Why Princes William, Harry Drive For Kate, Meghan Even If They’re Royals

Prince William and Prince Harry still drive for their wives, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle, respectively, even though they are royals.

Royal fans are wondering why the siblings don’t just hire a chauffeur to drive for them when they have to attend official engagements. Royal etiquette expert William Hanson explained that the decision to drive one’s car as opposed to hiring a driver makes it possible to distinguish a royal engagement from a private event.

“Modern royalty tends to drive themselves to private parties and engagements because it is exactly what – a private event. They are not attending specifically because of the titles and roles they play but because of their personal connection to the host. In this case, they usually choose to arrive and leave with less fanfare than during their official work engagements,” he said.

Duncan Larcombe, a royal biographer, seconded Hanson’s explanation during his interview with Town & Country.

“If I had access 24 hours to chauffeurs – which they do, their royal protection officers drive them around in bulletproof vehicles – I’d think that would be heaven. But for them, they’re funny. They try to be as normal as they can…” he said.

Latifa Yedroudj, a journalist for Express, said that Prince Harry typically separates his title from his personal life that’s why he’s been known for driving himself to private events and parties. In May, Prince Harry drove Markle to their wedding reception at the Frogmore House.

Prince Harry may have followed in his older brother Prince William’s footsteps because the Duke of Cambridge also drove Middleton to their wedding reception in 2011. Last year, Prince William also drove himself and Middleton to Pippa Middleton’s wedding in Berkshire.

But during royal engagements, the siblings and the other members of the royal family are oftentimes chauffeured to their venues. But it is still up to the discretion of the royal if they want to drive their own vehicle. This was proven by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who drove her own car to last year’s Christmas lunch at Queen Elizabeth II’s gathering at the Buckingham Palace.

At that time, Sophie was photographed with her eldest child Lady Louise Windsor.