Meghan Markle will have to master these royal etiquette skills if she marries Prince Harry
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Traditional fairy tales often involve a handsome prince making an honest woman of someone considered to be "commoner".
They fall in love, ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
In the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fairy tale, things are a little different.
Firstly, while technically a "commoner" by birth, Meghan is also a successful actress, World Vision Global Ambassador and UN Advocate.
So not exactly a goose-herder or kitchen wench then.
Speculation has been mounting that a royal wedding between the Suits actress and fifth in line to the throne may be on the cards.
(Photo: AFP/Getty)
But if that does happen, before they get to live happily after, there's a few tricks Meghan will need to perfect.
1. Sitting pretty
People magazine recently spoke to one woman with royal etiquette insider knowledge, Beaumont Etiquette founder Myka Meier.
One of the first things Meghan would need to make sure she had down is the "proper" way of sitting.
To achieve this, Myka advises keeping an "egg's width of distance" between the back of the chair and your back.
No drooping head either. Myka's instructions state that your chin should be parallel to the floor, back straight, with your hands folded in your lap.
If you must cross your legs, do so at the knee rather than the ankle.
(Photo: Getty Images Portrait)
2. Love a tea party
Apparently, the Royal family love an afternoon tea. But before Meghan tucks in to the crustless cucumber sandwiches, there's a few techniques she'll need to get a handle of.
First, she'll need to hold her cup properly.
To do this, Myka points out, you need to pinch the top of the handle with your thumb and index finger, with your middle finger supporting the bottom of the handle.
The handle of the cup should always be kept at 3 o'clock and you should ALWAYS to take a sip from the same spot
This applies to all drinks and is to avoid getting lipstick around the rim.
(Photo: Getty)
Eating with the Royals sounds exhausting - you must never put down your cutlery. The only time you can is when you need have a drink or pop to the toilet.
3. Meeting and greeting
There's a protocol for nearly everything when you're Royal, and this extends to how to greet not just members of the public - but also family members.
(Photo: Getty)
On official engagements Meghan will need to make direct eye-contact with her fans and well-wishers, smile and shake their hands with no more than two pumps.
She could also always take inspiration from the Duchess of Cambridge, who carries a clutch bag with her on public engagements to avoid awkward handshake interactions .
(Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
When it comes to meeting friends and close family members in public, it's best to avoid ostentatious Ab Fab style "mwah mwah darling" air kisses.
While you don't actually kiss the other person's cheek, you don't make a noise - and only stick to two!
4. Exiting cars
When you're in the public eye, having the paparazzi on hand to capture an awkward car exit is one of the downsides of the job.
(Photo: REX)
Getting out of a car in an elegant manner can be tricky when wearing a skirt.
So to assist this, Myka suggests doing the "swivel and pop" where you position yourself at the end of your seat, as close to the door as possible.
Then place both your hands behind yourself and use them to support yourself as you turn.
Make sure you keep your ankles and knees together and place your feet outside the car.
You should then be in a position to "pop" out of the car and stand up, ready to meet the crowds.
Meghan, if you do get married to Harry, then good luck.