Meghan Markle's Best Fashion Moments During Her Time as a Working Royal
It's almost over: at the end of March, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's working royal life will come to an end, and a new agreement hammered out with their fellow royals will come into effect. They'll still be around, posting on Instagram and attending tentpole events alongside the Windsors, but it won't be the same. No more engagements on behalf of the Queen, no full-time residence in the UK, and, presumably, no more royally-funded wardrobe.
It remains to be seen how Meghan's fashion will (or won't) change after this transition. In the meantime, here's a look back at the 27 best outfits the Duchess of Sussex wore as a senior royal.
Meghan worked with Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller to create the perfect bespoke wedding gown—and the first-ever outfit she'd wear as a royal. The simple, off-the-shoulder dress was paired with a lengthy veil, embroidered with symbols referencing the Commonwealth nations and Meghan's own background, and Queen Mary's bandeau tiara.
For the after-party, the newly-minted royal changed into a slinkier Stella McCartney number. The halter-top dress was still simple, though, and channeled a type of timeless elegance.
Just three days after saying "I do," the newlyweds attended Prince Charles's 70th birthday garden party at Buckingham Palace. Meghan arrived wearing a sophisticated, all-blush outfit, topped off with a sculptural hat. It set the tone for much of her royal wardrobe to come: monochrome neutrals, matched with sculptural accessories.
Meghan chose another blush outfit for her first-ever appearance at Trooping the Colour—a parade held in honor of the Queen's birthday, during which the senior royals take part in a carriage procession and, later, gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony to wave to their fans. The Carolina Herrera dress and Philip Treacy hat were tasteful—and again, simple and neutral—but that didn't stop critics from condemning the look. They took issue with the off-the-shoulder style of the dress, falsely claiming it went against royal dress codes, even though Kate and other royals have opted for similar looks on other occasions.
The Duchess wore a caped Givenchy dress to her first joint engagement alongside Queen Elizabeth. Meghan's beige look paired well with the Queen's lime green coat and hat, making for some great photos.
For Royal Ascot—a horse racing event that's become an annual part of the royal calendar—the Duchess once again chose Givenchy. The dress's sloping hemline, matched with the lilting brim of her Philip Treacy hat, is a masterclass in styling.
With this Brandon Maxwell dress, Meghan opted for a rare bright color (albeit with a classic silhouette) to attend the "Your Commonwealth" Youth Challenge Reception alongside Harry.
The Duchess chose a belted dress by Emilia Wickstead—a label that would prove to be among her favorites, despite some initial controversy—for reception at Glencairn, the residence of the British Ambassador to Ireland, during her and Harry's visit to the neighboring country.
The Duchess joined Kate to watch some matches at Wimbledon, and the two either coordinated their outfits, or lucked out with well-matched looks. For her part, Meghan chose a crisp, striped collared shirt and high-waisted white pants—a perfect combination of sporty and preppy for the event at hand.
The Duchess showed up to the WellChild Awards in a chic Altuzarra paintsuit, Deitas blouse, and Stella McCartney clutch. Meghan made a habit of wearing suits from the start of her royal career, balancing her designer gowns with high-end workwear.
For her first-ever solo engagement as a working royal, Meghan stepped out in a belted black dress, once again by Givenchy. She paired it with her Aquazzura Deneuve pumps, one of her favorite pairs of heels.
Right before their royal tour of Oceania began—their first-ever such trip as a married couple—Meghan and Harry dropped an exciting announcement: the Duchess was pregnant. In her first appearance after revealing their happy news, Meghan stepped out wearing a white sheath dress—and two pieces of Princess Diana's jewelry. The royals have been known to pay tribute to Diana during important events, especially those related to royal newborns.
The Duchess of Sussex loves to bust out a cape dress for a big occasion—including this Safiyaa gown, which she wore to her first state dinner. The bright color was widely interpreted as a nod to Fiji's flag, as she and Harry were on the Fijian leg of their tour.
Meghan wore a Figue wrap dress with pom-pom accents—perhaps the most colorful look from her working royal days—to visit the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, during her and Harry's tour of Oceania.
The Duchess chose an Oscar de la Renta gown with a dramatic pattern—a somewhat uncharacteristic move—to attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards during her and Harry's tour of Oceania.
Meghan caught royal watchers off-guard with her surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards. The Duchess wore a one-shoulder gown by Givenchy to award Clare Waight Keller, the brand's chief designer, the prize for Womenswear Designer of the Year.
In her speech, Meghan spoke about her personal connection to her clothing, noted that it was "rooted in really being able to understand that it's about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women. When we choose to wear a certain designer, we're not just a reflection of their creativity and their vision but we're also an extension of their values of something in the fabric so to speak that is much more meaningful."
