Meghan Markle thrown back into Royal life she fought to avoid – from Frogmore to curtseys

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been thrown back into Royal life in London.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have remained in the UK after the Queen, Harry's grandmother, died on Thursday 8 September at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Meghan, 41, and Harry, 37, were already in the UK when Her Majesty was placed under medical supervision, as they'd flown over from the US to attend charity events in Manchester and London a few days prior.

The couple, whose children Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, are still in America, are set to stay in London until after Her Majesty's state funeral, which will take place on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey.

Harry and Meghan moved to Canada before buying a house in LA in 2020 and settling in California, following their decision to step down as senior Royals.

The Sussexes' plans to leave the Royal Family were announced by Buckingham Palace in January 2020, and on 31 March they officially stepped down as senior members of the family.

Following this, the pair have been living a more normal life over in the US, where Meghan lived before she married Harry, along with their son and daughter.

While Harry is used to the rules that come with being a member of the Royal Family, Meghan has been thrown back into Royal life over recent days, with the duo making public appearances as they mourn Her Majesty.

Most notably, the Sussexes have had to change their usual style of dress and their public actions as there are strict protocols in place for Royals.

Meghan has had to adhere to Royal dress code, which includes wearing tights, no mini skirts and no colourful nail polish.

The Duchess could be seen wearing a black short-sleeved midi dress with matching tights and high heels for a walkabout with Prince Harry at Windsor Castle on 10 September.

At the Queen's procession in London on 14 September, Meghan wore another black midi dress, this time with long sleeves, which she paired with tights, heels and a black hat.

She finished off her look with demure jewellery rather than over-the-top jewels, and opted for a pair of earrings that Her Majesty gifted to her before she married Prince Harry.

At the procession, Meghan could also be seen performing a curtsy before the Queen's coffin, out of respect for the late monarch.

Royal women normally curtsy if they're seeing the monarch for the first time that day, while men's greeting is typically a neck bow.

The mum-of-two previously opened up in an interview about having to learn to curtsy when she started dating Prince Harry, admitting that it made her realise that being part of the family "wasn't easy".

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Speaking to Oprah, Meghan recalled: "I remember Harry and I were in the car, and he says, 'OK, my grandmother is there so we're going to meet her'.

"And I said, 'Oh great, I love grandmas.' 'But, right, do you know how to curtsy?'

"I thought, genuinely, that was part of what happens outside. I thought that was part of the fanfare. I didn't think that's what happens inside, and I said, 'It's your grandmother.' He goes, 'It's the Queen.'"

"That was really the first moment that the penny dropped that this wasn't easy," she said.

With help from Harry and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Meghan learned to curtsy very quickly before coming face-to-face with the Queen.

"I learned it very quickly. Right in front of the house, we just practiced and then walked in. I met her and, apparently, I did a very deep curtsy," Meghan explained.

At the walkabout on 10 September, Meghan and Harry met members of the public from behind a barrier and looked at tributes that had been left for Queen Elizabeth II.

The pair stuck to Royal protocol while interacting with the public, something they do not usually have to consider while out and about in the US.

The Sussexes reunited with Prince William, 40, and Kate Middleton, 40, at Windsor Castle, marking the first time the foursome had been out together in public since Meghan and Harry left the Firm.

In one clip of the two brothers and their wives, Harry could be seen reminding Meghan to stay further behind to ensure William and Kate could walk ahead, in an attempt to stick to Royal protocol.

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The couple held hands as they made their way towards the waiting crowds but that was as far as their PDA went, as members of the Royal Family generally do not show affection while out in public.

Since stepping down from Royal duties, Meghan and Harry have been photographed on several occasions holding hands, hugging and kissing in public.

The couple also held hands throughout the emotional funeral procession at Westminster Hall on 14 September, while William and Kate kept their distance from one another.

Meanwhile, Zara and Mike Tindall also held hands throughout the service as they continued to comfort one another.

Harry and Meghan are believed to be staying in the UK until after Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, with the duo residing at their former home, Frogmore Cottage. The Sussexes lived at Frogmore Cottage up until they left the Firm in March 2020.

It's currently unknown whether they will fly their two children, Archie and Lilibet, over to London as their brief trip to the UK has obviously been extended further than originally anticipated.

According to The Telegraph, the Sussexes are trying to work out whether Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, 66, should fly out with the children, who have spent more than a week apart from their parents.

Harry and Meghan are expected to attend Her Majesty's state funeral, which will take place on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey.

READ MORE:

• Queen's emotional return home as King Charles III and children receive coffin after final journey
• Harry and Meghan unite with Royal Family as they receive Queen's coffin at Buckingham Palace
• Princess Anne's subtle sentimental tribute to Queen on journey home to Palace
• Harry insists ‘military service is not determined by what you wear’ in bombshell statement
• For the latest updates on the Royal Family, sign up to OK!'s weekly royals newsletter

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