Queen Elizabeth’s Three-Word Response To Meghan Markle During An Awkward Royal Protocol Moment Revealed

Meghan Markle had barely been a member of the Royal Family for a month when an unexpected moment with Queen Elizabeth II exposed just how much she still had to learn about royal etiquette. During their first joint solo engagement in June 2018, the new Duchess of Sussex found herself hesitating beside the monarch as they prepared to enter a royal car. The Queen’s response was brief, direct and remarkably practical: “You go first.”

The encounter took place during a high-profile visit to Cheshire, just four weeks after Meghan married Prince Harry in May 2018. The invitation to accompany the Queen aboard the exclusive Royal Train to Runcorn Station was widely regarded as a significant gesture of royal favour, giving the newlywed duchess a rare opportunity to spend time with the monarch without other senior royals present.

But amid the carefully planned engagements, one small moment of uncertainty caught attention.

The Awkward Car Incident That Left Meghan Hesitating

The day’s programme included the official opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge and a visit to Chester’s Storyhouse Theatre. Everything appeared to be running smoothly until the Queen and Meghan approached their waiting royal vehicle.

Royal etiquette traditionally dictates that the reigning monarch enters the car first and takes her preferred seat. For someone still adjusting to the customs of the institution, however, knowing exactly when to move could be surprisingly complicated.

Meghan paused at the open door, apparently unsure whether she should climb in before the Queen or wait for the monarch to enter.

Rather than allowing the moment to become more complicated, Meghan reportedly turned to Elizabeth and asked: “What is your preference?”

The Queen’s answer was simple: “You go first.”

Taking the instruction, Meghan stepped into the vehicle ahead of the monarch, then shuffled across the rear bench to make room for Her Majesty to enter comfortably from the curb.

The brief exchange was not the only moment of confusion that day. When the pair later left another venue, a similar hesitation occurred before Meghan realised that the Queen had already moved across to the opposite door.

It was a minor incident, but it offered a glimpse into the unfamiliar rules Meghan was navigating during her first weeks as a working royal.

Meghan’s Strategy For Avoiding A Royal Fashion Faux Pas

The car incident was not the only example of Meghan having to work out the unwritten expectations of palace life.

Years later, in the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the Duchess reflected on the careful thought she put into choosing her outfits while living in Britain.

She explained that she had become increasingly conscious of the royal family’s clothing hierarchy, particularly when appearing alongside the Queen or other senior members.

According to Meghan, she understood that wearing the same colour as the monarch at a group engagement was something to avoid. She also believed she should not choose an outfit that matched those worn by other senior royals.

That left her searching for shades that would allow her to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

As she recalled:

“To my understanding, you can’t ever wear the same colour as Her Majesty if there’s a group event, but then you also shouldn’t be wearing the same colour as one of the other, more senior members of the family. So I was like, well what’s a colour that they’ll probably never wear? Camel? Beige? White? So, I wore a lot of muted tones, but it also was so I could just blend in… I don’t want to embarrass the family.”

Her comments revealed how carefully she approached even seemingly ordinary decisions, from selecting an outfit to understanding where she should stand and how she should behave at official engagements.

A Brief Exchange That Offered A Glimpse Into Royal Life

Although the Cheshire car incident was hardly a major royal controversy, it illustrated the adjustment facing anyone entering an institution governed by centuries of tradition.

For Meghan, the June 2018 engagement was an early lesson in navigating public appearances alongside the monarch. For Elizabeth, the moment provided an opportunity to offer a straightforward instruction without turning a small misunderstanding into a bigger issue.

Royal commentators have frequently pointed to the Cheshire visit as an example of the Queen’s practical approach to guiding newcomers through royal duties.

The three-word exchange remains a memorable detail from Meghan and Elizabeth’s first joint solo engagement, capturing the delicate balance between royal protocol and the everyday need to make a simple journey run smoothly.