Royal tour: What Meghan Markle wore for every public engagement
She’s been criticised for her love of designer labels, but the final tally for the Duchess of Sussex’s royal tour wardrobe might surprise you.
With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s African tour wrapped up it’s time to talk about the important stuff: what Meghan Markle wore.
The former actress wowed in chic shirt dresses and pointed pumps while highlighting important local issues such as gender violence.
But while it wasn’t surprising to see Meghan looking on point throughout the tour, the cost of her tour wardrobe may come as a bit of shock.
Since joining the royal family, Meghan has faced criticism over her love of designer labels and the amount she spends on clothes.
Last month, she wore a dazzling $16,400 dress by Italian design house Valentino to the wedding of close friend Misha Nonoo.
However, her outfits for the 10 days she spent in South Africa — three of which she didn’t make any public appearances, mind you — came in at just over $13,000.
It’s a staggering saving when you consider Meghan was estimated to have spent more than $180,000 during her 16-day tour of the Pacific last year.
So how did Meghan spend so much less this time around? The same way most of us mere mortals do: by wearing the same thing more than once.
Meghan recycled some of the outfits she wore on tour last year, as well as relying on many of the same pairs of shoes for multiple engagements — and still managed to look as stylish as ever.
DAY ONE: $1157
For the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to the Nyanga township in Cape Town, Meghan wore a wrap dress sourced from 100 per cent Malawian cotton.
The $126.50 Dalitso dress from Mayamiko has — as expected — since gone on to sell out.
She paired the look with $146.66 Castaner wedges and diamond earrings by Jennifer Meyer that cost $884.50.
For their visit to District Six Museum, Meghan changed again, wearing a dress she had first worn while pregnant during the royals’ visit to Tonga last year.
Meghan paired the $852 Veronica Beard dress with the same pair of wedges, opting to wear her hair out for the visit.
DAY TWO: $1468.50
In her most casual look of the tour, Meghan rocked a $203.50 denim jacket from ethical US brand Madewell during a trip to the beach to visit members of Waves for Change.
She paired it with black jeans from Mother costing $304 and $286 tan flats by Brother Vellies Huaraches that are made by local artisans in Morocco, Kenya and South Africa.
The Duchess changed again for her second engagement of the day, a visit to Auwal Mosque in Cape Town.
Meghan wore a stunning $476 maxi dress by Staudd, pairing it with a cream headscarf while inside the mosque and matching pointed kitten heels costing $155 by Sam Edelman.
For her next appearance, the former actress recycled a $1979 dress by designer Martin Grant that she wore at Bondi Beach last year.
Meghan dressed the maxi dress up for the reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence, adding a pair of $44 porcelain earrings by South African designer Nina Bosch.
DAY THREE: $5246
On day three of the royal tour, Meghan and Harry took their son Archie to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Meghan wore a $674 silk dress by Club Monaco with a pair of navy Manolo Blahnik pumps that cost $1099.
That same day Meghan changed again for a meeting at Woodstock Exchange, wearing a $183 Everlane black jumpsuit with $1048.14 Manolo Blahnik heels.
The royal paired her chic outfit with $319 Gas Bijoux earrings and a diamond cuff by Zofia for $1923.
DAY FOUR: $1540
Meghan spent the fourth day of the royal tour on a solo engagement, meeting with a group of activists to discuss women’s rights in South Africa.
The Duchess wore a $121 singlet by her friend, designer Misha Nonoo, a striped J.Crew skirt costing $267 and a pair of $540 Stuart Weitzman heels in black.
That same day Meghan made a secret trip to the South African post office where nine-year-old Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana was murdered in August.
For the sombre visit, where Meghan tied a ribbon to show solidarity with those highlighting the case, she wore a pair of $223.65 Emma Power skinny jeans with an embroidered white swing top from Madewell costing $116.32.
DAY EIGHT: $383
For her visit to Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, Meghan wore a $220 Artiza shirt dress and red Everlane flats costing $163.
DAY NINE: $2077
On the ninth day of the royal tour Meghan started off the day by wearing a double-breasted trench dress from Banana Republic that cost $174.
She paired it with co-ordinating $540 nude heels by Stuart Weitzman and a $504 Didem bracelet by Alemdara.
For her second engagement of the day, a visit to Action Aid, Meghan wore a khaki shirt dress by Room 502 that cost $680.
The Duchess of Sussex wore black $540 Stuart Weitzman pumps and $179 black Labyrinth earrings from Pichulik.
DAY 10: $1311.40
Meghan kicked off the last day of the tour in a winning outfit — a white $136 shirt dress by ethical Cape Town label Hannah Lavery.
She paired it with her favourite pair of Stuart Weitzman nude heels and red tassel earrings from Madewell that cost just $33.40.
For her final engagement of the tour, a meeting with Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel, Meghan wore a blush pink trench dress by House Of Nonie that cost $1142.
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