Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton avoid doing one surprising thing around the Queen – Express

The Queen is known for wearing bright and striking outfits and according to one of her daughter-in-laws there is a very specific reason for this. Speaking on the 2017 documentary ‘The Queen at 90’ Sophie, Countess of Wessex, said the monarch wears bright shades to maximise the number of people who can see her.

The Countess explained: “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say ‘I saw the queen’.

“Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen’s hat as she went past.”

William Hanson, an etiquette specialist, told Harper’s Bazaar Kate and Meghan avoid bright colours when with the Queen out of respect to avoid detracting attention.

He said: “During the 2012 Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, the queen wore white, so she stood out against the red furnishings of the royal barge, whereas the Duchess of Cambridge wore red, making her almost disappear and not pull focus from the real star of the show.

“The Duchess of Sussex [showed] great consideration by wearing more neutral colours and tones when on duty with Her Majesty as it allows the queen to take centre stage and top billing, as is only right.”

On Thursday Kate took part in her first in-person royal engagement since the coronavirus lockdown began when she visited Fakenham garden centre in Norfolk.

The next day Prince William went to Smiths The Bakers in King’s Lynn, with both trips designed to promote local businesses as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

A post on the couple’s official Instagram page said: “As non-essential shops start reopening in parts of the UK, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited two independent businesses to hear how they have been impacted by coronavirus, and how they are returning to a new normal.

READ MORE: Royal celebration: How Queen will honour TWO royals this weekend

Instead the young royals said they aimed to become “financially independent” and said they would split their time between North America and Britain.

After discussions with other senior members of the royal family Harry and Meghan announced they would repay the taxpayers money spent renovating their former home near Windsor, Frogmore Cottage, and would drop their ‘Sussex royal’ brand.

Harry and Meghan have been spotted out in Los Angeles delivering supplies to those left vulnerable by coronavirus.

During her visit to Fakenham Kate revealed her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, enjoy visiting garden centres.

She commented: “They love it!

“It’s such a great space for children and families to come to garden centres.

“I’ve been food shopping, but I have to say I haven’t been out a huge amount more – but it’s good and so important now as things start to ease, people know they can go out and particularly to places like this.”

The Queen has been staying at Windsor Castle since the coronavirus restrictions began.

Earlier this month she watched a socially distanced trooping of the colour which took place within the castle walls.

Prince Charles is currently in Scotland having earlier caught, and recovered from, the coronavirus.