Meghan Markle Reportedly Must Take Six Months of Royal Lessons Now That She's a Duchess

Remember in The Princess Diaries, when Julie Andrews subjects Anne Hathaway (aka Mia Thermopolis) to "princess lessons," schooling her on everything from how to sit (ankles crossed, never legs) to a proper royal wave? Turns out, Meghan Markle's life as a newlywed royal might not be all that far off from this. The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly been tasked with completing six months of royal lessons, per the queen's request.

According to the Daily Mail, one of the queen's most trusted aides, Samantha Cohen, has been tapped to instruct Markle on how to be a proper member of the royal family—as well as help guide Prince Harry and Markle through their first year as a married couple. Cohen, a 49-year-old mother of three, has reportedly already moved into Kensington Palace, Prince Harry and Markle's new home, to get down to business.

What exactly do royal lessons entail? A source told the Daily Mail that it will be "six months of listening," so that Markle can master all of the rules that come along with her new life as a duchess. Those rules range from the bizarre—like wearing weights in all of her dress hems and no hats after 6 p.m.—to the respectful, like curtsying when she enters a room and eating only while the queen eats. And, as it turns out, those lessons in how to sit that the Princess of Genovia endured weren't entirely made up: It is frowned upon for royals to sit with their legs crossed, according to E! News.

But if Markle's first public appearance as the Duchess of Sussex—at Prince Charles's garden party for his 70th birthday—is any indication, then she will certainly pass the queen's school of royal etiquette with flying colors.

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