5 Royal Rules Meghan Markle Broke During Her Pregnancy [PHOTOS]

Meghan Markle and husband Prince Harry will soon welcome their firstborn. But while waiting for the arrival of the newest royal baby, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex broke quite a few royal rules.

Prince Harry and the former "Suits" actress confirmed that they were expecting their first child together in October last year, five months after they tied the knot in a lavish royal wedding in May. But Markle and Prince Harry raised some eyebrows a few times over the past several months by breaking some traditional and unspoken rules.

Last year, Prince Harry had chosen not to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Prince Philip, father Prince Charles and older brother Prince William even during his wedding with Markle. He exchanged rings with his wife at the altar, which the other male members of the royal family chose not to do.

Check out the list below for more moments Prince Harry and Markle broke royal protocol!

1. Wearing wedges and taking them off

During her and Prince Harry's tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand in October last year, Markle violated a royal rule requiring members of the Firm to keep their shoes on, especially when they are in foreign countries. While walking along the shores of Bondi Beach, Duchess Meghan took off her Castaner espadrille wedges, according to Glamour.

However, this was quite understandable as she was on a beach and the other people she was with also removed their shoes, including her husband. But Markle may have committed another no-no at the time by wearing wedges as this was reportedly frowned upon for female royals.

Markle repeated the mistake again when she wore open-toed shoes during Cirque du Soleil’s Totem premiere in London in January.

2. Wearing dark nail polish

Back in December, Markle reportedly broke another royal rule when she chose to wear dark nail polish for The Fashion Awards, in which she presented an award to her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, according to Glamour.

The traditional choice for female royals is a very light pink or neutral nail polish color, but for the awards ceremony, the pregnant royal opted for bordeaux instead.

3. Showing off baby bump

The Duchess of Sussex apparently raised some eyebrows with the form-fitting dresses that she has worn during her pregnancy. On several occasions, Markle chose to forgo the traditional loose-fitting blouses and gowns that female members of the royal family usually don and wear dresses that hugged her curves and growing baby bump instead.

Among her most memorable figure-hugging outfits was the cream-colored H&M maternity dress that she wore when she paid a visit to one of her royal patronages, animal charity Mayhew, back in January.

4. Traveling

Markle reportedly also broke protocol when she traveled abroad while pregnant. Royal rules apparently don't allow female royals who are expecting to go overseas, but the duchess had flown to several countries while carrying her first baby, Us Weekly reported.

In February, Markle took a trip to New York City for her baby shower, which was attended by some of her closest pals, including Serena Williams and Amal Clooney. She and Prince Harry also went on a tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand in October 2018.

5. Lavish baby shower

Speaking of baby showers, Markle's extravagant New York City baby shower reportedly also broke some royal traditions. The celebration was estimated to have racked up a $200,000 (£152,000) bill, according to Vanity Fair.

"[Meghan] was made aware that Kensington Palace and the royal family, that’s not the way they do it with a big, flashy baby shower like the one she had in NYC," an insider told Us Weekly in March.

However, neither Markle nor the British taxpayer had to fork over money for the lavish baby shower as her pal Serena Williams reportedly footed the bill, including the $75,000-a-night penthouse suite in Upper East Side hotel the Mark.