bouquet, and thus a royal tradition was born.

Upon tying the knot, royal couples are presented with a small hitch. Each is forced to take on a highfalutin new formal name. So, Wills and Kate became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, while Charles and Diana became the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The royals have to keep their hands to themselves. Technically, they aren’t supposed to physically mingle with commoners – which rules out hugging or selfies with randos. However, the House of Windsor clearly isn’t strict about this law, as Wills and Kate are often spotted embracing their fans.

Female royals are each strictly required to don a fancy hat to all formal events they attend. Yep, the women of Windsor certainly play their part in giving the milliners of old London town plenty of new business.

If, however, the event to which the royal women are invited takes place both indoors and after 6:00 p.m., the rules change. Royal ladies can now each switch from a hat to every 9-year-old girl’s favorite accessory: a sparkly tiara.

What is life without lobster? Well, per ancient tradition, the royals are told to pass on meals containing shellfish so as to avoid a potentially fatal brush with food poisoning. Most royals now ignore this rule, mind you, but apparently the Queen still adheres to it.

Garlic breath is punishable by beheading! Okay, maybe not beheading, but it will definitely result in a frosty frown from the Queen. Reportedly, Elizabeth II detests garlic and won’t allow a single clove inside Buckingham Palace.

Many of the royal ladies are known for their sense of fashion. Princess Di was a style icon, and Kate, while more conservative in her look, is also a trendsetter. But there is one sartorial rule that all princesses must follow: no cleavage is to be shown.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple scented royal jelly candle or a life-size sculpture of Prince Harry made from butter. If one of the royals is presented with a present, they are duty-bound to accept. It would be horrible manners to decline!

Royal watchers and the tabloids love to say “Lady Di” and “Wills and Kate,” but such informalities don’t fly within the palace walls. Never mind “Brenda,” “Chuck” or “Phil the Greek.” Royals must go by their given names at all times; it is Prince William, not Wills.

This one makes sense. In ancient times, it would have kick-started a war to have a royal plop down on the throne of another king or queen. But the rule still holds fast today and – hilariously – even extends to pretend thrones. When Elizabeth II visited the Game of Thrones set, she passed on a chance to perch upon the Iron Throne.

You may consider yourself to have finished conversing with Her Royal Highness, but she may not be finished with you. To avoid any confusion, then, one must never turn one’s back on the Queen and must always wait for her to turn away first.

The Queen insists all members of her family get baptized. Even Meghan Markle was required to be christened before she wed Prince Harry in 2018! The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the ceremonies and uses holy water from the Jordan River.

According to etiquette expert Myka Meier, the royal children all take etiquette classes “as soon as they’re old enough to sit at a table.” Teaching five-year-olds how to curtsy and use “inside voices” sounds like a headache and a half!

All royal presents must be exchanged on Christmas Eve in the red drawing room with some tea. The family leans towards gag gifts more than serious ones. When Harry was still single, for example, sister-in-law Kate gave him a “grow your own girlfriend” kit!

A female member of the family must always sit with their legs together and their chin parallel to the ground. Royals don’t cross their legs at the top but keep their thighs next to each other and cross their ankles instead. They must also master the duchess-chin-slant, as to not seem unsure but not cocky either.

Boys are required to wear shorts in public. While you’d think a pair of snazzy trousers would be more formal, it stems from the fact that pants on young boys used to be viewed as... middle class. Heaven forbid!

Even married couples are not supposed to hold hands, let alone kiss. However, before Harry settled down with his wife Meghan, he was known to kiss, boogie, and even grab a bottom!

Giving away an autograph could allow someone to learn a royal’s signature and commit forgery. They won’t take a selfie with you either, as they like to use this time with the people to make a genuine connection.

A royal woman ought to keep makeup to a minimum – and definitely not try out any outlandish hairstyles. A lot of ladies would have to give up favorite things upon joining the royal family. No black lipstick, no blue hair dye; the list goes on. Even a dressed-down royal would still be expected to look neat.

For safety reasons, the Windsors won’t eat food outside of an officially sanctioned event. The Palace takes security seriously, and food will be approved as safe for them in order to avoid any risk of poisoning. And the Queen apparently takes it a step further, having dishes selected for her at random at official banquets.

There are certain ways to greet the Queen by which even her own family must abide. Men perform a neck bow, while women curtsy. Imagine being asked to bow or curtsy for your own mother, wife, or grandma. A bit formal, isn’t it?

Royals aren’t really supposed to wear fur. This dates all the way back to 1137, when King Edward III issued a law preventing even his own family from wearing it. In 2019 the modern royal family also appeared to stop wearing fur. And according to royal dresser Angela Kelly the Queen even had it separated and taken away from an old outfit.

If you watched the weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry, you’ll notice that each groom wore a military uniform. Both of the princes have served in the army, and it’s tradition for them to wear their uniforms on special occasions like Trooping the Color and weddings. And this goes for women too – Princess Anne is an honorary admiral and wears the uniform.

Royals can only wear jeans when it’s appropriate to do so, like, for instance, in their downtime. One place royals definitely can’t wear them is in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. When Meghan attended Wimbledon in 2019 the media suggested she’d been told not to enter the box due to her denim trousers, but chances are she wasn’t planning to anyway – she sat with some pals.

According to Business Insider, royals follow strict instructions when it comes to bathroom trips during mealtimes. Dinner guests merely say “excuse me” without further explanation of where they are going. You don’t want to be vulgar, after all!

You’re not likely to see a royal meeting crowds clad in a miniskirt. While they’re free to wear whatever they want at home, of course, dresses worn in public should be down to the knee or longer. Yet this rule has been broken a couple of times by the younger, highly fashionable Kate and Meghan.

There are no gender reveal parties for royals, as no member of the public must know any sex of the baby until the birth itself. Sometimes even the parents are in the dark, apparently. When George was born in July 2013, it was reported by the BBC that William and Kate had chosen not to learn whether their new arrival was a boy or a girl prior to the child’s entry into the world.

As the head of state and of the family, the Queen must always be the first individual to hear about both a pregnancy and birth – apart from the parents, of course. Apparently, William used a secure phone to speak to his grandmother as soon as George was born.

Using utensils correctly is something the royal family take very seriously. For starters, knives are reportedly held in the right hand, while forks should be used on the left with the prongs curving downwards. They aren’t allowed to let cutlery screech across plates, either.

Royals follow strict rules when it comes to using napkins while eating, according to Business Insider. You see, guests are expected to keep their faces clean during meal times, and it’s not the done thing to wipe errant food away with the back of a hand.

More astute fans of the British monarchy may have noticed that the Windsors arrive at events in a particular order. Well, the same succession applies at mealtimes. You see, the royal family walk into a room or take part in a procession in the same sequence that they are in line to the throne, according to Delish.