Here’s everything to know…
The Sussex family are officially on tour, with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and of course baby Archie travelling to South Africa for the first leg of their 10-day tour.
The millennial couple have always been known to rip up the royal rulebook, so it’s hardly surprising that already on day three of their tour, the royal couple have broken protocol.
Yes, the couple are changing up royal tours, not only insisting on a casual entrance into Cape Town, forgoing the traditional red carpet welcome, but they are also asking for members of the public to address them by their first names. Not only this, the Duke and Duchess are reportedly insisting that people do not bow or curtsy to them.
Why? To appear more low key.
And their changes aren’t limited to etiquette, with Meghan Markle seemingly choosing to leave her engagement ring at home for the very same reason.
Yes, photos have emerged of Meghan since being on tour and her sparkler seems to be missing, with just a thin gold band accompanying her wedding ring instead.
‘The Duchess took the decision to be low key on this trip’, a palace insider reportedly told Express.co.uk.
‘This isn’t a holiday and they don’t want it to look like one,’ a royal source told Vanity Fair of the couple’s schedule of 86 official engagements.
‘This has been months in the planning and a lot of hard work has gone into the schedule. Their Royal Highnesses want to do some serious work on the ground, particularly at a community level.’
Going on to talk about the lack of formalities on this tour, the source continued: ‘It’s very much how they want things done. There is no protocol that says you have to bow or curtsy when you meet them, it’s really up to the individual.’
We’re wishing harry and Meghan a very happy tour!
