With royal weddings, tiny details start to take on huge stakes. In the fashion realm, it’s finally fascinators’ time to shine, and with beauty, everyone holds their breath to see if the Queen‘s nail polish policy will be upheld. Not familiar? The Queen loves delicate, translucent nail shades, and palace lore has it that she finds colorful nail polish (even traditionally classic shades like cherry red), well, vulgar.
So what did Meghan Markle pick for her wedding nail polish? While she’s made waves for breaking royal protocol with wild abandon by doling out forbidden hugs or her fondness for handbags or (horror of all horrors) even an apparently blasphemous weekend wedding, Markle opted to stay traditional and wear a neutral pink-y beige manicure for the royal wedding. It’s unclear what the exact shade is at this moment, but both the Queen and Kate Middleton tend to favor Essie.
Duchess Kate, for example, wore Essie’s Allure for her wedding in 2011. And the Queen has been a long-time fan of Ballet Slippers ever since her hairstylist requested a bottle for her in 1989. A bottle of it is currently sold every two seconds, and in 2018 alone, almost 80,000 bottles have been sold. While Markle’s manicure looks slightly more opaque than the sheer Ballet Slippers, it’s the polish most royal fans have been betting she’d wear.
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 19: Meghan Markle during their wedding in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 19: Prince Harry places the wedding ring on the finger of Meghan Markle during their wedding service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 19: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look at each other during their wedding service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
She’s abided by the polish rule since announcing her engagement back in November 2017, as a perusal from her appearances show:
On December 1, she went with this opaque light pink for a World AIDS Day charity fair.
On December 21, in her official engagement photos.
On March 23, she went with a similarly pale shade for her and Prince Harry’s trip to Northern Ireland.
April 25 brought more of the same, albeit with what looks like a slightly pinker spin.
Royal Wedding Photos: All the Celebrity and Royal Arrivals at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Ceremony at Windsor Castle
Meghan Markle with her mother Doria Ragland (unseen) drive down the Long Walk as they arrive at Windsor Castle ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Meghan Markle (R) with her mother Doria Ragland drive down the Long Walk as they arrive at Windsor Castle ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding to Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Meghan Markle arrives for the wedding ceremony to marry Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales marries Ms. Meghan Markle in a service at St George’s Chapel inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Doria Ragland arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Meghan Markle arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Prince Harry (left) walks with his best man, Prince William Duke of Cambridge, as he arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for his wedding to Meghan Markle, on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Prince Harry and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Prince Harry (left) walks with his best man, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as they arrive at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh rrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrive at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Amal and George Clooney arrive at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Sarah, Duchess of York arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
David and Victoria Beckham attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
David and Victoria Beckham (both right) talk with Sir Elton John (L) and David Furnish (C) as they arrive in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Julia Carey and James Corden attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre followed by Oprah Winfrey (fourth right) arrive at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Lady Kitty Spencer arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Cressida Bonas arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Actress Gina Torres (Markle’s former costar on Suits) arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Oprah Winfrey arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Socialite Delfina Blaquier arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer and Karen Spencer arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Sofia Wellesley and singer James Blunt arrive at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry’s ex, attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.
