Duchess Meghan wears off-white Givenchy for her day of activities with the Queen

The Queen and The Duchess of Sussex visit Cheshire

We’ve been gearing up for this all week! The Queen is personally taking the newly-minted Duchess of Sussex under her wing. Less than one month after Prince Harry and Meghan’s Windsor wedding, Meghan is performing her first outings with the Queen! And Harry’s not around, so if Meghan has any questions about protocol, she literally has to ask the Queen. Meghan and the Queen traveled overnight by Royal Train. Here are some photos from their first stop in Runcorn.

Meghan wore a shoulder-covering, demure and somewhat boring Givenchy dress. She wore Givenchy on her wedding day too, but again, it’s worth noting that the famous French fashion house is currently being helmed by British designer Clare Waight-Keller. Personally, I don’t care for this dress at all, but I appreciate the fact that Meghan was not trying to be some style-maven today. Her goal was to look conservative and covered up. The Queen wore Stewart Parvin – a suit that can only be described as neon lime.

Meanwhile, E! News claims they know the mystery locale of Meghan and Harry’s honeymoon. Well, they actually don’t have it nailed down, E! News just says that Meg and Harry “traveled into East Africa and visited more than two countries. Their activities ranged from safaris and outdoor adventures to lying in the sun.” We could tell that Meghan got some sun, which made me think that they had gone to some beach somewhere, but I guess not.

Please enjoy these photos of Meghan and the Queen looking like they get along quite well.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

317 Responses to “Duchess Meghan wears off-white Givenchy for her day of activities with the Queen”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. ellieohara says:

    that dress is honestly quite weirdly shaped. looks odd.

    • Mc says:

      Yeah. Looks like a bib or that thing they put on you at the dentist.

      • Cannibell says:

        I was thinking it looks like one of those old-time pilgrim outfits you see in Thanksgiving stories circa 1965. That said, I love that she and her granny-in-law got to spend some quality bonding time – it does look as if they had a grand day out.

      • AnnaKist says:

        Yes, like a Pilgrim eating those juicy crab claws.

      • Enny says:

        If the capelet is removable, as I think someone suggested further down, then I’m ok with it. It’s probably a very well-made, practical, professional dress underneath, and the capelet is just used for this occasion to be more modest around the queen. That’s my hope – the actual dress underneath is probably killer.

      • Jan90067(aka imqrious2) says:

        I must be in the minority, but I really love it. It’s stylish, fits very well, (she’s even wearing a slip to make it look smooth!) and, well, she looks great! I would’ve preferred her hair up or even just back in a low ponytail so it wouldn’t keep whipping around her face (and it would show off the earrings better, too! lol). But all in all, a win for me.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        A much better dress than Trooping (with shoulders on display).

        Where is the Duchess Sussex headwear? She need to stop following N/A stylist and get with the HM BRF dress code – Princess of The UK/ Henry Wales/ DOS is more than a celeb now,

      • Karen says:

        I love it too. Without the cape it will be a great dress to wear with a coat. I think it may have been made using pattern from wedding dress. I think she will get a lot of use out of it.

      • Aurelia says:

        Gad i have been moaning about mee again all week. But I dig this dress too. The cream colour looks great with her colouring. Its stylish. She looks very comfy next to her Madge. She was probably nervous AF but need not have been.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      I’m sorry to say this since I adore Meghan, but once again I don’t care for the look she has chosen for today. I think although the dress is a great color for her, it’s sort of the wrong cut for a woman with her shape, though you can’t see that in these pics — more in the DM pics which also show that it doesn’t travel very well: In those pics you can get a far clearer view of how terribly wrinkled it got on the train ride. By contrast, the Queen’s costume has nary a wrinkle. And (yes, ducking, there’s more!), although I love Meghan’s hair down, I think she would have presented a sleeker and more appropriate image if her hair were up or pulled back, because as it is, her hair keeps blowing and her hands are constantly in it, trying to straighten it.

      But even with all that said, I think she looks very pretty and you can see that the Queen seems to enjoy her company immensely. Meghan is so personable, articulate and well informed, I think she must be great company.

      I’m knocked out by the Queen’s daring colors. She looks great. I could never wear that color–it would wear me–but the Queen carries it off so beautifully!

      • PrincessK says:

        I don’t see a problem when clothes wrinkle, its usually a sign of a good natural fibre which people don’t wear much these days. I love wearing linen, and I love the way it wrinkles. The Queen’s clothes always look like they are made of polyester.

    • Honey says:

      I like it. I think it looks great on her and in some ways it’s almost satirical given the shoulder baring criticism she has rec’d.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        LOL, great point!

      • Esmom says:

        That was my first thought, like the thinking was “I won’t just cover my shoulders, I’ll encase them in a fabric box where they will never be seen.” Lol. I think she looks beautiful although the shoulder design/detail looks odd and not very pretty to me.

      • AnnaKist says:

        I agree, Honey, and I think it would have looked better if she’d had that hair of hers pulled back or up. She’d have looked more polished. Her hair just seems to hang there, and that bloody middle part again…

      • Bettyrose says:

        MTE. She’s totally mocking the shoulder baring criticism. This look is hilariously awesome. Go Meg!

      • Bluthfan says:

        Me too. If I was rich and skinny, I’d dress like Meghan. I like that her clothes are a neutral color with unusual cuts and shapes. At least I understand why her clothes are expensive. With Kate,she looks like she is wearing formal clothes designed by Talbots.

      • Macko says:

        This is what I was thinking. I like this outfit and I love the grey shoes.
        But I liked her Balcony outfit too.

      • Aurelia says:

        Kate look like she is dressed by Marks ans Spencers more like it. Or Boden.

    • notasugarhere says:

      It is the style now and similar to what other royal ladies have worn. I think Sophie has something like this, and either Letizia or Maxima?

    • Betty says:

      MM looks like a bound woman in that dress. Was that the vibe they were going for? And her hair!!! Tie it back! It’s windy! Sheesh. This isn’t rocket science.

