Reason Kate Middleton Stood In Front Of Meghan Markle On Balcony Revealed

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You’d think your days of standing in the background would be well and truly over once you become a Duchess.

However, being a Duchess isn’t easy, and there’s etiquette upon etiquette to follow if you don’t want to hack off your fancy new relatives.

Meghan Markle is a decidedly less clumsy royal than her gaff-prone compatriot Mia (The Princess Diaries), but she still has to abide by a host of finicky balcony-standing rules.

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This years Trooping the Colour parade was extra special as it was the 36-year-old’s balcony debut – and she absolutely nailed it.

Dressed in a blush pink off the shoulder dress, Meghan was a picture of style and newly-wed bliss as she beamed for her new British subjects/Suits fans.

But many of us commoners were puzzled. Why was the elegant royal newcomer squashed at the back, partially hidden behind the equally fashionable Duchess of Cambridge?

Surely with such insatiable public interest in Meghan and Harry’s rom-com worthy romance, the Duchess of Sussex should have been centre stage as she experienced the Queen’s official birthday celebrations for the very first time?

Thankfully, it doesn’t seem as if Meghan is being shunned by her super-posh in-laws, forced to live in a cupboard under the stairs, Harry Potter style.

Managing editor of Majesty magazine, Joe Little, explained to PEOPLE magazine how the positioning was all down to a ‘pecking order:’

She was not as prominent perhaps as some people might have expected, but there’s a pecking order,

There was no slight intended, but William being the older, more senior brother would go out [first] with his wife.

Little added how Meghan’s still quite prominent position was nothing to be sniffed at:

[Meghan] was still in a good position,

She was central rather than the alternative of being in the front row and along the balcony to the left or right.

According to People, a palace source further explained:

[Meghan’s balcony position] would have come from her. There’s no one laying this out, telling her where to stand.

And there were a lot of kids who everyone would want at the front.

Newbie, Duchess Meghan was no doubt apprehensive about such a high profile appearance, but luckily, her besotted husband Harry was on hand to offer some spousal support.

A lip-reading expert told the Mirror how Meghan admitted how she was ‘nervous’ to Harry, who gave her occasional directions as to what to do.

At one point Harry could be seen advising:

Then there’s the flypast and then we all look up to the sky.

Of course, they don’t give out career guidance leaflets on how to be a Duchess when you leave school.

There’s no BTEC or university course which can adequately prepare you for life as a modern royal; simultaneously playing a part in history while remaining a contemporary public figure.

However, it seems like Meghan is doing just brilliantly and has found a good egg in the once rowdy Prince Harry.

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Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.