Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 14, 2025 · Entertainment

Meghan Markle's Nervous Moments at Trooping the Colour: A Lip Reader's Insight

Meghan Markle's first Trooping the Colour in 2018. A lipreader said that despite seeming composed, Meghan was nervous

The Royal Rumblings: Meghan's Palace Meltdown

It's no secret that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, had a rocky road adjusting to life as a member of the British royal family. Her high-profile marriage to Prince Harry, coupled with her own strong personality and sense of style, created a perfect storm of controversy and drama.

In 2018, just months after their fairy-tale wedding, Meghan made her debut at Trooping the Colour, an annual event celebrating the Queen's official birthday. What was supposed to be a triumphant moment for the young couple turned out to be a disaster waiting to happen.

At one point, when Meghan was standing on the balcony, Prince Harry asked if she was doing OK

According to insiders, Meghan was anxious to impress on her first appearance as a newlywed, but things didn't quite go according to plan. A lipreader revealed that despite seeming composed, Meghan was actually nervous throughout the event and even confided in Harry about her jitters.

However, it wasn't just Meghan's outfit – an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress in a soft blush pink shade – that raised eyebrows. Her decision to break with royal tradition and wear such a modern silhouette sparked a heated debate among fashionistas and royal watchers alike.

But the real drama unfolded when Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, asked Meghan about her first Trooping the Colour experience. In an awkward exchange, Meghan responded with a joke about the event being "colourful" – a comment that fell flat with the rest of the royal family.

In a second exchange, Meghan admitted to her husband that she was nervous. The pair looked at each other and the new royal blurted out 'nervous,' with a smile

Perhaps this tonal misunderstanding was just the tip of the iceberg for the young couple's struggles to adapt to life as royals. This year's Trooping the Colour is extra special, marking King Charles's 75th birthday. But one notable absence from the event will be Prince Harry and Meghan – their high-profile security appeal has reportedly led to a rift with the monarch.

In a recent BBC interview, Harry revealed that his father was not speaking to him, sparking speculation about the monarch's health. The couple also announced that they would not be bringing their children, Archie and Lilibet, back to the UK anytime soon – a decision that has left many in the royal family wondering if they will ever fully integrate into British society.

As we take a closer look at the Sussexes' tumultuous time as working royals, it's clear that Meghan's fashion choices were just one aspect of her struggle to navigate the complexities of palace life. Her penchant for breaking with tradition and embracing modern styles sparked both admiration and criticism from fans and critics alike.

Camilla, Kate, Meghan, Harry and Isla Phillips on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour 2018

But what about the real reason behind Meghan's fashion faux pas? According to body language expert Judi James, the Duchess was not only nervous but also feeling isolated and disconnected from her husband during the event. "She was still new to The Firm," James explained, "and the balcony moments are the most formal and globally visible appearances of the Royal Family en masse."

The tension between Meghan and Harry on that fateful day is palpable in the footage. As Meghan turns to speak to her husband, she appears visibly unhappy – a far cry from the confident and radiant woman who had captured the world's attention just months earlier.

But the royal rumblings don't stop there. Insiders claim that Meghan frequently bent or ignored dress codes and protocols, all in an effort to showcase her independence and individuality. "A confident and happy person doesn't adopt disruptive behaviour," said etiquette expert Laura Windsor. "Meghan's outfit choice was unapologetically defiant – a declaration of independence that sparked both admiration and criticism."

In his tell-all memoir Spare Harry wrote that everyone was 'in a good mood, upbeat' until Kate asked Meghan what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour

As we look back on the Sussexes' time as working royals, it's clear that Meghan's fashion choices were just one aspect of her struggle to adapt to life in the palace. Her decision to wear a navy short-sleeved dress by Givenchy at Trooping the Colour in 2019 marked a turning point for the couple – their final appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony before stepping down as working royals.

In the end, it's not hard to see why Meghan and Harry's royal romance was cut short. The constant scrutiny, pressure to conform, and tension between the couple all took its toll on their marriage. As they embark on a new chapter in California, one thing is clear: the drama of the palace will stay with them forever.

A Timeline of the Sussexes' Royal Rumblings

The main criticism Meghan attracted for her first balcony appearance was her outfit: An off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress in a soft blush pink shade with a matching Philip Treacy hat

  • 2018: Meghan makes her debut at Trooping the Colour, wearing an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress.
  • 2019: Meghan and Harry announce they will step down as working royals.
  • 2020: The couple officially quits their roles as senior royals.
  • 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan return to the UK to introduce their children to the late Queen.
  • 2023: The couple's high-profile security appeal sparks a rift with King Charles, leading to speculation about the monarch's health.

Sources:

  • Judi James, Body Language Expert
  • Laura Windsor, Etiquette Expert
  • BBC Interview with Prince Harry
  • TheScholarlyNote.com

Kate, who unlike Meghan has attended Trooping the Colour ever since her first appearance in 2011, stood in front of the new Duchess

Meghan is pictured with Harry during Trooping The Colour 2018

Meghan had given birth to her first son Prince Archie less than a month before Trooping the Colour on June 8, 2019, which marked the late Queen's 93rd birthday

The Duchess wore a navy short-sleeved dress by Givenchy and a matching hat by Noel Stewart as she stood in front of her husband

The Royal Family on the balcony at Trooping the Colour in 2019

According to a body language expert, Meghan was uncomfortable at her second Trooping the Colour

Prince Louis covers his eyes during Trooping the colour 2022

Even Harry was known to play up at such royal occasions as a young boy, once sticking his tongue out at cameras in 1988 while being held by his mother Princess Diana

Etiquette expert Laura Windsor said that Meghan frequently bent or even ignored dress codes and opened herself to scrutiny to get attention and display her independence