      • Oh I so agree!! What is it with royal ladies and hair? Put it up or tie it back, how hard can it be? It looks so unprofessional and untidy, and the endless fiddling with her hair is so irritating. Not just Meghan, Kate is famous for it. I don’t understand keeping hair that length and never doing anything with it. In that case, go for an interesting, easily managed shorter style. Now they look like overgrown schoolgirls and the hair mess distracts from everything they wear.

    • Morning Coffee says:

      I actually like it. The Queen dresses in bright colors so her subjects can see her. Given her color choices, anything other than a neutral might clash. Megan played it safe, professional and covered up. Side note: I simply adore photos of the Queen when she is truly and genuinely smiling and laughing. She seems like such a lovely person.

    • Megan says:

      It is so restrictive. What if she needs to lift her arms?

    • Peeking in says:

      .

    • Milla says:

      It looks good for Meghan’s body type. It has wrinkles, which is insane for a pricey dress, but overall she looks good. Modern yet appropriate.

      • PrincessK says:

        Natural fibres do wrinkle, I cannot see a problem with that, its natural. When clothes don’t wrinkle I am always thinking horrible polyester. Almost all of my clothes are pure cotton or linen because I have sensitive skin, and I love the way they wrinkle.

    • KiddV says:

      I like the dress and it looks great on Meghan. Like Mila said, it’s very modern.

      Looks like they’re having a great time, too. I love the queen’s outfit and hat.

    • The dress itself is beautiful. The shoulder cap thing looks like the plastic cap on my antiperspirant container.

    • kodakay says:

      I like it. I think she’s expected to dress modestly when she’s with the queen.

  2. Enough Already says:

    Absolutely regal! The queen looks great too 😉

    • MostlyMegan says:

      I agree! Great to see them having some one-on-one interaction. The Queens seems to really like Meghan.

      • Chaine says:

        Yes, doesn’t she? The DM has like 8000 pictures of this event and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Q laughing so much and looking so happy! She has had so many of her friends and her generation relatives die in recent years, I think she needs a buddy and Meghan is it! Good for her.

      • Bella DuPont says:

        @ Chaine:

        I know right? After seeing all the pictures of their great chemistry, I suddenly understood why former Queen favourite, Sophie wore the Emilia Wickstead dress at Trooping the colour. 😂😬

      • Betty says:

        I wonder what you think of how the Queen feels about the grilling video and nude pics splashed all over page one of tabloids or prominently mentioned? Proud? Happy?
        I think the Queen is laughing and smiling at others but Meghan smiles at her to make it look like it is their interaction. This is the same thing others have said when Kate is with the Queen.
        Time will tell. I think this is more a crash course for Meghan.

      • notasugarhere says:

        The video of her doing her legitimate job and the faked nudes? Just keep grinding the axe, soon enough you’ll run out of metal.

        HM? She takes people and how she experiences them into account. She continues to love Sarah Ferguson, no matter what she does. She took Sophie’s side in the set-up and embraced her as her favourite. Proof the new granddaughter-in-law was working a legitimate job? Great. We need a hard-worker in this family.

      • Jan90067(aka imqrious2) says:

        They both look like they genuinely like being in each other’s company, w/out any awkwardness, and they both look like they’re really enjoying themselves. For some insane reason, that makes me happy lol (and that’s soooooo dumb! lol).

        ETA: Nota, I saw those pics (a British acquaintance, (now an ex-acquaintance as I’ve blocked her) “so concerned about “what Harry was getting himself into” emailed the link to everyone she knew), and those are SO obviously photoshopped, I don’t know how ANYONE with have a functioning brain cell can think it is her. Didn’t anyone see that skin color changed from pic to pic, as did nip size? I got so disgusted, I just told her off and blocked her. Honestly, some people will do ANYTHING to try and bring her down. It’s scary!

        And btw, I LOVE that saying about the axe… I am definitely borrowing that sometime! 😊

      • Olenna says:

        Grilling videos, again? Is that you, veronica, with a little v? No? How about Veronica T, Melinda, Trixie, or maybe “C” or “E”? Hard to keep up with all these nicknames when some people keep talking about the same thing, over and over and over again. I thought we already discussed this topic and determined it was a nothing burger.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Hahaha I have to laugh at the reaching. Sure HM is a hothouse flower who doesn’t know the ways the world. She’s a mere babe in the tender year of our Lord 1845.

        They know more MM than she probably knows about herself. If she can still adore fat head Andy then she can get past most transgressions. Koo Stark was several decades ago and she still loves dear old pervy Andy.
        A nude body? Really? Not that it is authentic or anything and even if it was so what? She’s seen the photos of W and K with her doing things so I am sure she can handle this. She’s probably seen her loved ones doing all sorts of things we have never seen and I know brace yourselves…she survived. GASP!

      • PrincessK says:

        @nota….I love the axe saying, I am going to borrow it as well…😁.

    • Peeking in says:

      Betty, what are you going on about nude pics and grilling video? Do you for some reason think that there are embarrassing photos out there that the Royal investigators have not uncovered whilst getting Meghan?
      Smh.

      • Squirrelgirl says:

        Betty, wait you mean the nude pics and video of Harry from years back? Come off it. It’s not like the royals are perfect at all and anything “scandalous” Meghan has done I’m sure the royal investigators have already uncovered it.

      • Sedanos says:

        Betty, I heard that she didn’t really ride on the train with the Queen last night, but just clung on to the outside of the train and then told everyone that she was on the inside.

      • Olenna says:

        @Sedanos,
        Dead.
        😉

      • lobbit says:

        @Sedanos – haha I almost choked on my apple!

      • magnoliarose says:

        Lol.

      • Feeshalori says:

        I can’t read these posts while working at the public library, I’m spazzing at the information desk containing my laughter!

      • Nic919 says:

        Sedanos – you win the internet today.

    • BooRadley says:

      I love how big and happy her smile is, I think she really does like Meghan.

    • Elle says:

      LOVE the dress.

