Meghan Markle has looked back on her introduction to royal life, recalling a moment on the Buckingham Palace balcony when she sought Prince Harry's help to avoid a protocol blunder. Just weeks after the couple's wedding in 2018, the Duchess turned to her husband for guidance during her first Trooping the Colour parade.
Meghan was invited as a member of the Royal Family to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth's birthday at the annual event. She joined her husband and the then-Prince Charles for the official balcony appearance, which marked her second official engagement as a royal.
Seeking a Cue for the Curtsy
With the appearance televised, there was little room for error. The Duchess was reportedly keen to get the timing of her curtsy to the monarch right. Prince Harry was seen offering reassurance just before she dropped into a curtsy on Princess Catherine's cue, according to Hello! Magazine.
Accounts of the brief conversation vary. Some suggest she asked him a simple two-word phrase, "say when," to which he replied "now," while others suggest she asked "Do it?" and he replied "Yes."
Last-Minute Instructions in Spare
Prince Harry later reflected on Meghan's early encounters with his family in his memoir, Spare. He wrote that Meghan had to receive last-minute instructions from Sarah Ferguson on how to perform her first curtsy to his grandmother just before they first met.
Harry wrote: "I asked if she knew how to curtsy. She said she thought so. But she also couldn't tell if I was serious." He added: "You're about to meet the Queen. I know, but it's your grandma. But she's the Queen."
He continued: "We pulled into the driveway, drove across the gravel, parked next to the big green box hedge. Fergie came outside, somewhat aflutter, and said: 'Do you know how to curtsy?' Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her. There wasn't time for a more advanced tutorial. We couldn't keep Granny waiting."
The balcony appearance marked a significant moment in Meghan's journey with the royals, as she navigated the formalities of her new role alongside the rest of the family.
