Why Meghan Markle Ditched the Name Tag at Royal Ascot

Let's talk about the British royal family for a moment. They're famous worldwide, but even they're not immune to some quirky traditions. Take Royal Ascot, for instance, where members of the royal family are supposed to wear name tags. But hold up—why was Meghan Markle spotted without hers, while her husband, Prince Harry, proudly displayed his on his lapel? Well, here's the scoop: although Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is technically required to follow this unusual British royal rule, her reasoning for skipping it is totally understandable.

Turns out, Meghan's stunning custom Givenchy dress was crafted from pure silk—a delicate material that could easily be damaged by the sharp pin of a name tag. Instead of risking a wardrobe malfunction, Meghan opted for a clever workaround: attaching her name tag to her purse. And she wasn't alone in this decision. Her mother-in-law, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, also decided against wearing the badge, proving that sometimes practicality trumps tradition.

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Royal Ascot's Strict Fashion and Security Rules

Royal Ascot is renowned for its stringent fashion guidelines. Hats are mandatory, dress straps must be at least an inch wide, jackets are acceptable as long as the outfit underneath adheres to the dress code, and ankle-length jumpsuits are permitted. The same level of rigidity applies to the royal name tag protocol. Even though it's highly improbable that someone like Meghan or Kate Middleton would be mistaken for someone else in a crowd, they're still required to wear name badges. This ensures that security personnel know which areas they're authorized to access.

There are various levels of access at Royal Ascot, indicated by the name tags. Last year, Kate and Prince William were captured on camera with Royal Box designations, signifying they had a very high level of access. Other immediate members of the royal family, like Queen Elizabeth’s daughter Princess Anne, also sported Royal Box tags. On the other hand, Gabriella Windsor, whose father is Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, had a lower-level Royal Enclosure tag. The only royal who doesn’t need an excuse to skip the name tag is, of course, the Queen herself. Shocked? Probably not. After all, she does make the rules.