The royal family has already made a huge mistake

THE royal family and its staff have been hard at work planning the wedding for months. But there was one major oversight.

THE royal family made a huge mistake in not sending a member of the household to see Meghan Markle’s dad before the wedding, according to a top etiquette expert.

William Hanson told Page Six the royal wedding fiasco sums up what happens when the royal household is not used to commoners marrying into the family.

He stressed that Meghan, 36, must learn how to behave from her fellow commoner and future sister-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

“My heart bleeds for Meghan, it’s not really what she’s banked on. I do think it’s interesting, one of the issues seen this week with members of royalty marrying commoners, is that when you marry someone who has not grown up in this environment, no matter how bright and intelligent they may be, it can be disconcerting and accidents can happen.

“The royal household should have sent someone out to talk to Mr. Markle immediately and others in Meghan’s family. But that didn’t happen — and it has blown up in their faces.

“When Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, married Prince William, the Middleton family were much more attuned to their position, what they had to do and what was expected of them.

“Prior to royalty marrying commoners, they married other royals, whether British or European, or aristocrats. These unions were often loveless and didn’t do too particularly well, but you know what to do and how to behave — it’s part of their breeding.”

Kate Middleton’s parents, Michael and Carole, were better prepared for the public scrutiny. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

As Prince Harry and Meghan turned up in Windsor on Thursday for a rehearsal and tea with the Queen, Hanson added there is the problem of dealing with the British class system.

“In America, the class system is celebrity and our royal family have taken on celebrity status, but they are a level above this and should be held to higher standards.”

Hanson said that former Suits actress Meghan will have been hopefully taking “princess lessons” from the Duchess of Cambridge. He adds she has already refined her public dress sense — even wearing the required pantyhose at formal events.

“There isn’t really a duchess or princess finishing school … so it is a lot of learning as you go, on the job. Just like Catherine — who took advice from Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall — Meghan will have been talking to those who have done this and got the tiara before her,” he says.

“Meghan is very independent, very headstrong and I would hope she would not be too headstrong or stubborn to accept or listen to this advice. I hope that she does listen to her new relatives, as well as Harry and members of ‘blood royalty.’”

On Thursday, Meghan released a statement confirming that her father, Thomas Markle, would not be at the wedding following a photos-for-cash scandal, as he recovered from heart surgery.

And when asked what the etiquette is for who should walk Meghan down the aisle Saturday, Hanson picked her mother, Doria Ragland, over Prince Charles or William, adding, “It has to be her mother, because it is symbolic, you are passing the bride over to her new family.”

Meghan’s father has pulled out of the wedding. Credit: Rachpoot/MEGA

Although Meghan’s warmth and tactile behaviour has endeared her to many Brits, Hanson stressed that she must take a “gently, gently” approach, saying she can’t continue to be so informal, and adding, “If she starts ripping up the rule book from day one, it’s going to be a recipe for disaster.

“This is an institution that has been going on longer than any of us and will continue to do so. Meghan needs to remember she is a small cog in a very old machine. She has to remember it’s not about her — it’s about the causes she is going to be championing, her own personal beliefs are irrelevant.

“Although she can do a huge amount of good with her profile, and I think she is going to open up the monarchy — not just in the UK but around the world — she can’t do it all at once, it has to be gently, gently, softly, softie.”

The couple will be married on Saturday. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

However, he said that compared to the Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan has a more relaxed role — simply because Prince Harry is now sixth in line to the throne with the recent birth of Prince Louis.

“Catherine has got a different role, she’s got a harder task, as she has got to be remembered, but can’t do anything that she’ll be remembered too much for. It’s the same act the Queen has perfected.

“People feel fantastically connected to her, catching a glimpse of what she said is a thrill, but nothing you ever said can be remembered.”

The good thing, Hanson says, is that Prince Harry now has a purpose in life with charities and his Invictus Games, which will help avoid any issues.

“With Harry and Meghan, they can be a little bit more relaxed,” he said.

Meanwhile, the author behind British publication and Twitter account Fleet Street Fox has, like Hansen, also questioned why the royals failed to provide support to Thomas Markle in the lead-up to the wedding, in a compelling Twitter thread which has now been shared a number of times.

Royal reporters are a decent bunch trying their best to cover stories where the protagonists refuse to ever say much. But royal *stories* have a life of their own, and here's why /1

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

The Royals never confirm or deny anything, beyond engagements and birth. So anyone wanting to spin a line or make a buck can do pretty much as they please /2

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Friends can tell you Harry was born a girl, courtiers can reveal William has taken up kick-boxing, an insider can say the Queen has stopped going upstairs. All might be true, and all might not. You'll never know /3

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

A reporter trying to stand up or knock down a story they think is either true or total bollocks MIGHT get a steer from a press officer. But more often than not they don't. /4

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

As a result, stuff makes it in because a) it sounds about right considering past history b) there's several people saying it c) they always say no comment so fuck it, we've got pictures

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

That's not to say those stories are bollocks - it's just that, with about 80% of Royal stories, you're going by smell. And then we come to the Markles. /6

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Some of the rellies who weren't invited have turned up anyway. Presumably, for work. Because they're that pathetic, it impugns closer family too /7

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Thomas Markle should have had close palace advice from day one, as Meghan's mum Doria did. He didn't. He either refused or it wasn't offered. /8

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Perhaps he was a proud man who thought he could handle the pressure. Either way, the palace should have stayed in close contact precisely because they should know the pressure is worse than he expected /9

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Because of all the above, SOME of the stories that made it into print here and in the US will have been utter shite. Some entirely true. I couldn't tell you which. /10

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

The Royals are not only used to that, they use it. They rely on it to ensure some of their true scandals don't get traction. Tom Markle will probably have been aghast and obviously wanted to correct the record /11

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Which is fair enough. I would too. At that point, if palace were on hand, they'd have advised him how or if to do it. Instead they sat and watched as pic after pic appeared that was obviously staged. /12

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Anyone with 5mins' experience of the media could have spotted they were staged. Most of Fleet St knew, the palace media advisors should have known, and the princes themselves may well have had a fair suspicion. /13

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

That being likely, why no intervention from the palace? Why not get the dad over here sooner, behind the castle gates? Why not show some concern for a vulnerable man with an apparent heart problem? /14

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Instead palace spokesman wrote to editors and IPSO, twice, urging them not to print the photos. The letters included what must be untruths about how Markle did not want his photo taken. Either he lied to the palace, or the palace lied to IPSO. /15

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

The only possible reason to demand the photos not be used, while failing to protect Tom Markle himself, is to deny him any possible earnings. /16

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

Which is rather nasty and snide if that decision came, in any respect, via the two sons of Britain's first billionaire prince. /17

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

It's awful people are actually blaming Tom Markle - a man with little money and no experience of this situation - when the palace should, and could, have done so much better. /18

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

And yes, normal stuff applies about paps, snappers, tabloids and editors all being keen on it too. But a) they don't have the same duty of care and b) you read all the way this far, even though you say 'god, who CARES?' and that's why the media goes for the story. Everyone cares.

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

So who at the palace knew those pictures were set up, and when did they know? Why didn't they help Tom Markle? Did they dismiss him as just another scumbag relative, and hang him out to dry? https://t.co/Pd0GMMW4rg pic.twitter.com/LNQptzJMRB

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) May 15, 2018

This story originally appeared in the NY Post and is republished here with permission.