LONDON – The gesture is so mechanical few people even notice it; yet whenMeghan Markle, the US actress turned newly-wed wife of Britain’s PrinceHarry, closed her own car door, a wave of shock and awe rolled over Britain.
Videos of the brazen moment flooded social media and generated headlinesthat searched for adjectives to describe the momentous nature of what hadjust occurred.
“Meghan Markle leaves people in shock as she shuts own CAR DOOR on firstsolo engagement,” the Express reported.
It included the footage: Meghan, 37, stepping out of a luxurious blacksedan and being greeted on her arrival on Tuesday at her first soloengagement — the opening of an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts inLondon.
The man in a tuxedo who welcomed her with a warm handshake and appeared tobe preparing to close the door quickly swiped his hand over his mouth themoment Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, closed the door behind her backwithout looking.
The BBC summarised the mood of the nation in its own headline: “Meghancloses a car door and some people can’t handle it.”
Meghan’s every smile, step and wave has been scrutinised by royaltywatchers curious to see how the mixed-race American actress will perform inher new role. She is adored by the public and shadowed at every appearanceby the press.
Many saw it as a sign that Meghan remained a down-to-earth woman withoutpretences, despite being married to the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.
“A princess who still takes the time to shut her car door,” Emily Andrews,the royal correspondent for The Sun tabloid, tweeted. “Well done Meghan!”But one royal correspondent tried to bring everyone back to their senses bynoting that Meghan had not, in fact, breached any protocol.
“Usually royalty and dignitaries have someone to open/close car doors forsecurity reasons: nothing to do with ‘princess behaviour,'” tweeted WilliamHanson, an etiquette coach and columnist for the Daily Mail’s website.”Meghan clearly just shut the door out of force of habit.” – APP/AFP