The Duchess of Sussex has only joined the Windsors for the annual walk to Christmas day services twice—and just once after marrying into the family and becoming an official working royal. For that memorable occasion, Meghan went all-in on navy, letting her feathered hat take center stage.
For her first public visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities, one of four patronages Meghan took on at the beginning of 2019, she recycled a black Givenchy coat. The Duchess first wore the coat for a solemn event (the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph), but with the addition of a pleated, asymmetrical skirt, she made it work for a more joyful occasion.
Meghan had quite the baby shower. The Duchess, with a few longtime friends in tow, enjoyed a trip to New York. Aside from the actual shower, which took place in the Mark's penthouse, they did some standard stuff—take in culture the Met Breuer, savor some sweets at Ladurée—but, this being Meghan, the paparazzi hounded them at every step. The resulting photographs afforded fans a rare look at her off-duty wardrobe—that is, what Meghan wore when not attending events on behalf with the Queen. The look pictured here was a clear standout, thanks to the vintage Courrèges coat, but it was her Le Specs Air Heart sunglasses that sold out almost immediately.
During Harry and Meghan's official visit to Morocco—their last such trip until after baby Archie's birth—the Duchess stunned in a bespoke Dior gown. The expertly draped, kaftan-like dress was a highlight of her maternity style.
Taking a page out of Queen Elizabeth's book, Meghan wore a custom dress and coat set for a visit to Canada House on Commonwealth Day. She paired the Erdem outfit with two of her most frequently-worn accessories: her Aquazzura Deneuve heels and Givenchy clutch.
The Duke and Duchess introduced their newborn, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, in a photocall at Windsor Castle. Harry wore a J.Crew suit, Archie a white knit blanket from GH Hurt & Son Ltd., and Meghan a trench dress by Wales Bonner. The Duchess's choice of Wales Bonner—a label that explores the art of the African diaspora—carried some significance, given that she was alongside her newly-arrived, mixed-race royal baby.
The Duchess is famous for being able to sell out items online minutes after wearing them—a phenomenon that's been dubbed the Meghan Effect. In September of last year, she found a way to use this power for good: creating a capsule collection for Smart Works, a charity that provides underprivileged women with clothing for job interviews, in tandem with a group of fashion designers and retailers. For each piece purchased, one was donated to the organization. On September 12, Meghan arrived for the collection's launch wearing (of course) pants and a shirt from her line—and Princess Diana's bracelet.
There was a definite throughline to Meghan's wardrobe during her and Harry's royal tour of South Africa. The Duchess repeatedly wore clothes she'd already been seen in (like the Veronica Beard dress seen here, first debuted during the couple's time in Tonga), forewent her sparkly engagement ring, and generally opted for economical labels like Everlane instead of her favorite coutouriers.
After opting to take an extended vacation in Canada in baby Archie rather than spending the holidays with the royals at Sandringham, Meghan and Harry returned to the public eye with much fanfare in early January. Little did we know that this would, in fact, be the last time we saw Meghan before they announced their intention to step back—and the last public engagement she'd attend before the couple's March farewell tour. As such, this was the image fans were left with for months—the Duchess in head-to-toe brown, with a Massimo Dutti skirt and Jimmy Choo pumps—as they wondered what was going on behind the scenes.
After the Duke and Duchess announced their intention to step back from their royal roles in January, Meghan didn't step out in public again until their March trip to the UK. Widely hailed as a "farewell tour" of the country, Harry and Meghan undertook their final engagements as working royals—and channeled unity at every step. During their joint appearances, their clothing always seem to match, as was the case during the Mountbatten Music Festival. Harry wore his dress uniform as the Captain General of the Royal Marines for what may have been the last time, and Meghan's red Safiyaa gown echoed the accents in his ensemble.
Meghan finished her working royal days with a sartorial flourish. Though more photos of the Duchess's recent private engagements (and the outfits she was wearing to them) would surface in the following days, her appearance at the Commonwealth Day service read as something like a send-off. For her last previously announced event, Meghan stunned in a bright green Emilia Wickstead look—the scarf-like piece of which proved to be the focal point—paired with a matching hat, Gabriella Hearst bag, and nude heels. Watching the dress flap in the wind, it was almost like she was waving goodbye.
Meghan Markle's Best Fashion Moments During Her Time as a Working Royal
It's almost over: at the end of March, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's working royal life will come to an end, and a new agreement hammered out with their fellow royals will come into effect. They'll still be around, posting on Instagram and attending tentpole events alongside the Windsors, but it won't be the same. No more engagements on behalf of the Queen, no full-time residence in the UK, and, presumably, no more royally-funded wardrobe.
It remains to be seen how Meghan's fashion will (or won't) change after this transition. In the meantime, here's a look back at the 27 best outfits the Duchess of Sussex wore as a senior royal.
Between tying the knot with Prince Harry and announcing her intention to step back, Meghan spent nearly two years as a senior royal—and wore plenty of standout looks.
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