Meghan Markle Brought Her Favorite Hat to Wimbledon but Wasn't Allowed to Wear It

Over the weekend, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, made her royal Wimbledon debut. As she sat beside her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, fans around the globe reveled in her stylish look.

At the event, Meghan wore a simple blue- and white-striped, button-down shirt with a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg silk pants, both of which were designed by Ralph Lauren. Her hair was loosely tied back in a bun, which further emphasized her cool but easy style. However, there was one thing missing from this ensemble: her favorite Wimbledon hat.

As Marie Claire pointed out, Meghan appeared to hold her go-to hat — which she was spotted in two years ago at Wimbledon, just prior to announcing she was dating Prince Harry — for the entire day. Despite the sweltering heat and the beating sun, Meghan never once put on her hat while seated in the royal box. Why, you may ask? It’s simple: She’s too high-class now.

When Meghan was photographed in the hat in 2016 she was a mere commoner, seated in mere commoner seats. However, now that she is a duchess, Meghan watched her friend Serena Williams play her match from inside the Royal Box. And, according to The Sun, there are absolutely no hats allowed inside the regal seating section.

“Spectators in the Royal Box have to follow a set of fashion rules, with guests being asked to dress smartly — and men advised to wear a jacket and tie,” The Sun explained. It added that royal box attendees are asked not to wear hats as the accessory may block the view for others seated behind them.

So, either Meghan didn’t know about the strict dress code, or she simply brought the hat along for tradition. Either way, here’s hoping Meghan and Kate were wearing a thick layer of sunscreen for their tennis outing.