But Meghan and Catherine aren't the only royal family members that will show off a more striking colour on their nails, as Princess Eugenie has been spotted sporting nail art and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has worn everything from pretty pinks to modern taupes - though there's never a chip in sight, of course!
Kate Middleton's Most Notable Nail Moments - Grazia 2023
Many reported that she wore a mix of Essie's Nail polish in Allure and Bourjois' So Laque Nail Enamel in Rose Lounge, a product that has since been discontinued.
And, while Meghan Markle does sometimes rock a dark-hued nail, she mainly sticks to a classic mani as well. Turns out there is one shade all three women prefer: Essie's “Ballet Slippers,” a subtle pale pink polish the Queen has worn since 1989, when her hairstylist wrote to the company asking for a bottle.
CND Shellac - Unmasked
On the Duchess of Sussex's wedding day, she opted for Shellac, which lasts two weeks. Last year, London salon DryBy London told Vogue that their manicurists gave Meghan her wedding nail look, combining one coat of CND Shellac's Unmasked with two coats of the brand's shade Negligee on top.
While Middleton has donned red toe polish on several occasions, she's never worn dark colors on her hands, choosing to go with a clear or nude manicure, or in many cases, no polish at all. Most fans seemed to love the change. “My good sis Kate said: ISSA RED NAIL POLISH KINDA DAY and away she went!
In fact, our monarch is so associated with the seashell pink, Essie Ballet Slippers, that royal folklore once suggested it was protocol to wear nothing stronger than a nude hue.
“She was clearly angry […] She wore bright red nail enamel, which we had never seen her do before. She was saying: 'Let's be wicked tonight. '” The red manicure is an enduring classic, a bold symbol of elegance and power.
Meghan wore CND Shellac nail polish on her wedding day
On her fingernails one layer of Unmasked – a pretty nude shade - was painted, with two coats of Negligee – a pale sheer polish - on top.
The Queen wore the same shade for over 30 years...
The late Queen Elizabeth II only let one shade of nail polish touch her finger tips and it was by none other than Essie.
While there has been previous reporting that the late Queen Elizabeth had a royal protocol when it came to nail polish -the reality is, most royal ladies have forgone the standard 'neutral' tones on occasion, with Catherine, Princess of Wales', featuring red nails in her latest appearance, which came as a surprise to ...
Before becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan told Allure magazine, “I use RevitaLash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they could ever be.” Beauty experts agree that it is a star product, and thankfully it's readily available to shop online.
Camel, beige, white. So I wore a lot of muted tones, but it was also so I could just blend in. "I'm not trying to stand out here. There was no version of me joining this family and me not doing everything I could to fit in," the duchess said.
In most lighting situations, Markle's hair appears to be the deep, mahogany brunette she's stuck to for years. But when she steps into direct sunlight outside, the subtle red undertones are illuminated and much more vibrant.
Although Princess Kate has occasionally glammed up her toes with a bright pedicure, her bold manicure moment marked a fashion first in public.
Kate Middleton just dyed her signature brunette locks the colour of the season. If there's one person we should all be taking hair inspiration from, it's the royal highness herself – and no, while she is a Queen, I don't mean Beyoncé.
It turns out Kate Middleton has a large scar on her hair line, on the left side of her head. This scar has only ever been photographed once in the media, in 2011 when her hair was pulled back from her face.
It was revealed that Margaret's manicure of choice came courtesy of classic nail polish brand Peggy Sage – which still sells its popular colours today.
"And of course, the Duchess of Sussex is not the first royal to wear dark nail polish. Diana wore it, Catherine's worn it. Royals around the world have worn it. I think the tabloids are just so fixated on picking something out because they know it'll be clicked, and they don't take the time to research."
Most royals, including Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Middleton, and Queen Camilla, usually opt for understated looks. That's likely because royals are expected to maintain a more natural and classic style. Their eye makeup is intended to enhance natural beauty rather than add to a look or fit a trend.
It was the biggest day of her life and Meghan Markle didn't disappoint in the beauty stakes at the royal wedding. The bride looked absolutely incredible with a surprisingly pared-back beauty look. Her makeup, which was apparently applied by Dior's Daniel Martin, was natural, fresh and, naturally, glowing.
Let's dispel a royal protocol rumor right off the bat: Duchesses Kate and Meghan are free to wear any shade of nail polish. “There's no actual protocol about dark nail polish,” royal correspondent Omid Scobie previously told BAZAAR.com in an interview.
Princess Kate reportedly loves Essie's Allure Nail Polish, and even wore the shade on her wedding day, according to Town & Country. The neutral hue is perfect for every day wear — and when you're a royal, you need a color that is as elegant as it is understated.
Kate, who also became the Duchess of Cornwall following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, opted for Diana's breathtaking pearl and diamond earrings.
The classic red shade Marilyn so often wore on her nails was revealed to be the Revlon colour 'Cherries a la Mode' which the brand has since sadly discontinued.
While the signet ring has traditionally been worn by men, the women of the royal family are no strangers to it. Princess Diana and Kate Middleton – they all have been, time and again, spotted wearing their own versions of this ring on their pinky fingers.