    • PrincessK says:

      Meghan looks great, it is a style she can wear, not everybody can. Nice that she is not being boring with outfits. Now we can see that the clothing allowance is kicking in and she does no longer have to rely on the items of clothing she had before marriage.

  3. hindulovegod says:

    The lampshade dress is a little odd. But she and the Queen appear to have a nice rapport.

  4. Léna says:

    They look like they really appreciate each other. Really sweet

    • Tootsie45 says:

      So cute! I’m an Aussie so we follow the royals a bit more closely, and I don’t think I’ve EVER seen the Queen laugh and smile like she is here. It makes me happy to see her happy and it makes me extra happy to see her throw her weight behind Meghan after all the racist BS she’s encountered. This Queen is all like, “say it to my face commoners.” 🙂

  5. Seraphina says:

    Ahhhh, the last pic is what I love: a dress that covers her knees and she and the Queen seem like the get along famously. The hair could be pulled back but she looks good and the Queen looks happy. I’m looking forward to more pics

  6. I rarely comment but... says:

    I have never seen the queen as giddy as she looks in that last photo. Lol

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      Yes, I think she quite likes Meghan and enjoys her company.

    • Umyeah says:

      Right? I think she really likes Meghan

    • Renee2 says:

      This is no joke, the only other time I have seen a photo of the queen looking that giddy was at Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, lol!!!

      • Adil says:

        Do people really believe that the Queen is not a Conservative? Seriously? Mind boggles.

      • magnoliarose says:

        She may be conservative but it doesn’t mean she liked Maggie T. I for one think she doesn’t follow a party platform but is more conservative in a British old-fashioned sort of way. I don’t think she buys into the rhetoric.

      • PrincessK says:

        I think it was common knowledge that Thatcher was definitely not one of HM’s favourite PMs. People used to laugh at Thatcher’s exaggerated curtsey.

      • Nic919 says:

        I think they disagreed on apartheid if I am not mistaken. (Liz wanted to end it) But there was often tension between them and probably one of the few PMs that she disagreed with more openly both before and since.

      • Tina says:

        Nic919 is right. I suspect HM is small c conservative in the sense of not wanting things to change too much (which is why I am firmly convinced she is a remainer). Thatcher was a radical Conservative and changed things dramatically. HM got along much better with someone like John Major, who was a better PM than he is given credit for, and had a lot of tricky royal drama to navigate (divorces, taxes, fires etc).

      • Tina says:

        And just to clarify, both HM and Thatcher were anti-apartheid, but Thatcher didn’t think sanctions would work (or, more likely, cared more about the economic risks of implementing them than the moral risk of not implementing them) and HM (and the rest of the world) wanted to go ahead with the sanctions.

      • Jane says:

        I think it was the Invasion of Grenada that made them fall out. Thatcher was a great friend of Ronald Reagan and refused to break of ties with him over the invasion and Elizabeth is Queen of Grenada…

    • Lizzie says:

      for real! she is beaming and straight up giggling.

    • Liberty says:

      Goodness yes, she she giggling with Meghan. She sees the light at the end of the damn tunnel. Her favorite grandson married a personable hard worker willing to show up. She is probably giddy just imagining life with under 300 engagements a year, thanks to Harry and Meghan. She is slapping her thigh and telling an aide, “Ring up Mrs M, then hang up, three times, har! I say!”

  7. TheOriginalMia says:

    I like the dress. It’s understated and elegant. She’s not trying to upstage the Queen. They look like they have good chemistry together. That’s nice to see.

    • Liberty says:

      I agree. They look comfortable together and I like the dress. A slightly more elegant day look. Without being all “meeeeee!” As many dresses can be. It seemed to strike the right level.

      • Jan90067(aka imqrious2) says:

        I agree with both things you said, Liberty.

        I also think the dress says sophisticated professional. I think she looks great!

      • magnoliarose says:

        I like it too. It is the look right now and the color was understated and respectful to HM. The screaming fans probably made HM feel good too. The cut suited her frame.
        Duchess has game and I begin to respect it for real. Subtle but it is there. Covered shoulders after Trooping. Lol Not just covered but encased.

    • Honey says:

      I think on any other “shape” the dress would have looked bulky but on her it looks very soft and feminine. The dress, to me, almost makes her look curvy.

      I really like her look today. It’s not too girly or too matronly. It’s just right for a woman who who has had some work / life experience and who is comfortable with that.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      I love the outfit and yes she and TQ seem to get on like a house on fire.

  8. whatever says:

    It’s a nice dress but custom Givenchy isn’t cheap. With this dress and the custom Carolina Herrera wore last week, she has probably spent close to £10,000 on two dress for her first three public engagements!. That amount makes my head spin. Her clothing costs are going to be absolutely astronomical.

    Also, something less expensive for a visit to Runcorn would have been more suitable. Givenchy wasn’t needed here.

    • Loopy says:

      Do you think she is possibly being given for free through a loop hole or maybe paying herself?

      • whatever says:

        Charles/ the Duchy of Cornwall pick up the tabs for Harry, William and Kate’s clothing even though Harry and William are very rich in their own right and can afford to pay for their own clothing. I assume Charles/ the Duchy will pay for Meghan’s clothing as well.

      • anika says:

        No and no.

        But hey I thinks it’s fine.

      • Rainbow says:

        Charles is paying via the Duchy as this is an official event. Taxpayers foot everything from security to Meghan’s clothes every time she does an official event like this.

        Also, William and Harry spending their own money?! LOL. Both are pros at mooching especially William, like borrowing the Duke of Grosvenor’s private jet to go hunting in Spain. They’re not spending any of their money when they and their wives can continue to leech money out of taxpayers’ pockets.

      • stinky says:

        What’s wrong with borrowing a friend’s private jet??
        You & I would surely do it too, if given the opportunity! 😉

      • PrincessK says:

        The dress allowance has now kicked. Prince Charles won’t complain. I bet her Ascot dress has already been made too.

