Queen Elizabeth Honours Meghan Markle By Inviting Her To Travel By Royal Train

Meghan Markle will soon add another British royal first to her list.

Meghan Markle will soon add another British royal first to her list.

Shortly after the Duchess of Sussex returns home from her honeymoon at a top-secret location — which is not Alberta's Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge — she will make her first solo appearance with Queen Elizabeth II in Cheshire, a county located roughly 4.5 hours northwest of London.

The Duchess of Sussex attends her father-in-law the Prince of Wales' 70th Birthday Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 22.
The Duchess of Sussex attends her father-in-law the Prince of Wales' 70th Birthday Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 22.
DOMINIC LIPINSKI via Getty Images

According to the royal family's website, the pair will open the Mersey Gateway Bridge at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre on June 14. During that same outing, they will also open the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester and attend a lunch at Chester Town Hall.

While the appearance with the Queen is significant for a number of reasons, what's most notable is the fact that Markle is the first young royal invited to travel via the monarch's personal train, which is reserved for senior family members, Hello magazine reports.

Queen Elizabeth II talks with Prince Philip as they leave the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel.
Queen Elizabeth II talks with Prince Philip as they leave the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel.
ALASTAIR GRANT via Getty Images

That means only Her Majesty, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and their personal staff are known to use the royal train, which is said to be the Queen's favourite mode of transportation, according to The Telegraph.

The only other royal family member to have used the train is Prince William, who is believed to have ridden it during his birthday tour in 2003.

This is a great honour for Markle, especially considering her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, has never used the royal train for official appearances, and had to wait nearly a year after she married Prince William to make her first public appearance with the Queen.

Dean of Windsor, David Conner, and the Queen exit as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge follow after the Easter Service at St George's Chapel.
Dean of Windsor, David Conner, and the Queen exit as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge follow after the Easter Service at St George's Chapel.
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But don't assume the Queen is playing favourites! According to author Ingrid Seward, who wrote the biography "My Husband & I" about Her Majesty and Prince Philip, the Queen is likely trying to help Markle learn as much as possible in her early days as a royal.

"The Queen knows the potential pitfalls of not giving [new members] a guiding hand," Seward told People magazine. "She doesn't want 70 years of hard work to be for nothing. I'm sure she feels Meghan needs a steadying hand in these early days."

Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25 2018.
Prince William, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25 2018.
WPA Pool via Getty Images

Although Markle has not been on any official royal tours yet, she's already proven to be a natural when it comes to carrying out royal duties during her public appearances with Prince Harry.

However, in their first interview as an engaged couple, Markle admitted she was not completely prepared for how her life would change, thanks to her association with the royal family.

"I think I can very safely say, as naive as it sounds now ... I did not have any understanding of just what it would be like. I don't think either of us did," the former "Suits" star told BBC News in November.

"There is a misconception that because I have worked in the entertainment industry, that this would be something I would be familiar with," she continued. "But even though I had been on my show for I guess six years [when the public found out about her relationship with Harry], and working before that, I have never been part of the tabloid culture."

Despite this, Markle has settled into her new role as the Duchess of Sussex just fine and will make her next appearance with the royal family at the Trooping the Colour event on Saturday, in honour of the Queen's 92 birthday.

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