Meghan Markle wasn’t allowed to do this at Wimbledon – yet was allowed two years ago

Meghan Markle, 36, joined her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, 36, at the Wimbledon finals together.

The pair sat in the royal box to watch Serena Williams, who was beaten by Angelique Kerber who won the competition for the first time.

Meghan and Kate made a stylish couple as they stepped out in contrasting outfits.

While Meghan chose a nautical striped shirt and chic white trousers, Kate chose a classic printed dress with ruffle details.

Yet many eagle-eyed fans noticed Meghan not wearing her hat, similar to one she wore in 2016 to Wimbledon.

Two years ago, Meghan joined fans to watch tennis during day two of the competition, as rumours of her and Prince Harry dating were beginning to circulate.

She wore her favourite white panama hat from Madewell to keep the sun off her face.

Meghan was caught carrying a similar hat from Maison Michel with her to Wimbledon this year, yet it was never worn during the match.

This is because of the strict rules in the Royal Box when it comes to dressing etiquette.

Some of the fashion guidelines mean dressing smartly with men needing to wear a jacket and tie.

Yet they also advised not to wear hats as this can prohibit others views.

The Wimbledon website states: “Protocol – dress is smart, suits/jacket and tie, etc.

“Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them.”

Meghan may not have been aware of this rule before getting to Wimbledon which would explain why she was forced to carry it.

She wasn’t subject to the same rules in 2016 as hats in the main area are not advised against.

Rules dictate that they are allowed as long as the wearer is considerate of others around them watching.

Meghan’s Wimbledon outfit was a much more casual style compared to her recent outings.

The 36-year-old styled a blue striped oversized shirt, costing £600 on the Ralph Lauren website.

Her white silk trousers were also Ralph Lauren, and she clutched an Altuzarra Studio bag.

She chose her signature messy bun for the day, something she has been toning down during official visits.