[HOLD FOR COPY EDITOR] Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland were warned about doing a royal double act as Kate Middleton and Carole didn't do it.
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| Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland warned about doing royal double. Pictured: Markle and Ragland at Cliveden House hotel in the village of Taplow near Windsor on May 18, 2018. Photo: Getty Images/Steve Parsons |
By Catherine Armecin, International Business Times
Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland should be careful about doing a royal double act.
On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex hosted her first royal event. Markle's mom, Ragland, and husband, Prince Harry, were both present at the event. However, Amanda Platell, a journalist for Daily Mail, warned the two women about their duo act and praised Kate Middleton's mother for staying out of her royal affairs.
"But Meghan and she should tread carefully if they plan to continue this royal double act," Platell wrote. "Although she's a frequent visitor to the Royal Box at Wimbledon, Carole Middleton has been the model of discretion where Kate's royal duties are concerned."
"She's a deeply supportive, hands-on granny whom Kate can turn to at any moment — but she never steals the royal limelight," the writer added.
Platell found Markle and Ragland's act "too staged." She also added that it hinted a "MeToo virtue-signalling and a tad too much showbiz."
OK! magazine royal expert Laura Hills also said that it's not common for extended family members to join in royal engagements. In fact, Carole has not joined her daughter Kate Middleton and son-in-law Prince William in any of their duties. However, she believed that Ragland's presence at the event was a hint at how important the occasion was to Markle.
"It's certainly not common place for extended members of family to be present at official royal engagements, but with Meghan's mother based in the States it is likely that special allowances were made so that they could continue to spend quality time together in the UK," Hills said.
"This was the first official royal engagement Meghan has hosted on her own and the first public speech she has delivered since becoming a member of the royal family so it would be understandable that she would want her mother by her side on such an important day," the expert added.
In related news, a fashion expert commented earlier about Markle and Ragland's look during the cookbook launch. According to the stylist, Ragland outshined her daughter but not in a bad way.
"I think that her look is classic and eye catching. She 100 per cent stands out more than Meghan, but not in a bad way," stylist and PR expert Rochelle White told Femail. "The colour of the outfit suits her skin tone, her outfit is well tailored, simple and classic."
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