4 Things Meghan Markle Put Her Foot Down On Before Marrying Prince Harry

Meghan Markle stepped into the royal fold in 2018, and while the institution expected a lot from her, the Duchess set her boundaries clearly. From pushing back against Hollywood scriptwriters, quietly guarding her independence, to making bold, unconventional choices for her wedding day, Markle has clearly established that she doesn't play by others' rulebook. Here are a few things Markle put her foot down on before and during her wedding to Prince Harry.

Long before she joined the Royal Family, Markle reportedly had one very specific rule when it came to filming her, and that was not to shoot her feet. Previously a videographer, in a conversation with The Daily Mail, detailed that the Duchess has specific demands when shooting her, but the most important is that no one can shoot her feet. The story resurfaced after Markle was photographed barefoot during the Sussexes’ 2018 tour of New Zealand, when a scar on her foot attracted attention. A podiatrist later said the scar appeared consistent with bunion surgery, although that was an assessment from photographs and Meghan has not publicly confirmed the reason for the scar. After marrying Harry, Markle reportedly ensured the message spread across UK media as well: never shoot her feet.

Markle also made it clear that she did not want her wedding entrance to follow the traditional “father gives away the bride” formula. After her father, Thomas Markle, withdrew from the wedding because of his health and the surrounding controversy, then-Prince Charles offered to accompany Markle for part of the walk. But Markle wanted to hold to her independence and decided to meet Charles halfway. Kensington Palace confirmed that Charles would accompany her from the Quire, meaning Markle would walk the first part of the aisle alone.

Then there was the wedding dress, and Markle certainly didn't choose the traditional way. While royal ladies often opt for lace and embellished gowns, Markle chose a sleek Givenchy design by Clare Waight Keller. She later told The Independent that she had a “very clear vision” of what she wanted and specifically wanted a bateau neckline, cropped sleeves, and a “very timeless, classic feeling.” According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward's book, My Mother and I, Queen Elizabeth reportedly felt Markle's wedding dress was "too white" for someone remarrying. Reportedly, she even did not wish Markle to have a veil, but the Duchess stood her ground.

For a wedding watched by millions across the world, Markle wanted at least one part of the ceremony to belong entirely to them. During their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle revealed that she and Harry had exchanged vows privately before their public wedding at Windsor Castle. She said they had contacted Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby because the televised ceremony was “for the world” and they wanted a more intimate moment for themselves.