Meghan Markle's Best Fashion Moments Ever
"Personally, I love a great love story," Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, told Vanity Fair in 2017.
By all accounts, her relationship with Prince Harry has quickly become one of the greats. In just a few short years, she and the Duke of Sussex have fallen in love, married, become global leaders in philanthropy, had two children, split from the British royal family, and broken the internet in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Ever since her first public appearance with Prince Harry, Meghan's fashion has garnered worldwide attention and interest, and she has been intentional in mixing in unique pieces from modern brands. Whether she's in comfy ballet flats made from recycled water bottles or a dramatic, custom-couture Dior gown, the duchess has a strong and contemporary sense of style and knows how to dress for every occasion. Here's a look at some of Meghan Markle's best-ever fashion moments.
Meghan Markle wore a timeless and sleek Givenchy gown at her wedding to Prince Harry
It was an all-around fairy tale on May 19, 2018, when "Suits" star Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in the U.K. For the ceremony, watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people around the world, Meghan was the picture of an elegant, modern princess in a white, long-sleeved, slightly off-shoulder gown by Givenchy.
"I had a very clear vision of what I wanted for the day, and what I wanted the dress to look like," Meghan said in audio recording for a U.K. display of her dress after the wedding (via Cosmopolitan).
Meghan's silk tulle veil was 16.5-feet long and embroidered with depictions of flowers from Harry and Meghan's British home, Meghan's native California, and the 53 Commonwealth countries of the U.K., according to Brides. Her white pumps were also by Givenchy, and her round diamond stud earrings, a pair she's worn frequently both before and after the wedding, were by Cartier. To accentuate the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara she wore, Meghan kept her updo and makeup simple and natural for her wedding day look.
Meghan Markle stunned in a halter dress by Stella McCartney for her wedding reception
After the pomp and circumstance of her formal wedding ceremony with Prince Harry in May 2018, Meghan Markle was ready to let her hair down — sartorially, at least. For their evening reception at Frogmore House in the U.K., hosted by Harry's dad, Prince Charles, Meghan wore a stunning white halter dress by Stella McCartney.
The beautifully draped floor-length gown, which featured a low-cut back, was available for sale at the time for 3,500 pounds, according to Harper's Bazaar U.K. McCartney, the daughter of legendary Beatle Paul McCartney, launched her eponymous brand in 2001, inspired by sustainability and her lifelong vegetarianism. "I think Meghan chose me for reasons other than just a beautiful dress," the designer told Elle in August 2018 (via Marie Claire). "Obviously, I am a British designer, but I think being a woman and being a women's woman played a part."
As Harry and Meghan zipped away to the reception in a classic convertible, Meghan waved to onlookers and flashed her other fabulous piece for the evening: an aquamarine gemstone ring from the personal collection of the late Princess Diana, Harry's mother.
For her first public appearance with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle elevated the ripped-jeans look
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance together in September 2017 at the Invictus Games in Canada. At the annual charitable event started by Prince Harry to benefit wounded service members, Meghan and Harry held hands and looked smitten as Meghan gave the world its first glimpse of her casual-but-still-stylish fashion sense.
Meghan wore a white button-down "Husband Shirt" by her friend and designer Misha Nonoo, according to People, along with ripped-at-the-knee Mother Denim jeans. She wore her hair down and slightly wavy, and accessorized her look with Finlay & Co. sunglasses and tan Sarah Flint pointed flats. She also carried a large tan Day Tote by Everlane, which once retailed for $180. Vogue reported in 2019 that Everlane's customers "want not only a pared-down, minimalist look but also the ease of e-commerce, a streamlined supply chain, an ethical work culture, and evidence that nothing is going to waste."
Meghan Markle wrapped up in a chic coat for her engagement announcement with Prince Harry
In a photo call seen around the world, Meghan Markle stepped out with her fiance, Prince Harry, on November 27, 2017, to announce their engagement at Kensington Palace in the U.K. For the outdoor photo portion of their day, the future Duchess of Sussex wore her hair down and a $627, belted white knee-length coat by the Canadian brand LINE over a dark green dress by P.A.R.O.S.H. Her heels were a nude-colored, ankle-strap pair by Aquazzura.
