The mishaps in the Duchess of Sussex’s Nigeria ...

Paris Olympics opening ceremony branded 'worst ever' as viewers switch off from chaotic event

Published Time: 12.05.2024 - 12:40:24 Modified Time: 12.05.2024 - 12:40:24

Meghan has worn a series of meaningful looks during the Sussexes’ visit to the west African nation – but not all of them hit the mark The Duchess of Sussex may have been unhappy as a working member of the Royal family, but if her current Nigeria tour wardrobe tells us anything, it’s that she’s picked up a few tricks from her time within the Firm

Meghan has worn a series of meaningful looks during the Sussexes’ visit to the west African nation – but not all of them hit the mark

The Duchess of Sussex may have been unhappy as a working member of the Royal family, but if her current Nigeria tour wardrobe tells us anything, it’s that she’s picked up a few tricks from her time within the Firm.

For her three-day visit to the west African nation with her husband, Prince Harry, Meghan has worn a series of looks that are layered with significance.

Exhibit A is a blush silk maxi dress by California-based label Heidi Merrick, the second time she’s worn the label in the space of a month. The dress is known as the “Windsor” style, and was part of a 2018 collection, the same year she and Harry married. Coincidence? That’s unlikely. It may not be an homage to her host nation, as might be the case with the Queen or the Princess of Wales on tour, but it does hammer home the royal connection.

: AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

Exhibit B is a cross pendant necklace, which sources say once belonged to Princess Diana. Meghan wore the pendant with a white strapless St Agni dress for a lunch with the Nigerian chief of defence staff, Christopher Musa, representing her connection with Harry’s late mother.

: Getty

Then there is her Cartier Tank Francaise watch. The one worn on this tour is Meghan’s own, but it’s often mistaken for the Tank that belonged to Diana, which Harry inherited and she sometimes wears – another nod to her royal status on this not-a-royal tour.

: Getty

This was stacked with her Cartier Love bangle and a diamond tennis bracelet by California-based fine jeweller Ariel Gordon. New to her jewellery collection is a pair of vintage Lanvin clip-on earrings, and a wooden bead necklace gifted to her by students at the Abuja school she was visiting.

Meghan’s next look was a white Altuzarra suit. Alongside Harry’s green one, they reflected the colours of the Nigerian flag; this time, very in keeping with royal tour protocol. She last wore the jacket in 2018 while pregnant with son Archie, to kick off the Invictus Games in Sydney. This is also a traditional royal approach: the King, the Princess Royal and the Princess of Wales are all known to take great care of their clothes, so that they can be worn for years to come.

: Getty

: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Outfit three, worn on Saturday, is her most successful look so far: a $2,850 (£2,275) engraved jacquard palm print dress by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, with a cut-out detail beneath the bust. She wore a similar dress by the same designer to the Women of Vision awards last year.

: AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

: Kevin Mazur/Getty

For her final engagement on Saturday, a Women in Leadership panel, she wore a red dress with a ruffled hem by Oríré, a Lagos-based label. This kind of sartorial diplomacy has been employed by the Princess of Wales many times on tour.

On her decision to switch from her signature neutral palette, she’s reported to have said: “I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more colour so I can fit in with all of you in your incredible fashion.”

: Marvellous Durowaiye

There is some evidence that Meghan has been planning her wardrobe unguided. Although rumours persist that she is working with Adele’s Montecito-based stylist Jamie Mizrahi, sources close to both parties denied this to The Telegraph in March.

Comments