    • Busyann says:

      I’m okay with the costs though. It’s early days and I don’t think Meghan has a good wardrobe that she can wear already on hand. Yeah it maybe a pretty regular day of events, but she’s still out with the Queen for the first time. I’m sure she thinks that’s as significant as Trooping in her opinion.

      • Olenna says:

        I don’t have a problem with the costs either, but then I don’t believe the royals are paying as much for the clothing as the media estimates. Whatever the true costs are, they are definitely helping to promote the brands and, in turn, keeping some people employed throughout the fashion and social media industry. https://www.wmagazine.com/story/givenchy-stella-mccartney-made-millions-off-royal-wedding

      • magnoliarose says:

        They barely pay, just enough to make it look like they do and even then I wonder if there aren’t loopholes. Any designer who dresses them makes a lot of money by doing it so they surely won’t balk.

      • PrincessK says:

        She will wear this dress again, and it will be copied and make money for other designers, manufacturers, retailers and the whole chain etc. So the cost of the dress will be covered many times. Meghan is already bringing so much money into the UK, so a £10,000 dress is nothing, her value hundreds of times that, and Charles and the Palace know all this.

    • Natalie S says:

      If only she’d go more frugal with some Alexander McQueen.

      • Becks1 says:

        Legit LOL

      • starryfish says:

        dead.

      • sus says:

        Kate wore LK Bennet to her first solo even with the queen. That would be a better comparison, no?

      • Natalie S says:

        I think the wedding exhibit was their first joint thing and I can’t remember where the beige dress was from.

        I wasn’t a fan of the thrifty Kate high street outfit shtick. She wore that outfit only once after that and it looked not great. Most of the time her accessories were expensive so what was the point anyway of buying the cheap outfit and even then Kate was wearing Alexander McQueen to some of her daytime events.

        If Meghan wears high end designers only once or twice, then that will be an issue. But it makes more sense to buy things that she can rewear. The caplet thing looks like it can be removed and the dress is simple enough to easily be reworn.

      • sus says:

        I had a look around and the beige dress was by Joseph. The LK Bennet I was thinking of was from her first trip with the queen.

    • Becks1 says:

      I’m okay with her wardrobe costs if we start seeing repeats (which I imagine we will, this is only her third engagement as a duchess) and as she builds her working wardrobe. I imagine in the engagement months we were seeing a lot of stuff she had bought herself as an actress (the separates, etc) so I think now we will start seeing more high-end fashion from her, more custom pieces, etc.

      For such a high-profile outing I can understand why she wanted to go all out. If every outing involves a custom piece, I’ll join in the criticism, but I’m not sure its warranted at this point.

      • Loopy says:

        But honestly WHY does Charles pay…they got inheritance from their mother right??? Why the hell is Charles paying their clothing expenses,I don’t get it!!!

      • Becks1 says:

        @loopy someone like LAK will have a better answer than mine, but I think its that Charles pays for their working wardrobe, so he pays for them when they are doing events on behalf of the royal family. So I think the philosophy is that the clothing for “public” events should not come out of “private” funds. They pay for their clothes for private events/everyday wear/etc. I think.

        I think Charles has private money as well besides the Duchy of Cornwall but that’s not what he uses to pay for their wardrobes.

        I find the finances kind of intriguing though, I have to admit.

        Like I said someone prob has a better answer than me, ha.

      • DIRTNAP says:

        I think we’ll see repeats. It looks like she’s buying clothes that will serve as neutral bases for other outfits.

        Meghan’s security should worry that someone will run out of a crowd toward her with scissors and cut her hair. Someone is finally going to lose it after seeing her play with it one too many times and plot a chop.

      • Rainbow says:

        The better question would be: why should the public, via the Duchy, pay for Kate and Meghan’s clothes when these events are decided by the royals without the public’s consent? The entire country didn’t vote for Meghan and the Queen to do these activities yet they’re paying for what is essentially a PR campaign for Meghan and the royals. So to see her and Kate in custom couture when the NHS is in shambles is just jarring. The discrepancy between the excess from the royals vs the reality of struggles for many citizens leaves a bitter taste.

        People have been asking Charles for more transparency regarding the Duchy’s finances but good luck with that. Watch the Queen ask for more money this year in order to do some “maintenance” in Buckingham Palace.

        These pics really do the PR job for royals. They show up for a short time, get pics taken, and mission accomplished. People eat up the “cute grandma with the pretty granddaughter in-law having a great time” and all is forgotten about royals being the biggest welfare recipients on the planet.

      • Loopy says:

        When you said Duchy of Cornwall I thought you meant Camilla lol. Kindly enlightment me is that a royal fund?

      • Deedee says:

        The line between “public” clothes and “private” clothes get blurred though, when Kate wears something she’s worn in an official capacity to a friend’s wedding.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Many of the taxpayer-funded royals are privately wealthy AND have their work expenses paid by the taxpayers. This is true for all of the taxpayer-funded royals, not just the BRF.

        The royals are invited to visit somewhere by the people running that somewhere, so yes, they are invited. By the people. Don’t want them around? Don’t invite them. And don’t give any clicks or advertising revenue to news outlets and websites that carry news about them.

        As long as being a working royal is a government job, the taxpayers pay the expenses. That’s part of how all of this works. Ex. The taxpayers pay for the State Banquets, but they also pay for the fancy clothes the royals wear at those events.

        What needs to happen is the freedom *from* information requests need to be removed, so we can see exactly where every penny goes.

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        +1Million

        To Princess Henry Wales M-Windsor, DOS – officially beginning her Royal Duties weeks after – compare to 10 months with waity middleton.

        +1000
        A coat dress like HM with head wear was the ORDER of the day here. Princess Henry need to get rid of her stylist friend and HM POW step in and have her with a royal stylist. Enough of the celeb N/American attire for HRH Princess Henry Wales M-Windsor – she need to begin dressing Royal.

