Why does Meghan Markle have to curtsy to Kate Middleton? The Royal rule explained

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There's officially a new Duchess in the Royal Family.

Meghan Markle has been named the Duchess of Sussex following her wedding to Prince Harry, but that doesn't mean she and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, are on a level playing field. 

According to Metro UK, Meghan, 36, will have to curtsy to Kate and other higher-ranking Royals now that she's a member of the family.  

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now officially called the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Kate Middleton, also a Duchess, outranks Meghan Markle because she'll be Queen Consort one day

Kate's husband, Prince William, is currently second in the line of succession for the throne. Their eldest son, Prince George, is third. 

This means Kate, 36, will one day be called Queen Consort, a title given to the wives of Kings. Due to this fact, she's higher up in the Royal Ranks than her new sister-in-law, Meghan.

What other Royal Rules must Meghan Markle follow? What's the current line of succession? Get the answers to those questions and more below.

Royal Rules Meghan Markle must follow

Now that former American actress Meghan Markle has a Royal title, there are a few rules she's got to be mindful of at all times. 

Some are simple etiquette rules, while others pertain to the order of the Royal Family.

Below are the rules Meghan must keep in mind at all times:

• She must curtsy to higher-ups

Meghan will have to curtsy to anyone that outranks her upon entering a room. That includes The Queen, of course, as well as Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles.

She'll also have to do this at official events. 

• Mourning clothes must be kept on-hand when travelling

Following the death of King George while then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip were travelling in Africa, members of the Royal Family are required to travel with mourning clothes.

• No dark nail colors

OK! Magazine reported that members of the Royal Family are forbidden from sporting dark nail polish colors. 

• No social media

Members of the Royal Family are forbidden from having their own social media accounts. Updates and statements from all of them are released on the Kensington Palace Twitter and Instagram account, as well as the palace's website. 

Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan was forced to shut down her lifestyle blog and Instagram account. 

• No autographs

Meghan's autograph signing days are over. The former Hollywood starlet is forbidden from signing fan autographs and, in most cases, guestbooks. 

• No selfies

According to the Daily Mirror, Meghan and Harry were recently approached by a young couple who asked if they could have a selfie with them. The pair declined politely and Meghan explained: 'We're not allowed to do selfies.'

Speaking with Smooth Radio, Royal Family etiquette expert Jennifer Gehmair delved deeper into the rule.

'Turning your back to the Duke and Duchess and taking a selfie is discouraged if at all possible. I know it's fun to do, but they much would rather see your face.'

• No short skirts

Meghan won't be showing off her legs now that she's a member of the Royal Family. The Queen reportedly doesn't approve of hemlines any higher than one or two inches above the knee.

• No leg crossing

According to Hello!, members of the Royal Family are expected not to cross their legs. Instead, they should cross their ankles. 

Kate often does this move during engagements. It's become known as 'the Duchess Slant'.

• Dinner with The Queen is at 8:30pm sharp

When sharing dinner with The Queen, guests are expected to eat by 8:30pm. The meal will be over at 10pm.

Queen Elizabeth II is apparently serious about her schedule.

• No eating before or after The Queen

StyleCaster reported that Meghan can't begin eating before Queen Elizabeth II, nor can she continue after.  

• No sleeping until The Queen sleeps

If Meghan stays with Queen Elizabeth II she much wait until she's asleep to go to be herself, according to the Daily Beast. 

• Meghan must always be seated next to her husband

Open seating is reportedly a no-no now that Meghan's a member of the Royal Family. She's expected to be sat next to Prince Harry, 33, at all events.

• Respect the order

In addition to curtsying to higher-ranking family members, there's an order for entering rooms according to Reader's Digest. 

The Queen enters first, followed by Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William, Kate Middleton. Prince Harry and then Meghan are thought to be next.  

• Pinkies in

Contrary to popular belief, it's been reported that the proper way to drink tea is by using your thumb and index finger to hold the top of the tea cup handle while your middle finger supports the bottom of the cup.

Coffee should be consumed with your index finger through the handle.

In either scenario, pinkies must be in, Myka Meier told People.

• No shellfish

This rule has been relaxed recently, though Queen Elizabeth II still adheres to it strictly. 

The Royal Family is generally not to consume shellfish to avoid getting food poisoning. 

Line of succession

The line of succession plays an important part in many of the new rules Meghan Markle must follow now that she's the Duchess of Sussex. 

The order is as follows:

• Prince Charles of Wales
• Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
• Prince George of Cambridge
• Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
• Prince Louis of Cambridge
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
• Prince Andrew, Duke of York
• Princess Beatrice of York
• Princess Eugenie of York 

Duchess of Sussex

Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex after she married Prince Harry on Saturday, May 19, 2018. The Queen passed the title on to the couple as a gift of sorts.  

Prince Harry is the first Duke of Sussex since 1843. 

Queen Elizabeth II did a similar gesture with Prince William and Kate Middleton, naming them the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Meghan's official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales. 

Meghan Markle first Royal Engagement 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out for their first Royal Engagement on Tuesday. The couple were seen together at Prince Charles's pre-birthday celebration.

He's turning 70. 

More than 6,000 people were in attendance at Buckingham Palace for the event, which honored his military affiliations, charity work and more.

Meghan Markle coat of arms 

If you thought the drama with Meghan Makle's family was going to end after the wedding, think again. Her half-sister Samatha Markle Grant had some choice words for her sister after learning that father Thomas Markle wasn't given a coat of arms. 

Samantha told The Telegraph UK: 'To exclude him of a coat of arms is really stripping him of an honor and it's a huge insult.' 

Kate Middleton's father Michael Middleton was given his own coat of arms after his daughter married Prince William in 2011.   

Kate, her siblings and her brother's children are entitled to use the coat of arms.

As previously reported, The Queen thought it too 'complicated' a process in the case of Meghan's father. Instead, Meghan will be given her own coat of arms. It won't apply to her family.