Kate Middleton Wasn’t Allowed To Do This While Pregnant, But Meghan Can

Kate Middleton wasn’t allowed to have a baby shower when she got pregnant with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis as part of a royal tradition.

But Meghan Markle, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry, will be allowed to have the celebration. Victoria Arbiter, a royal expert, told People that baby showers are looked upon as tasteless in the United Kingdom. The gathering also comes with the added pressure that they are very wealthy.

“A lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate. There’s nothing they can’t go out and buy themselves,” she said (via Express).

In 2013, rumors swirled that Pippa Middleton threw her older sister a baby shower while she was pregnant with Prince George. However, royal experts shut the speculations down because baby showers are a way for friends to give the mom-to-be gifts, which Middleton can obviously afford.

According to Arbiter, there is a royal rule surrounding gift-giving, and members of the British clan should respectfully return the presents they receive from family and friends. This means that Markle may not have a baby shower since she’s now a member of the royal family, but she is technically allowed to have one or attend the gathering due to her American roots.

Markle and Prince Harry are currently on their overseas tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga. The royal couple received a handful of gifts from their fans, but it is unclear if they had to return them. One of the gifts was an adorable stuffed kangaroo for their firstborn.

Kensington Palace announced Markle’s pregnancy two weeks ago via an official statement and said that the members of the royal family, namely, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are delighted with the news. Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland, is also looking forward to meeting her grandchild next year.