Meghan Markle may be a duchess, but that doesn't mean she's not down-to-earth.
When her longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin asked what to call her after
she was married to Prince Harry, he said "She started laughing and she said, 'I'm always
going to be Meg." Here are 10 ways that Markle has shown that
she's still the same old Meg.
Markle wasn't born into the royal family.
Before she was a duchess, and even before she was an actress on "Suits," Markle was
a briefcase model on "Deal or No Deal," a freelance calligrapher, a restaurant hostess,
and more.
Embracing royals is usually off-limits for
both security reasons and out of respect for their positions. But Markle goes right in
for hugs. At an event for International Women's Day,
Markle hugged 10-year-old Sophia Richards, who told her she wants to be an actress too.
"Meghan told me that I can achieve whatever I want to achieve. And Meghan said she would
like to see me on TV when I become an actress," Richards said. "It was a dream come true.
I will never forget this day."
When photos of Markle at the Royal Air Force
centenary celebrations showed her usual flawless face of makeup, Instagram users complimented
her wedding day makeup artist Daniel Martin on a job well done. But he revealed in comments
that Markle had done her makeup herself even though she surely has her choice of makeup
artists.
It's not against royal protocol for Markle
to close her own car door, Myka Meier, royal etiquette expert of Beaumont Etiquette said.
But royals are often shuttled between engagements by an entourage that opens and closes car
doors for them. Many people saw Markle closing her own door as a sign that she is staying
"down-to-earth and humble" as a duchess.
While posing with the cast of "Hamilton" at
a charity performance in London, Markle stood in front of Prince Harry and appeared to turn
around and ask "Can you see, my love?" The cast broke out into a chorus of "awws."
Prince Harry and Markle attended the annual WellChild awards, where Harry has been a patron
since 2007. Award winner Chloe, aged 10, asked the couple about their favorite Disney films.
Markle chose "The Little Mermaid." (Harry said he loves "The Lion King.")
Royals have a whole list of foods that they're
not allowed to eat and rules about how to dine properly. But Markle seems to regard
food less formally. Now that her days writing about cooking on
her blog The Tig are over, Markle partnered with the Hubb Community Kitchen, an organization
that works with women affected by the Grenfell Towel Fire in London, to publish a cookbook
of recipes. In the foreword, she wrote that one of her favorite meals is "collard greens,
black-eyed peas, and cornbread— a meal I would look forward to throughout my childhood."
Ever since they first stepped out at the Invictus
Games in 2017, Markle and Prince Harry have made their affection for each other clear
to onlookers. While other royal couples like Prince William and Kate Middleton keep PDA
to a minimum on engagements, Markle's warmth and love for her partner are evident in the
way she always seems to be reaching for his hand.
An Old English rhyme advises brides to have
"something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" with them on their wedding
day. It's a common tradition for brides to follow, and Markle included "something blue"
by weaving a piece of the blue dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry into her
veil.
Markle sent postcards out to those who wished
her a happy 37th birthday featuring a candid shot of her laughing with members of the public.
Traditional royal postcards often feature posed photos, but her choice conveyed a more
approachable image. The postcard read: "The Duchess of Sussex
is so touched you took the trouble to write as you did on the occasion of her 37th birthday.
It really was most thoughtful of you and Her Royal Highness sends you her heartfelt thanks
and best wishes."