      • Addie says:

        Rainbow, you make a great point. These engagements are costly for the region hosting them (security out of local council budgets) and what is the point of them except as PR for the royals to make them look relevant? Of the 110 pics in the Daily Mail of this event, 110 were devoted to pictures of the Queen and/or Meghan or vice versa, with other people as minor elements. The performers were never seen, the bridge opening was barely covered. What a complete waste of time and money.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Either get rid of them and be free of the expense or keep them around as a symbol of international Britishness but complaining about the expenses seem silly when no one wants to really want to go full republican. Only for some but not others…The BRF IS pomp and luxury with shine and glamor. Reduce them to every person and there is no point to them.

      • Rainbow says:

        LOL so now it’s silly to complain about expenses when it’s Meghan who’s wearing couture and is dropping serious money for one dress? Now royals should spend as much as they want since it’s their role to look expensive and decorative?

        The next time Kate wears something worth thousands of $$, I hope y’all stick to your “new” stance instead of having one standard for Kate and another for Meghan. It’s stupid to have been criticizing Kate all those times she spent taxpayers’ money and calling it tone deaf and insensitive, but accepting and justifying it as ‘part of the job’ now that Meghan is spending lots of money, too. Talk about hypocrisy.

      • Aurelia says:

        Nobody approves of either clothing budget really, kates or meghan’s.

      • magnoliarose says:

        @Rainbow
        My complaint about Kate’s spending is that she barely shows up to anything and all of her clothes look the same and lack style. Most complaints have been about her laziness not justifying her wardrobe expenses.
        Her terrible work ethic underscores everything. 7 years along and she is no better than she was from Day 1.

      • PrincessK says:

        Meghan went on so many engagements with Harry wearing her own clothes, so this is pay back time for Meghan.

    • Cee says:

      I believe she’s building up a wardrobe for her royal activities, much like Kate did in the beginning. When she starts purchasing bespoke pieces that look the same, in multiple colours, then I will start shading her about the astronomical costs.
      I swear Kate owns the same coat and lace dress in multiple colours, with minimal differences, and they’re all bespoke and couture. Let’s not kid ourselves.

      • Scram says:

        The garden party and Trooping hats looked the same though 😩. I want to see her wardrobe for more regular engagements without the senior royals around. I’ll hold my opinions until then.

      • notasugarhere says:

        They’re also classic, in the style of Lady Sarah Chatto. Things she can wear or rework for years, like Sophie does with some of her basic-shape hats.

      • Bella DuPont says:

        Considering everything happening with the economy and cuts being made left right and centre, these ladies (Meghan + Kate) should really be making an effort to be a lot more frugal. As someone above said, you really don’t need custom Givenchy to go to Runcorn for goodness sake. LK Bennet would have worked just fine.

        This is one of the few areas of genuine criticism I have of the Duchess of Sussex.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I’m hoping she follow’s Letizia’s pattern (while crown princess) of inexpensive separates and trouser suits for everyday engagements. Save the big items for events with the Queen, Trooping, Ascot.

      • Aurelia says:

        I know Bella du Pont. Wear cheaper lines like Joseph, Reiss, jaeggar etc and dress it up with good accessories and great jewellery. You don’t have to rack up custom Givency or buy your 13th blue coat at 3000,00 pounds a throw. Nobody is saying these chicks need to dress at Primark or Zara. Just be clever and get the balance right. The new Spanish Queen seems to mix it up and be economic in spains economic downturn.

      • PrincessK says:

        What is all this about Runcorn? Quite disrespectful I say. So the good people of Runcorn can’t appreciate or don’t deserve to see a royal Duchess wearing Givenchy?

      • Bella DuPont says:

        @Nota & Aurelia:

        Exactly!

        @ Princess K:

        Apologies, no offense meant to Runcorn, but apparently it’s an industrial city and a major centre for chemicals, logistics and advanced manufacturing……I just assumed you’d impress them better with a PhD in advance chemistry or Astro physics! 😉

    • Meggles says:

      Not to be all “hey kids let’s learn about capitalism” but very few things have an objective price or value. The cost of anything is dependent on the worth a society places on it, which can be artificially manipulated. Look at the diamond nonsense, for example. Or auctions. The same item can go from cheap to expensive for arbitrary reasons (like if a celeb wears a high street outfit, and it starts changing hands for crazy money on ebay).

      The thing about ultra-expensive dresses is that the “sticker price” is generally not the price anyone actually pays, it’s just another piece of marketing. Clothing designers make their money mainly from accessories and ready to wear/diffusion lines. They slap a $10k price tag on their couture gowns to make people think their brand is expensive and high end, which makes people more likely to shell out $100 for that brand’s sunglasses.

      Those couture dresses you see on the catwalk and on celebs on red carpets and in magazines? That only exists as a piece of PR. And often when you see the same couture dress everywhere, it’s literally the exact same dress – often designers will create one single copy of a dress and that’s the dress they send down the runway and lend out to celebs and for photoshoots. (Hence the expression ‘sample size’.) Of course there is a market for very expensive couture (mainly from China and certain Arab gulf countries) but generally speaking the ultra-wealthy and celebs do not pay retail, if they pay at all. I’m not at all famous or wealthy but I have loads of designer clothes from working in the industry and I’ve never paid retail prices, ever.

      • Bella DuPont says:

        Perfect crash-course! 👌

        Further question though…..I thought royals were prohibited from benefitting from these sorts of arrangements?

      • bonobochick says:

        This is along what I think. There’s the sticker price and then there’s the price actually paid by the royals and ultra wealthy. I am sure they get some good deals and perks without paying even close to the sticker price. A lot of time the free marketing from someone famous photographed in their items – like HM and Duchess Meghan – is enough to knock down the price.

        Ultimately, there’s something to be said for money being wasted but I also think there are some nitpicking just to concern troll anything Duchess Meghan.

