Queen Elizabeth II’s Decision To Bend Royal Protocol For Meghan Markle Revisited

Last spring, before Meghan Markle joined Britain’s royal family by marrying Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II made a decision to bend royal protocol for the former U.S. actress.

Speaking to the UK's Evening Standard, Richard Fitzwilliams revealed why the reigning monarch decided to let Meghan spends the Christmas holidays with the royal family and attend royal functions despite not yet being wed to Harry at the time.

According to Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, “the royal rule book was changed” to allow Markle to celebrate the holidays at Sandringham House, Norfolk, as “the first royal fiancée to do so.”

"A committed feminist, she is proof of a more inclusive royal family who will unquestionably benefit from her worldwide profile,” he told the publication. “Her chemistry with Harry is perfection, the two are already making their mark together and she can't wait 'to hit the ground running' to help others in the causes she believes in."

READ: How Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Baby Could Steal Princess Charlotte’s ‘Thunder’

Phil Dampier, a royal expert, shared similar findings.

"Being at Sandringham at Christmas and doing all of these pre-wedding jobs would not have happened 20 or 30 years ago," Dampier said. "The Queen as always is pragmatic and realizes Meghan is desperate to get started and make a contribution."

He added, “The fact they are not married yet doesn't seem to matter anymore. At 36, she is the same age Diana was when she died. Meghan is a mature woman and wants to get on with it.”

Prince Harry and Meghan went on to wed in May 2018. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently expecting their first child, which is rumored to be a baby girl.