How do Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's royal 'firsts' compare?

Prince William's wife Kate Middleton is a British beauty whose royal husband was her university sweetheart, and Meghan Markle is a stunning Hollywood actress who met her fiancé Prince Harry on a blind date and got engaged after a whirlwind romance. What the two do have in common, however – other than their similar fashion, of course – is that they have both taken the path from commoner to royal, and all the high-profile rites of passage that that entails. How were their debut public moments alike or different? Scroll through to see how Meghan and Kate's royal 'firsts' compare.THE FIRST... ROYAL TOURLess than three months after marrying Prince William, Kate Middleton undertook their first royal tour. The newlyweds flew to Canada for a nine-day trip where they had engagements in: Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edwards Island, Quebec and the capital, Ottowa.Some highlights during their stay were taking part in Canada Day celebrations and a rodeo in Calgary, as well as a romantic canoe ride to Eagle Island in the Northwest Territories.Photo: Getty Images

Meghan's first official tour occurred a pinch sooner after marrying into the royal family. The Duchess joined her Duke on a two-day trip to Ireland, with the intent of immersing themselves in the culture and history of Dublin, specifically: local sports, the arts and entrepreneurship. The happy couple toured government buildings, met with well-wishers and even rang the "peace bell" with Ireland's President and his wife. Of course, she looked stylish throughout!Photo: Getty Images

THE FIRST... ROYAL ASCOTKate Middleton made her debut at the horse race five years after marrying Prince William. Though she was invited every year since their April 2011 nuptials, she politely declined until 2016 when she stepped out in a lace Dolce & Gabbana dress – and was even joined by her mother, Carole Middleton. The royal, along with the Duke of Cambridge, presented the winner the trophy on the second day of the races.Photo: Getty Images

On their one-month anniversary, Meghan Markle joined her husband at the Royal Ascot 2018. The Duchess of Sussex stunned in a white Givenchy shirtdress for the occasion and was in charge of helping present the winning jockey Frankie Dettori his trophy. Meghan complemented her look with a fascinator by royal favorite Philip Treacy.Photo: Getty Images

THE FIRST... SOLO TRIP WITH GRANDMOTHER-IN-LAW, THE QUEENIt was nearly a year after William and Kate's royal wedding that the Duchess of Cambridge embarked on a visit that gave her some one-on-one time with Queen Elizabeth. On March 8, 2012, the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge travelled to Leicester, England, marking the first date of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.Photo: Oli Scarff - WPA Pool / Getty ImagesWords: Sydney Narvaez

On June 14, 2018 – less than a month after her royal wedding – Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex joined her new grandmother-in-law for their first trip together, to Cheshire, England. The royal pair attended a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and also visited The Storyhouse and Town Hall.Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

THE FIRST... TROOPING THE COLOURThe new Duchess of Cambridge attended her first Trooping the Colour in June 2011, nearly two months after her and Prince William's royal wedding. Wearing her wedding dress designer, Alexander McQueen, Kate rode to the Palace with stepmother-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall (inset), and on the balcony stood far to the Queen's right, with husband William and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.Photo: Getty Images

Unlike sister-in-law Kate for her 2011 debut, the Duchess of Sussex stood in the center of the Buckingham Palace balcony – although a row behind the Queen – next to husband Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2018. Meghan and Harry had ridden together in the same carriage during the parade, inset. Photo: Getty Images

THE FIRST... MOMENTS AS A ROYALBoth Kate, left, and Meghan had their moments in the sun as they emerged from their royal wedding ceremonies with their Princes as husband and wife. Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, wore Alexander McQueen for her Westminster Abbey wedding on April 29, 2011. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in Claire Waight Keller for Givenchy, was just as elegant for her big day at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. Photos: CARL DE SOUZA, BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

THE FIRST... PRE-WEDDING APPEARANCE WITH THE MOTHER-OF-THE BRIDEThe night before she wed Prince William, Kate Middleton arrived with two very important people, her mother Carole and sister Pippa, at the Goring Hotel in London. All three women wore spring jackets, with both Carole and Kate opting for cream and black ensembles.Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage

On her wedding eve, Meghan Markle arrived at Cliveden House in the village of Taplow near Windsor wearing coordinated tailored neutrals with her mother, Doria Ragland. When asked how she was feeling, the future bride told the press, "Wonderful, thank you." Photo: STEVE PARSONS/AFP/Getty Images

THE FIRST... COMMONWEALTH DAY OUTING Commonwealth Day, the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the UK, is held every year to celebrate the Queen's lifetime commitment to the Commonwealth as Head of its 53 countries. Kate and her husband Prince William first attended the service with the royal family in 2015. The Duchess wore a pale pink Alexander McQueen coat, paired with a Jane Taylor hat. Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

