Meghan Markle’s wardrobe during three-day ‘quasi-royal’ tour has paid tribute to Princess Diana, nodded to the British monarchy and honoured her Nigerian heritage
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have concluded their whirlwind 72-hour tour of Nigeria in which they carried out multiple visits – and Meghan showcased her fashion prowess.
The 42-year-old Duchess proved she is a style icon as she donned both bright colours and tasteful muted tones throughout the tour – but, touchingly, she also donned plenty of sentimental items which nodded both to the British monarchy and her Nigerian heritage.
The mother-of-two appeared to look to her late mother-law, Princess Diana, for inspiration for her accessories as during Diana’s own visit to Nigeria in 1990, the royal opted to wear similar earrings and necklace.
She also added a bit more glamour by wearing Diana’s gold £17,800 Cartier Tank Française watch, which was worn by the late royal at a number of occasions before it was gifted to Meghan after her death.
Meanwhile on day one of the tour, which had all the markings of a traditional royal engagement, Meghan donned £450 blush silk maxi called the ‘Windsor Dress’, which could be seen as a nod to her in-laws who are officially titled The House of Windsor.
Here, FEMAIL notes Meghan Markle’s sentimental nods to the British monarchy on the Sussex’s Nigerian tour…
White blazer worn at Invictus Games
Meghan looked gorgeous in a white suit as she visited the Defence headquarters in Abuja with Prince Harry
The Duchess of Sussex is thought to have sported her $1,595 Altuzarra Acacia White Blazer today, which she previously wore to the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018 (pictured). By then, Meghan was pregnant with the couple’s first child, Prince Archie, now five
Meghan looked gorgeous in a white suit as she visited the Defence headquarters in Abuja with Prince Harry.
Meghan is thought to have sported her $1,595 Altuzarra Acacia White Blazer, which she previously wore to the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018. By then, Meghan was pregnant with the couple’s first child, Prince Archie, now five.
Meghan teamed her elegant blazer with matching Altuzarra suit trousers and donned a white T-shirt underneath her jacket.
It’s not the first time that the mother-of-two, has seemingly paid tribute to some of the special milestones in her life.
Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, the mother-of-two stunned in her AURate collar necklace and her wedding rings.
The ‘Windsor’ Dress
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, looked effortlessly elegant in a sleeveless peach maxi dress titled Windsor from Californian designer Heidi Merrick as she visited a school supported by the couple’s Archewell Foundation on Friday
Meghan complemented her outfit with a smattering of glamorous makeup, including a pink lip-gloss, plenty of blush and a smokey eyeshadow look
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, looked effortlessly elegant in a sleeveless peach maxi dress titled Windsor from Californian designer Heidi Merrick as she visited a school supported by the couple’s Archewell Foundation on Friday.
The stunning gown was first thought to have been released in 2018, the year of Meghan’s royal wedding to Harry.
It was not lost on royal fans that the name of the dress also matches Meghan’s married surname.
Believed to have originally been priced at $572, Meghan’s chic silk frock that she wore to her first outing in Nigeria features a dropped hemline, billowing skirt and cinched waist.
It’s not the first time the Duchess has worn the designer. In April, Meghan opted for a glamorous white Heidi Merrick design, which featured a statement bow and cut out back.
Meghan’s close friend and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer also chose the same outfit to celebrate Heidi’s anniversary celebrations with her husband Johnny Johnston in September. Abigail looks to be close pals with the Californian designer.
Diana-esque jewellery
Meghan Markle has seemingly paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana as she joined Prince Harry on a ‘three-day royal tour’ in Nigeria
The jewels resembled those worn by Diana when she visited the country in 1990 with her then-husband Charles, just two years before they separated
Meghan seemingly paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana on the tour in Nigeria.
She sported chunky gold earrings from Lanvin, her AURate collar necklace and an array of dazzling bracelets, as well as her wedding rings.
The jewels resembled those worn by Diana when she visited the country with her then-husband Charles, just two years before they separated.
Diana’s Cartier watch
Meghan added a bit more glamour by wearing Diana’s gold Cartier Tank Française watch
Princess Diana wore the Cartier watch while visited Washington Hyde Centre at the White House, with Hillary Clinton in 1996
Meghan added a bit more glamour by wearing Diana’s gold Cartier Tank Française watch.
The gold £17,800 watch was worn by Diana at a number of occasions, including a 1997 visit to London‘s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple and an engagement at the British Lung Foundation that same year.
Meghan is known to be a fan of the elegant timepiece and splurged on her own two-tone version back in 2015 when Suits was picked up for a third season.
At the time, she told Hello Magazine, ‘I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch. When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season—which, at the time, felt like such a milestone—I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version
‘I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them.’
Diana’s gold cross necklace
It appears Meghan also chose to honour her late mother-in-law once again on Saturday by wearing a gold cross necklace that a source tells Page Six actually belonged to Diana
It appears Meghan also chose to honour Diana once again on Saturday by wearing a gold cross necklace that a source told Page Six actually belonged to the Princess.
The beauty showed off the gold chain by pairing it with a white strapless dress by St. Agni for a reception hosted by Christopher Musa, the chief of the Nigerian defense staff, in honour of military families.
Meghan has been gifted several items from Diana’s collection. They include Diana’s butterfly earrings and gold bracelet which she wore on their Australian tour in 2018.
Mother’s day yellow dress
The Duchess added an elegant silver snake chain necklace and a pair of circular earrings to complete the outfit
Meghan last donned the dress in 2021 when she and Prince Harry revealed they were expecting their second child (pictured)
Meghan also donned the yellow dress on Archie’s (centre) first birthday alongside her mother, Doria Ragland (right), and Harry (far right) – as seen on Netflix’s Harry & Meghan
To mark Mother’s Day in America, Meghan, opted for her Carolina Herrera ‘Yellow Silk Overlay Column Gown’, which she wore in 2021 when she announced her pregnancy with Princess Lilibet.
On Valentine’s Day that year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they were expecting their second child with a monochrome snap.
Taken remotely by long-time friend and photographer Misan Harriman, the loved-up couple posed in nature while Harry cradled Meghan’s bump.
For today’s event, the Duchess looked as elegant as ever as she arrived at the State Governor House in Lagos, in the £3,198 ($3,990) silk dress, which she matched with a classic pair of nude slingback leather sandals.
Meghan also donned the Caroline Herrera dress on another special occasion – Prince Archie’s first birthday, as shown in the Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, alongside her mother, Doria Ragland, and Prince Harry.
Traditional Nigerian skirt
Meghan seemed to sport a traditional Nigerian skirt gifted to her during a reception in Abuja on Saturday as she landed in Lagos with Prince Harry
The skirt was a gift from Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, who presented the Duke and Duchess with his and hers traditional aso oke outfits at a reception at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters
Meghan seemed to sport a traditional Nigerian skirt gifted to her during a reception in Abuja on Saturday as she landed in Lagos with Prince Harry.
Featuring white and blue stripes, the statement maxi garment was made of aso oke, a hand-woven material from south-west Nigeria, according to the BBC.
The skirt was a gift from Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, who presented the Duke and Duchess with his and hers traditional aso oke outfits at a reception at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters.
Meghan’s outfit choice comes after the mother-of-two – who recently discovered she is ’43 per cent Nigerian’ – thanked an audience in Abuja on Saturday for welcoming her and her husband to ‘my country’.
Meghan teamed her traditional maxi skirt with a white Carolina Herrera shirt and stylish sunglasses.
Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, she opted for chunky gold earrings and dazzling sandals.
