Prince William And Kate Middleton Have This Person To Thank For Their Marriage

Fans of the British royal family know that there are many rules and traditions that are expected to be adhered to. However, it used to be much more strict prior to Queen Victoria's rule. If the stringent protocol had remained intact, it could have prevented Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle from formally becoming members of the family.

According to Express, the two women were able to become royals thanks to alterations that the Queen had made nearly two centuries ago when she changed tradition.

Royal author Marlene Koenig claimed that because Queen Victoria was "much more tolerant of people," it allowed for people from different backgrounds to be accepted into the inner circle, even if they were not entirely similar to her.

Continuing, Koenig said, "She was also embracing the fact her family, even though she married several of her children into European royal houses, she also did not discourage marriage with the aristocracy."

READ: The Surprising Reason Queen Elizabeth II Waited Years To Meet Kate Middleton

Everything changed when Queen Victoria allowed her youngest daughter Princess Beatrice to marry Prince Harry of Battenberg, who descended from a minor house that was formed in 1851.

"She in some ways was controlling of her children to be able to prevent the marriage but she was also open-minded on the other hand, and allowing marriages," Koenig added, calling it "an accomplishment."

In current day, needing approval from Queen Elizabeth II before doing certain things is not unusual when it comes to the royal family. However, it is not always the case. Fortunately for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the rules bent a bit over time, which allowed them to assume their current roles alongside husbands Prince William and Prince Harry, respectively.