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Celebrity

16th Jan 2019

This is how Meghan Markle broke taboo and changed the British Monarchy forever

Rebecca O'Keeffe

meghan markle

She has totally broken taboo.

You may not realise, but Meghan Markle marrying into the royal family was actually a major deal.

Why?

Well because Meghan was the first ever biracial divorcee to ever marry into the royal family.

The union was even given the Queen’s blessing, something that would not have happened 50 years ago.

In fact, in 1936, Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, gave up his throne in to marry twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.

Similarly in the 1950s, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret, was faced with this predicament.

meghan markle

Margaret wished to marry the divorced Peter Townsend, but ultimately chose her royal duty over the man she loved.

It is well known that members of the British royal family are not typically allowed to marry someone that has been divorced.

Which is why Meghan Markle is such a trailblazer.

Royal biographer, Andrew Morton, explained the significance of Meghan and Harry’s marriage.

meghan markle

Apparently, it was when Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage ended, that was when royal family members altered their views.

According to Mr Morton, this “caused the older generation of royals to take pause before commenting on the chosen companions of the younger members of the family”.

“Meghan, having divorced after a brief two-year union with a film producer hardly raised an eyebrow, let alone created a constitutional crisis”.