It is well known that members of the royal family must follow strict protocols, from dress to diet. Some of the strict rules have been adopted based on experience. For example, the rule that all royals must have at least one black outfit for each trip, adopted after Queen Elizabeth II had to wait on the tarmac until someone brought her mourning clothes when she returned to the UK after the sudden death of her father.

For example, the rule is that when Prince Harry and Prince William are in attendance, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle should receive upgraded treatment compared to when the men are absent. That's ridiculous ......." You might think, "But remember, this rule, which has a precedent, enacted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1595, is followed without as much attention as it used to get. This is because it clearly reflects a different set of values.

According to People magazine, it also means that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are of lower status than both Duchess Kate and Meghan. Since both Kate and Meghan married into the royal family, their "position" in the hierarchy should theoretically (if not realistically) reflect that.

However, this is not always the case! Wendy Bosbury-Scott, editor of Debrett's, told the magazine, "When a wife is with her husband, her position is elevated to reflect the fact that a man is present." 'The men have a higher status than the princesses [Anne, Eugenie, and Beatrice], so they take precedence, and this higher status is reflected in the wives, so they are moved up.'

You are not alone in thinking, "Wow. But the use of such a hierarchy is perhaps not so obvious. The spokesperson added, "As far as the public is concerned, the most visible manifestation of this tends to be where you stand at public events, the order in which you enter and exit a room, or who bows to whom."

Anyway, to the list of reasons why being royalty is overrated, add "the old-fashioned rule that men stand above women."