British aristocracy expert Wendy Bosberry-Scott revealed women who marry into the Firm are viewed as having lower status than their full-royal blood counterparts. Bosberry-Scott, editor at etiquette publisher Debrett's, told People: “Women of the royal family who marry in like Kate and Meghan gain their titles by marriage and therefore are of a lower rank than those born into their titles.”

       A Debrett's, a professional coaching company on royal protocol and etiquette, spokesperson added: “Essentially, the hierarchy exists to ensure that the princesses who are born with royal blood, like Eugenie and Beatrice, aren't kind of pushed to one side.

       “As far as the public is concerned, the most visible representation of this tends to be the order in which they might stand at a public event, or the order in which they might enter or leave a room, or who curtsies to whom.”

       According to these reports, Kate Middleton, 39, and Meghan Markle, 40, should also formally greet princesses from birth, like Princesses Anne, Beatrice and Eugenie.

       The ancient rule of precedence was first rolled out by Tudor Queen Elizabeth I in 1595, when she decided that her blood family outranked all others.

       In the Royal family, men are given precedence over women - apart from the Queen, 95.

       So the status of the two duchesses is tied to their husbands, Princes William, 39, and Harry, 37.

       Bosberry-Scott said: “When the wives are with their husbands, their status is elevated to reflect the fact that the men are present.

       “As the men have a higher rank than the princesses (Anne, Eugenie, and Beatrice) they have precedence, and this higher rank is reflected on their wives, so they are then moved ahead.”

       READ MORE: Kate and William delight fans in adorable new teaser clip

       The ancient rule is again complicated by Prince Charles's wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

       Being married to the heir to the throne, she ranks higher than Kate, Meghan, and all her royal nieces even if unaccompanied by the prince.

       However, Camilla doesn't use her title, the Princess of Wales, because it is so linked to the late Princess Diana.

       Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cornwall will lead the “Big Jubilee Lunch” on the final day of the special four-day Bank Holiday Weekend to celebrate the monarch's 70-year reign.

       DON'T MISS:

       Brexiteers cast doubt on Liz Truss as she takes on extra workload

       Omicron 'different from Delta'

       Ireland lays out new guidelines to contain 'aggressive’ Omicron surge