In October 2016, the world was shocked to learn that Prince Harry, son of Prince Charles and fifth in line to the British Throne, was dating Meghan Markle, an American actress best known for her work on the legal drama Suits. The two reportedly met in May, while Prince Harry was in Toronto (where Markle lives) to promote the Invictus Games for disabled Servicemen. Sources close to the Royal Family say that Harry is “happier than he’s been for many years”.
While their courtship was initially derided by certain areas of the press, with Harry having to release a statement defending Meghan Markle from what he called “a wave of abuse and harassment”, it appears that this relationship is here to stay. Prince Harry has reportedly already introduced Markle to his father Prince Charles, and ahead of his sister-in-law Pippa Middleton’s marriage to hedge-fund manager James Matthews next month, Meghan Markle will be allowed to attend the wedding reception.
With Harry and Meghan going strong, perhaps it’s not out of the question that wedding bells will soon be ringing once more for the Royal Family. If Prince Harry was to marry Meghan Markle however, there are a few rules that the Suits actress will have to follow as a member of the Royal Family.
While Meghan Markle won’t be attending the actual wedding ceremony next month at St Mark’s Church in Berkshire, the 35-year-old actress is rumoured to be leaving her television show Suits, swapping Canada for Kensington and moving in with Prince Harry in London.
Being a member of the Royal Family is, of course, quite a prestigious position. But it does come with a few odd restrictions. Meghan Markle would probably have to give up shellfish in order to protect against food poisoning or allergic reactions, and Monopoly is also barred, after Prince Andrew Duke of York branded the board game “too vicious” to be played by a member of the Royal Family in 2008.
Meghan Markle would also have to avoid wading into political discussion; although members of the Royal Family are allowed to vote, doing so would be viewed as “unconstitutional”, and this would apply to Meghan Markle here. It will also be interesting to see how Meghan would balance her royal duties with her work with the United Nations, where she is an Advocate for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women programme.