Meghan, who shot "Suits" in Toronto, was a fan of LINE before her big announcement day, according to the brand's designer, John Muscat. He told Harper's Bazaar after the photo call that Meghan's look that day captured her style and personality. "She likes to feel modern and dressed up, but still chic," Muscat said. "What I also love about Meghan is that she has a relaxed style and has always stayed true to that. ... She looked very her, which is really what was great about the coat."
She wore a fashion-forward, cape-shouldered Givenchy dress for an outing with Queen Elizabeth
Following the whirlwind of her wedding festivities with Prince Harry in May 2018, Meghan Markle kept the fashion moments coming during her first solo event with Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. In mid-June 2018, Meghan accompanied the queen to an official bridge opening ceremony in England and wore an elegant, cream-colored dress by Givenchy, the designer of her wedding gown.
While the queen opted for a cheery, bright-green ensemble, Meghan's look featured a belt and a unique cape-shouldered overlay. With simple jewelry and her hair down, she also carried a black clutch by Givenchy and wore stilettos by Sarah Flint, according to Vogue.
In her March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan talked about a sweet moment she shared with the queen during their outing. "We were in the car going between engagements, and she has a blanket that sits across [her] knees for warmth, and it was chilly," Meghan said (via People). "She was like, 'Meghan, come on.' And she put it over my knees as well. It made me think of my grandmother. She's always been warm and inviting and welcoming."
Meghan Markle served up old Hollywood glam in a Theia gown while visiting the Kingdom of Tonga
In October of 2018, the recently-wed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on their first official royal tour. The couple visited Australia and New Zealand and the islands of Fiji and Tonga in the South Pacific. During their stop in the Kingdom of Tonga, Harry and Meghan attended an evening dinner and reception with the country's king and queen. Harry wore a tuxedo with some of his military decorations on his lapel, and Meghan shined in a white cap-sleeved gown with shoulder beading by the brand Theia.
Meghan wore her hair up in a loose bun, and according to Harper's Bazaar, she carried a small black clutch by Givenchy. Her heels were by another favorite of the duchess, Aquazzura, and she added in diamond earrings by Birks. Another stunning item that Meghan repeated for the couple's night out on the island: Princess Diana's aquamarine ring that she first wore to her wedding reception in May 2018.
In bold colors, Meghan Markle proved more is more during a charity visit in 2019
Meghan Markle made a bold and colorful statement in January 2019 when she paired a deep purple dress with a red coat for her first official outing of the year with Prince Harry in the U.K. The duchess, who was pregnant with her first child, Archie, at the time, joined Harry for a day of sculpture viewing and charity visits.
As reported by Harper's Bazaar, Meghan's long coat by the brand Sentaler featured a flared opening around the neckline and matched her red heels. With her purple dress by Babaton by Aritizia, it was a striking and memorable look. To top it all off, Meghan carried a more understated brown bag by Gabriela Hearst and wore her hair up in a loose bun with some looser waves framing her face.
Meghan's fondness for bold colors is well documented, but there is one hue she and her sister-in-law, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, have opted not to wear in public: orange. According to the U.K. outlet Express, while there isn't a royal rule regarding the color, "It is believed [that] orange does not photograph as well as other colours."
Meghan Markle stole the show in a one-shouldered gown at the British Fashion Awards
It wasn't always bold colors for the Duchess of Sussex when she was living in England. For the British Fashion Awards in late 2018, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance to honor the designer of her wedding gown, Clare Waight Keller, who was receiving the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award that evening.
Meghan, pregnant with Archie at the time, wore a sleek black one-shouldered gown by the fashion house Keller designed for, Givenchy. She kept the rest of her look equally pared down but still elegant. With her hair slicked back into a bun, Meghan also wore gold Tamara Mellon strappy heeled sandals and jewelry, including a chunky gold bracelet by Pippa Small, as reported by Elle.
While presenting the award to Keller, Meghan talked about the importance of connecting when it comes to fashion. "We have a deep connection to what we wear. Sometimes it's very personal, sometimes it's emotional," the duchess said. "But for me, this connection is rooted in really being able to understand that it's about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women" (via "Today").
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle coordinated in red for one of their last official royal events
In January of 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their plans to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family" and split their time between the U.K. and the United States. Before their split with the palace became official, though, the couple had a number of royal engagements left to complete.