      • magnoliarose says:

        @Bella DuPont there are many many ways wealthy people pay nothing for nearly everything.
        Red carpet dresses are not samples since a sample size fits only a few body types and celebs aren’t built like models usually. Those are free advertisement and press. What you don’t see in editorials are the clamps and clips to make a dress appear to fit the model when it doesn’t. Editorial clothing is meant to go back to the designer though thieving celebs try to steal stuff constantly. So red carpet dresses are tailored and fit but editorial dresses are not. If you notice the dresses will have minor changes on the red carpet but it in editorials it is straight off the runway.
        Some celebrities show up for photo shoots and steal. It is a crap thing to do since the stylist has to explain what happened and so will the editors at the magazine. Celebrities can be awful and entitled.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Also to add I am talking about established designers, statement red carpets and A-B+ list celebrities. Lower level designer sample sizes from the red carpet are returned or sold.

  9. Becks1 says:

    No one can say her shoulders aren’t covered! lol.

    I don’t like that weird shoulder-cape-bodice-whatever thing, but her EW dress had a similar shape (the black two piece ensemble?) so maybe its a combination of she likes it and that silhouette is coming into style? I’m trying to be open minded since I complain when Kate dresses in boring outfits for engagement after engagement and doesn’t take fashion risks, so I need to be supportive of Meghan when she does takes risks, lol.

    The pencil skirt looks good on her though, her hair looks nice, and she looks nervous but relatively comfortable with the queen.

    • Mariposa says:

      That was my first thought too….no shoulders anywhere! I quite like the dress, it’s a bit different. That pencil skirt style was what she wore a lot in suits, and it really suits her.

    • manda says:

      I feel like the shoulder cape thing is making it look like she’s slouching–or is she slouching? Her posture looks bad here.

      Agreed on the pencil skirt! It is my favorite silhouette and just looks so good with a pair of heels. She wears them a lot and they look great on her; Kate should wear them more because they look great on her too. Yet she insists on those flouncy skirts. I really don’t like Kate’s style. I thought I liked Meghan’s, but the last few things she’s worn have not really impressed me, and a lot of her stuff pre-wedding needed to be hemmed. I’m picky about stuff like that

    • M4lificent says:

      It amuses me to imagine that Meghan was thinking, “If shoulders are such a big deal, I’ll REALLY cover the damn shoulders this time!”

      And bonus, if they have lobster at lunch, she’s already got her bib on.

  10. MCV says:

    Love the look, very chic! Can’t wait to see how the Daily Fail and others newspapers are going to try to make this whole day like a failure for here or something like that.

  11. Akua says:

    The pantyhose, seen pictures of her touching her hair,other than that she looks nice and put together

  12. All About Eve says:

    The Queen was wearing green to mark the one year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire where 72 people died. It was the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War. Green has become the symbolism for the tragedy & many buildings in the UK were illuminated in green today. Also a minute silence was held all around the UK in memory of the victims.

    • notasugarhere says:

      News is 85-year-old Duchess of Kent has come out of retirement and has been teaching music to the kids of the Grenfell neighborhood for months. She worked secretly as a music teacher for years in York.

      Seriously, teared up when I read that.

      • Nic919 says:

        That is the true meaning of service. She is very impressive.

      • magnoliarose says:

        That is sweet. I like to hear that. Thank you for sharing it.

      • PiMo says:

        That is wonderful, regardless of her title, what a wonderful way to give back to the society.

        Regarding the title thing, the royals live rent free in Kensington, the location of Grenfell, where the reason for the rapid spread of fire and deaths of so many people was a saving done in cladding, a saving of just £5,000. That is probably less than the cost of the dress Meghan is wearing. That is £69 per human life.

        Let’s put things in perspective. Such a tiny amount of money cost so many lives and traumatized thousands of others; former tenants of the tower, friends of those who lived there… And yet, the royals, so many of them, are basically sucking ridiculous amount of money, spending lavishly, without actually working. Yes that is one rich family, but without the inheritance tax exemption of the sovereign and the general tax exemption until the a few decades ago, they wouldn’t have been this rich. Besides the Brits are supporting a huge family.

        Gawking at these people is the opium of the people I guess.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Then join RepublicUK and work to have them thrown out. Demand a decrease in their annual costs. Do something other than try to state that Grenfell was somehow caused by the monarchy, or that Grenfell is the monarchy’s fault.

        No form of government is perfect, but this is the form of government the people of the UK continue to choose. Until if/when a different choice is made, this is how it is.

      • Tina says:

        This is like people voting for Brexit because of austerity. We had (and still have, to our shame) worse fire safety standards on large buildings than those that are in place in the US or elsewhere in Europe. This is a matter for the government to regulate. Public money does not pay for the construction of these buildings. The poor safety standards that led to this tragedy have nothing to do with the royals.

  13. Becks1 says:

    Also I’ll say that I AM getting tired of seeing Meghan in boring colors – third outing in a row in some shade of pale peach/cream/off white! – but for this one I completely understand it. That dress needs to be in a neutral to work for the events I think and if she had worn something with more color to it she either would have clashed with the queen or people would have accused her of trying to steal attention away from the queen.

    • Belluga says:

      I think she’ll stick with mostly neutral for a while for just that reason: avoiding the ‘trying to hog the attention’ accusation.

      Hopefully once she settles we’ll see some more colour. Fingers crossed for an autumn filled with jewel tones!

      • notasugarhere says:

        Or at Royal Ascot next week.

      • LizB says:

        Meghan likes neutral colors. In her interviews over the years talking about her style, she repeatedly says that. I doubt we’ll see her in jewel tones.

    • Janet says:

      Both Meghan and Kate are guilty of wearing drab colors. I just don’t get it. When you have the money to buy anything, and you have great coloring, why on earth would you pick mostly cream/beige/off-white/navy? They could wear rich jewel tones, deep red, purple, green, and they would really sparkle. I don’t get the whole “attention hog” fear, they are royals after all, isn’t being seen sort of the point? No-one’s going to forget about the Queen anyway, and the Queen wears strong colors too.

  14. Danielle says:

    I kinda like the dress when she is standing up and walking around, but it looks very weird and box-y when she’s sitting down. But I appreciate what she was going for.

  15. minx says:

    She looks beautiful as always but not sure about that dress. She’s kind of small for it.
    Sweet pics of her and TQ.

  16. girl_ninja says:

    Meghan’s dress is lovely. They seem to get on well.

