When it comes to royal family etiquette, there’s a long list of strict rules members are expected to follow — from never walking ahead of the monarch to avoiding shellfish at official meals. One of the most surprising protocols, however, involves the way royal women sit in public.
Female members of the Royal Family are expected to sit with their legs together or crossed at the ankle, never at the knee — a position known as the “duchess slant” or “Sussex slant.” This posture helps maintain elegance, modesty, and poise, especially when wearing skirts or dresses.
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has occasionally struggled with this royal sitting rule. In a resurfaced video from the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in June 2018, Meghan is seen briefly crossing her legs at the knee before correcting herself and adjusting to the slanted position. This small slip sparked backlash online, with some royal fans calling her behavior “disrespectful” to the Queen.
At the time, it was one of Meghan’s first official engagements with Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth II. Despite the protocol mishap, the Queen appeared fond of Meghan, even gifting her a pair of pearl earrings which she later wore to the Queen’s funeral in September 2022.
Earlier that same month, Meghan also made headlines during her first joint appearance with the Queen at the opening of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in Cheshire. Footage showed her stepping ahead of the monarch, another well-known royal protocol error. Nonetheless, the pair seemed to enjoy each other’s company, sharing smiles and laughter throughout the event.
In her 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry revealed that the Queen and Meghan bonded over their shared love for dogs. Meghan herself reflected on her early relationship with the Queen in a Variety interview, calling their first engagement “special” and expressing gratitude for the warmth they shared.
Royal etiquette expert Myka Meier explained to People magazine that crossing one’s legs at the knee is one of the “biggest etiquette mistakes a lady can make.” She emphasized that the duchess slant is designed to protect modesty, elongate the legs, and look flattering in photos — all while offering comfort when wearing heels.
Although there’s no official rule banning royal women from crossing their legs at the knee, it remains a widely followed guideline among senior royals like Catherine, Princess of Wales, who regularly adopts the duchess slant during public appearances.
