Meghan Markle Wasn't Allowed to Wear Her Hat at Wimbledon 2018

For her first appearance at Wimbledon as a member of the royal family, Meghan Markle wore a blue and white striped Ralph Lauren shirt, along with a pair of crisp silk Ralph Lauren pants. But there was one thing she wasn't wearing—her favored hat.

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Even though Meghan carried her hat throughout her trip to Wimbledon, she wasn't seen wearing it at any point. While she did don her pair of Illesteva Leonard sunglasses, she simply carried the Maison Michel straw hat during the excursion, never putting it on. The reason for this isn't to do with royal protocol, but rather the rules that Wimbledon has for attendees sitting in the royal box.

According to The Sun, "Spectators in the royal box have to follow a set of fashion rules, with guests being asked to dress smartly—and men advised to wear a jacket and tie."

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And most importantly, anyone sitting in the royal box is "asked not to wear hats, in case it blocks the view of others around them." This differs from other seating areas at Wimbledon, and as Meghan was seated in the front row of the royal box, sadly this meant that even the Duchess of Sussex wasn't allowed to put on a hat.

Despite not wearing her signature fedora, Meghan and Kate appeared to have a perfect day out together, their first without their husbands in attendance. They spent the women's final laughing at one another's jokes, whispering to one another, and applauding Serena Williams' performance.

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Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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