One of those was a glamorous night out at the Mountbatten Music Festival in March 2020, an event benefiting the Royal Marines Association, as reported by Town & Country. For the event, Harry wore his dress military uniform, medals and all, and Meghan matched his red coat perfectly in a caped gown by Safiyaa. With her hair down, she wore red heels and carried a red clutch by Manolo Blahnik. The duchess' main jewelry was a pair of statement earrings in a deeper shade of red, but it was her date for the night that proved to be her best accessory. Harry and Meghan smiled and held hands on their way in, presenting a united front to the crowd.
Meghan Markle shined in an umbrella moment seen around the world
Talk about making a splash! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves out on a rainy evening when they attended the Endeavor Fund Awards in London in March 2020. But even the weather couldn't dampen their shine at one of their last official royal engagements. The couple made their way to the event huddled together under an umbrella, and movie-worthy photos of the beaming pair, rain sprinkling all around, quickly went viral.
Meghan returned to bold colors for this outing, wearing a bright turquoise-blue Victoria Beckham dress, as reported by Yahoo! The duchess wore her hair back in a chic ponytail along with simple earrings and carried a dark clutch to match her heels. At the event, the couple's first in the U.K. since announcing their exit from the royal family, Meghan said (via Vanity Fair), "It's very nice to be back." Harry added, "Being able to serve queen and country is something we all are rightly proud of, and it never leaves us."
Meghan Markle chose head-to-toe green for her last official royal event
On March 9, 2020, Meghan Markle stepped out in London with her husband, Prince Harry, for their last official royal event. Harry and Meghan joined the royal family for the Commonwealth Day services at Westminster Abbey. For the event, Meghan chose a bold green palette for her outfit, wearing a dramatic green dress with a caped shoulder by New Zealand designer Emilia Wickstead, as reported by Harper's Bazaar. Topping off the monochromatic look was a green fascinator with elaborate netting by William Chambers. With her hair up in a bun, Meghan also wore nude heels by Aquazzura and carried a mini bag by Gabriela Hearst.
The Duchess of Sussex's choice of the Emilia Wickstead dress was notable, considering the designer called out Meghan's wedding dress in 2018 as a supposed copy of one of her designs, according to Elle. Wickstead also criticized the fit of the iconic Givenchy wedding dress. She later walked that back in a statement, saying in part, "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex, looked absolutely beautiful on her wedding day, and I have the utmost admiration and respect for her."
For her interview with Oprah, Meghan Markle wore an Armani dress with a symbolic meaning
Meghan Markle sent a sartorial message when she sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an interview in early March 2021 about her and her husband's exit from the British royal family. Her dress, a long black Armani piece with a white floral lotus design near the top, contained symbolism important to the duchess, according to Town & Country. Signifying rebirth and spiritual enlightenment, the lotus is resilient and can "flourish despite seemingly challenging conditions."
Meghan, with her hair up in a loose bun, was pregnant at the time with her second child, daughter Lilibet. In addition to the Armani dress, Forbes reported that Meghan wore black heels by one of her favorite brands, Aquazzura. With her accessories, she included nods to two of her former homes: Earrings by Canadian brand Bijoux Birks and a necklace by Pippa Small, a British designer. Meghan also wore a Cartier Love bracelet that once belonged to Harry's mom, Princess Diana.
Meghan Markle brought the '80s vibes in a Loro Piana suit in Harlem
After settling into their new life in Montecito, California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited New York City in September 2021. During their trip, the founders of the Archewell charitable foundation took time to visit an elementary school in the Harlem neighborhood, where Meghan read to the kids from her children's book, "The Bench." For the outing, Meghan wore her hair down and, according to Elle, a maroon, two-piece suit by Loro Piana. With matching heels, the look gave major "Golden Girls" vibes.
In addition to Harry and Meghan's visit, Archewell donated cleaning and personal care products, a washer and dryer, and fresh vegetables and herbs to the school, according to Vogue. While reading to the kids, Meghan asked them, "Where is the place you find to be your happy place? I'd love to hear from you." Harry, seated among the youngsters, encouraged one girl to "Shout it out!"
Whether she's bringing the '80s back to New York or Zooming in from Montecito, Meghan Markle meets the fashion moment wherever she goes.