Meghan Markle joined the royal family at Westminster Abbey in March 2018 for Queen Elizabeth's annual Commonwealth Day service. It was the princess-to-be's first royal engagement with the Queen, and she wore a dress and coat by Amanda Wakeley, accessorized with a hat by Stephen Jones.Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

THE FIRST... ROYAL CHRISTMASKate Middleton spent her first royal Christmas at Sandringham in 2011. She stunned in a burgundy coat by an independent British designer, a velvet hat by designer Jane Corbett, a clutch bag by Mulberry, and suede Mascaro pumps.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Meghan Markle made her first Christmas with the royal family debut in 2017. The actress looked beautiful in an elegant camel wrap coat by Canadian brand Sentaler. She finished her sophisticated look with a modern-style hat by Philip Treacy, boots by Stuart Weitzman, a 'Pixie' bag by Chloe and coordinating cashmere lined gloves by Dents.Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

THE FIRST... PRE-WEDDING JOINT APPEARANCEPrince William and the Duchess-to-be showed they would make for a powerhouse couple at their first official post-engagement appearance, which took place in Anglesey, an island off the northwest coast of Wales. The couple took part in a lifeboat dedication ceremony at Trearddur Bay, where Kate poured a bottle of champagne over the vessel for the inauguration.Photo: PHIL NOBLE/AFP/Getty Images

A few days after their engagement announcement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first official joint visit in Nottingham, UK on December 1, 2017. The two spent the day celebrating World AIDS Day and visiting youth and mentors at the Full Effect Program. The Prince and the actress were met by huge crowds, including royal watchers and press, who came to the city to catch a glimpse of the happy couple. Under her navy blue Mackage coat, Meghan styled a classic black shirt by Wolford, a stylish nude midi skirt by Joseph, and black tall boots. Photo: Getty Images

THE FIRST... ROYAL WALKABOUTWhat comes along with that first royal offical public engagement with your Prince? Your first meet and greet with the flag-waving public! Both Kate and Meghan took on their roles with a natural charm, the future Duchess, top, in Wales, and Prince Harry's bride-to-be in Nottingham, bottom.Photos: Getty Images

THE FIRST... CHANCE TO SHOW OFF HER ENGAGEMENT RING Prince William and Kate, who wore a now-iconic blue Issa dress, announced their engagement at Clarence House on November 16, 2010. The Duke of Cambridge revealed he proposed with his late mother Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond ring while the couple were on vacation together in Kenya. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Seven years later in 2017, and also in November, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially announced their engagement. Prince Harry proposed with a trilogy ring featuring stones specially selected by the Prince; the central diamond is from Botswana, where the couple vacationed together, and the other two diamonds are from his late mother Princess Diana's personal collection. Meghan posed for photos with her future husband wearing a stunning white, simple trench coat by Canadian brand Line The Label. Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

THE FIRST... PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT HER PRINCE'S SIDEAlthough they were first pictured together in the stands of a rugby match in 2003, and the future Duchess supported her Prince at his Sandhurst ceremony, it wasn't until April 2008 that Kate made her first public appearance at William's side in the role of royal girlfriend. The young brunette accompanied the Prince as he received his RAF pilot wings from his father Prince Charles at a ceremony in Cranwell. The couple had been dating since they were students at the University of St Andrews, but this moment is considered a key turning point, showing the world the seriousness of the relationship.Photo: POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

In September 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto. The city was the perfect location for Meghan's debut because she was living there as she shot her TV show Suits.Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage

THE FIRST... 'FACE IN THE CROWD' MOMENTIn 2006, it was the moment Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton could openly show her support for him in one of the most important stages of his life. The future royal took her place in the stands with her mother Carole and father Michael at the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as cadet Prince William was inspected by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Photo: Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images

Our first glimpse of Meghan Markle as Prince Harry's girlfriend came when she showed support for him at one of the events that is closest to his heart, the Invictus Games, in Toronto, in November 2017. The Suits star was seated in a separate section from her royal boyfriend, who took his place next to First Lady Melania Trump.Photos: Getty Images

THE FIRST... OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH WILLIAM AND HARRYOn February 28, 2018, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle made their first official engagement as a foursome at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum. The event was themed 'Making a Difference Together', designed to showcase programs run by The Royal Foundation, including causes close to the young royals' hearts, such as Heads Together and the Invictus Games.Photo: CHRIS JACKSON/AFP/Getty Images