  17. Busyann says:

    Oooh I love this. I actually really like this dress. It’s kind of Olivia Pope like and it’s a silhouette I wear often myself. There’s nothing more powerful than wearing a hug me in all the right places sheath and pumps, but sometimes if the dress is too tight, it can go wrong very quickly. I think she pulled it off well! Did anyone notice that she found the right shade of hosiery? Yay Meghan! Yay!
    I also think it’s pretty clear Meghan is going to try to wear a lot of blushes and creams, maybe even white since she’s newly married. How cute is it that HM wore the same color today, that she wore to the wedding?!

    • Bea says:

      That’s a Jessica Pearson dress. I like it. Most of all I like seeing the Queen and Meghan together. They appear to get along nicely and that is what matters the most.

    • rolling eyes says:

      HM is wearing green for Grenfell…..

  18. Sunsetsnow says:

    She looks gorgeous!

  19. MattyLove says:

    Totally weird question, but do you think the Queen has someone who puts on her hose for her? What an odd job that would be!

  20. Belluga says:

    I like the dress. I don’t completely love it, but it’s chic and I like it.

    What I DO love is all the smiling and giggling between The Queen and Meghan! They look like they have a great rapport.

    • Betsy says:

      It is chic.

    • ChrissyMS says:

      I love the dress. You are right. It is chic! I am going to give her good grades for this look. I personally can’t imagine what I would wear if I were to go on a public train ride with the Queen. But this seems pretty good!

  21. sus says:

    Maybe the cape thingy is stretchy, but it looks like it might be constricting. I’d get annoyed at not being able to fully move my arms. But the rest of it is nice.

  22. Betsy says:

    I’ve never liked dresses that look like straight jackets.

    I love the greige and black though. That’s pure Jackie Kennedy. Who would actually be a great style touchstone for Meghan’s official clothes; Jackie was taller but Meghan has the svelte figure.

  23. Rainbow says:

    The shoulders look too boxy and stiff, like a coat was cut in half and put on top of a dress. Would probably have been better as a cape dress.

  24. Mego says:

    The Duchess of Sussex looks very charming and engaged – happy to meet with the public and not nervous like she was at Trooping the Colour. I think the dress is appropriate, modest and a really good length. She appears to have alopecia in a couple of pictures but I understand that blowouts are hard on the hair. Hopefully it isn’t stress related.

    I am kind of hoping to see a return to her more business casual attire at some of her solo engagements. I really liked some of those pre wedding engagement looks that were more accessible. But yeah I guess one should be dressed well in the company of the Queen and you can’t say her shoulders aren’t covered in this engagement 😂 “lampshade dress” lol!

    • gemcat says:

      I think it’s actually that the wind (or she herself) messed up her center-part, so the new partings of the hair is what you are seeing in some of the pics. Her hair looks thick and healthy I thought. Love how giddy the queen looks, they look sweet together..

    • Jan90067(aka imqrious2) says:

      I noticed that with her hair, too, and wondered if it was stress-related, or possibly from the Brazilian blow-out (the Keratin procedure that straightens hair).

      It must’ve just been the wind messing her hair up, because there are other pics when it looks just fine. Hope it is just the wind. My hair is thinning due to medication I have to be on for another year, and it is just killing me! My hair used to be as thick as my wrist when I put it in a pony tail. Now it’s about as thick as one of those little pony tails on top of a Yorkie 😢 I’m praying that it comes back when I go off this med. 🤞🏻🙏🏻

      • Mego says:

        Ugh that is hard. My hair is really thin, fine and dead straight naturally and looks better since I stopped perming it. It takes a lot of product and manipulation to get it looking ok though. I read that the multivitamin Centrum Silver helps with thinning hair so I am giving that a try.

      • CairinaCat says:

        10,000 biotin and also Silica with horsehair extract. And majorly up your protein!
        You can get both on Amazon
        Due to medication and surgery I lost a good 50% of my hair.
        I took the above and upped my protein to 100mg a day (I’m 5’10) and in two months my hair was visibly thicker and it was looking good at 4 months

      • magnoliarose says:

        This is what I did when my hair was damaged and broken.
        My hair was tortured for years and after I mostly retired I decided to nurse my abused tresses back to health.
        I took MSM, bamboo extract, GLA oils, full spectrum B vitamins, biotin and the herb horsetail (also good for the urinary tract). I wore my hair in a protective style most of the time. A loose braid/ bun with no heat or heavy products.
        Hair blogs run by black women have the hair growth routines down to a science. All my years around professionals can’t touch what I learned from black women and black hair blogs. Most of the information is universal too.
        I slept on a satin pillowcase every night no matter where I was and it worked. My hair is in better shape now than it ever was.
        Now I still take my hair vitamins/herbs but at a lower dosage.

  25. CurrentUI says:

    At least she walks around with arms on the sides, much more natural and confident unlike KM

  26. Zapp Brannigan says:

    I think it could be a good investment dress, take off the cape bit for other events, style it up, let Angela Kelly at it and it could look like a completely different dress in every outing. I expect her first year building a functional wardrobe for events will be very pricey but with the right investment pieces it will last years.

    Would love to know what TQ and MM were giggling about!

    • Josie says:

      They were greeted with a dance performance by a large group of school children. Reporters in Twitter are saying they giggled during the dance, which a video snippet shows was adorable.

      These photos remind me of TQ and Charles on the viewing platform at Braemar. It’s quite good to see that rapport.

  27. paddingtonjr says:

    The dress isn’t my favorite, but it does look professional and conservative. I’m just here for the pics of Meghan and TQ; they look like they’re having a good time together and get along very well. TQ has a beautiful smile that just lights up her face and makes her look younger. Meghan has a great smile as well so the two of them together is just a little lift to start my day!

  28. loislane says:

    Duchess Meghan is very pretty and has some classy manners about her.
    Harry was never going to Not put a ring on it.

    The Queen is her usual amazing self.
    They seem to get on well. Nice!

