Photos of Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton before they were royals show how drastically their lives have changed

Talia LakritzMay 19, 2020, 20:18 IST

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle before they were royalty.Sang Tan/AP, Vimeo

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were regular people before they married into the royal family.
Middleton graduated from St. Andrews with a degree in art history, and now she has an official portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.
Markle held a number of odd jobs before getting her big break on the TV show "Suits," but as a royal, she got a staff of her own.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were both regular people before they married into the royal family. After becoming duchesses, their lives look very different. They follow royal protocol (most of the time), have access to enormous wealth and privilege, and live in the public eye under constant scrutiny.

Now that Markle and Prince Harry have announced they're stepping back as senior royals, Markle's life might become a little more like it was before she was the Duchess of Sussex.

Here are photos that show Markle and Middleton's before-and-after transformations from commoner to royal.

Read the original article on Insider

Kate Middleton graduated from St. Andrews with a degree in art history.

At her graduation in 2005. Michael Dunlea/Daily Mail/NPA pool/AP

She's part of that history now with her own portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.

Kate Middleton's portrait. Alastair Grant-WPA Pool/Getty Images

She drove herself to her 25th birthday party.

In the driver's seat. AP

Now she's chauffeured everywhere she goes.

Exiting a car in style. KGC-178/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

As a commoner, she carried her own bags.

Bags in tow. Sang Tan/AP

Her assistant and stylist handle that now.

Her squad. Dominic Lipinski - Pool/Getty Images

She used to attend red carpet parties as a guest.

At a WTA Tour Players Party. AI Project/Reuters

Now, she's the guest of honor at charity galas.

Speaking at a royal engagement. John Phillips - WPA Pool /Getty Images

Middleton used to wear cowboy hats.

It was a look. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

They've since been replaced with fascinators.

Wearing a fascinator. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

She wore button-down shirts and blazers before joining the royal family.

A classic look. Getty Images

She still wears a slightly more regal version of the same look.

Visiting New Zealand. Arthur Edwards - Pool/Getty Images

She was a fan of wearing bold animal prints when going out and about.

At the circus. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

She can get away with more muted versions.

Not as bold. Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle held a number of odd jobs before getting her big break on the TV show "Suits."

Markle on "Deal or No Deal." YouTube/Weekly Tea

After becoming a royal, butlers and staff did jobs for her.

Palace staff. Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images

She used to go shopping for knick knacks.

Shopping in LA. Charley Gallay/Getty Images For Benefit Cosmetics

Now her face is on them.

Royal wedding souvenirs. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Before royal life, she could sip a cocktail without thinking twice.

Markle sipping a cocktail. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for DirecTV

But her royal life involved lots of formal toasts with dignitaries.

A toast. Geoff Pugh - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Markle gave enthusiastic hugs as a commoner.

She's a hugger. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for DirecTV

Hugging a royal isn't considered appropriate according to royal protocol, so handshakes it is.

Meghan Markle greets her admirers. Jeremy Selwyn/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Markle used to be able to cross her legs like anyone else.

With Petra Nemcova. Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

As the Duchess of Sussex, she was expected to sit with a "duchess slant."

Markle with Queen Elizabeth. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

She once gave out autographs as an actress.

Signing her name. Mike McGregor/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald

As a duchess, autographs are against royal protocol — but she's been known to bend the rules.

She's paving her own way. Getty Images

Markle used to be able to wear whatever shade of nail polish happened to match her outfit.

Markle's nail polish before royal life. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for WGC

The Queen reportedly only allows neutral nail colors.

Markle's nails post-wedding. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Markle was an actress starring on "Suits."

The cast of "Suits." Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

But being the Duchess of Sussex became a full-time job.

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

29 stunning looks Meghan Markle wore during her time as a royal

Cookies on the Business Insider India website