Sophie’s Title Upgrade Ends Curtsies to Meghan Markle
Avery Sinclair here, your sarcastic cynic ready to cut through the royal fanfare. Another day, another royal rule tweak sure to distract from more pressing matters. Princess Sophie was officially elevated to Duchess of Edinburgh on December 10, 2023, as confirmed by palace announcements, which means she no longer has to curtsy to Meghan Markle, according to the New York Post and People Magazine.
When Sophie married Prince Edward in 1999, she entered the royal fold as the Countess of Wessex, dutifully acknowledging senior royals with a respectful bend of the knees. Fast-forward to this winter’s title handover, and Sophie’s star climbed yet another rung on the hierarchy ladder. She and Edward inherited the long-vacant title from the late Prince Philip, making her rank directly below the monarch’s children and above the former Duchess of Sussex in court protocol.
This latest tweak has ignited chatter across royal blogs and tabloids. The Daily Mail pointed out that curtsying remains a staple for junior royals when greeting those above them in rank, but Sophie’s fresh dukedom rewrote her manual. Meanwhile, Hello! Magazine noted Sophie’s visible relief at ditching what one aide called “an outdated formal gesture” that she never truly enjoyed. Reporters say the move has injected new energy into royal circles, with palace officials already updating seating charts and guest lists for upcoming events.
Of course, Meghan’s supporters might bristle at headlines casting her as the royal to bow out of favor. Public records show Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex in 2018 upon marrying Prince Harry, placing her among the top tier of titled royals. But protocol is a finicky beast. Now that Sophie outranks Meghan on paper, there’s no court-mandated bow or curtsy when the two cross paths.
Some royal watchers suggest this shift is purely ceremonial and unlikely to alter the pair’s real-world relationship, especially since Meghan and Harry have stepped back from senior royal duties. Yet commentators on social media have gleefully spun the story as evidence of palace intrigue. The Washington Post even noted that every tweak to the royal rulebook sparks wild commentary on etiquette enthusiasts’ forums. After all, it’s not every day you see a duchess celebrate escaping a knee-bending obligation.
Looking beyond the curtsy controversy, the title upgrade underscores a bigger trend: the royal family’s ongoing balancing act between tradition and modernity. Sophie has carved a reputation as a no-nonsense working royal, championing causes from mental health to supporting military families. Her new dukedom might be little more than paperwork, but it cements her role in future coronation lineups and official engagements.
And what about Meghan? Rumors of royal rule rewrites rarely impact the former actress turned global philanthropist. Without the daily grind of palace appearances, she’s free to pursue her own ventures—no bows required. So there you have it – another royal protocol reshuffle making headlines and reminding us that in the monarchy, titles really do matter.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