    • Olenna says:

      Agree. Her carriage and deference to TQ (no waving at the crowd, etc.) was spot on. Great first outing!

  29. Giddy says:

    I adore these pictures! They look like they were truly enjoying being with each other. The queen is very animated in these pictures, and I especially like the last one. Meghan is very poised, and I am impressed that she didn’t look like a bundle of nerves. The thought of being on her own with TQ must have been excitingly terrifying.

  30. Faith says:

    It may be because I am dead tired, but I just opened the article and spent a couple of seconds staring at the first picture, seriously wondering what MM was doing wearing a carton box.
    I think I need some sleep.

    • Olenna says:

      I know what you mean. I had to look twice and then again! Now that I’ve seen full-length pics and video, the dress has grown on me and I think she looked very chic yet professional in it.

  31. Nancy says:

    That dress looks so uncomfortable. If she’s choosing besties, she definitely picked the right one! Someone forgot to cross their legs. Ah, she’s the Queen, let her relax, Ha!

  32. Skylark says:

    Love Meghan’s outfit, all of it, so pared back and elegant. Hair would have been better secured in some way though, whether back or up, as it’s a really windy day and you can see how all over the place her hair is in the videos. But otherwise, lovely, and it’s nice to see her so relaxed with the queen, which I’m sure the queen appreciates.

    • minx says:

      I like her with a side part, looks more chic.

    • Polly says:

      I love it too, it’s the first outfit I’ve liked since they got married. Her hair would’ve looked better in a ponytail, it was flying all over the place in that wind.

    • Belluga says:

      It’s a shame about the wind, because I think this dress needed hair down to balance out the cape and soften the look. Maybe a side braid draped over her shoulder would have worked?

      • magnoliarose says:

        Hair up would have been too severe with the cut of the top. Hair up works for simpler lines and designs in my opinion. Hair up can look too sharp sometimes.

      • magnoliarose says:

        Didn’t mean to sound so robotic. lol

  33. aquarius64 says:

    I’m glad Meghan didn’t copy Kate.

  34. LondonTown says:

    Our Queen looks so happy in Meghan’s company. I think this is really heartwarming.

  35. Chef Grace says:

    I just enjoy seeing the Queen smile.

  36. Amy says:

    Regarding the comment in the article about Meghan having to ask the Queen if she’s not sure about something, the DM says she had to at one point.

    “[…] as they prepared to get into the Queen’s Bentley awaiting them in the station car park.

    There was a moment of confusion as the Duchess appeared unsure who should get into the car first. ‘What is your preference?’ she asked the Queen.

    ‘You go first,’ said the Queen. ‘Oh OK,’ said the duchess.”

    I don’t know why, but I absolutely love this. Not because it shows that Meghan didn’t know (because who care about that), but I would have been dying of nerves before managing to actually ask that question to the Queen!

    • Honey says:

      That is cute and I like how she worded it.

    • Becks1 says:

      Aw that is cute.

      Except I feel like that is something basic that should have been explained to Meghan – when the Queen goes first, when she goes first, etc. Maybe all other parts of it were and just that one thing got left out?

      I agree that I like how she worded it.

    • Enn says:

      That’s so sweet! I’m glad Meghan seems to be getting along like gangbusters with her in laws, especially since she’s far from home.

      Don’t like the cape but she rocks a sheath like nobody’s business. Get it, Meg!

    • minx says:

      Aw, great anecdote.

    • Feeshalori says:

      From what I read, the Queen always likes to sit behind the driver so in order to do so, Meghan had to go first to sit on the far side. And the Queen told Meghan to go in first when Meghan paused and asked. I’m surprised that they didn’t have Meghan go around to the other side of the car so both ladies could get into the car simultaneously. Nevertheless, it was a cute moment to see.

    • artistsnow says:

      My thoughts exactly! How cute is that? But,wth? Didn’t someone tell Meghan who gets in the car first or is that not a thing?

      Also, I LOVED that Meghan;s question was, “What is YOUR preference?” She seems to honestly like her grandmother, as a woman, not just because she is the queen.

      For the first time ever, I am curious to meet Elizabeth. Never have been before.She seems like a hoot.

  37. Alona says:

    The dress was inspired by Gyvenchy’s creation for Audrey Hepburn for How to Steal a Million. It’s a very similar dress. She looks fantastic and elegant. I am a huge fan. Her dress isn’t boring. Its remarkably well made.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I love that movie! I don’t remember a caped dress, but love the line, “It gives Givenchy the night off” from O’Toole.

    • Betsy says:

      I wasn’t so fond of the fit of her wedding dress, but it was gorgeously constructed. This one is fit beautifully and so expertly made.

  38. Ms. Turtle says:

    Love this dress. Gorgeous, elegant and shoulders covered so the haters can shut up. I feel like it’s also sent a subtle message that she is happy with the designer and design of her wedding gown, in the wake of the Emilia Wickstead controversy.

    She and the queen look like they get on lovely. I didn’t expect to feel feelings of pride, watching the video of them stepping off the train. Well done, American Duchess!

    My only niggle is I wish her hair had been pulled back. It’s gorgeous but it was windy and it blew in her face a lot. Enough that she had to keep messing with it. Still, great for her first performance with the queen.

    • Bella DuPont says:

      I’m not sure why she doesn’t have her hair up more because she looks fabulous with a chignon. Maybe she feels she still needs the security of having her hair around her face to hide behind, so to speak.

      • minx says:

        She does look fabulous with a chignon because she has beautiful, delicate features, chin, neck, shoulders, etc. She shouldn’t feel she has to hide anything!

    • artistsnow says:

      My guess about the hair:
      It goes better with the rather severe dress. BUT someone did not look at The Weather Channel that day and come through with a backup plan in case of wind.

  39. Guest says:

    Meghan looks amazing. The dress fits her very well.

  40. Talie says:

    I’m fine with royals wearing couture like movie stars…why should they always be in Zara? There has to be some fantasy element to it all.

    • Zapp Brannigan says:

      It is kind of the point of them, they are supposed to be better than the rest of us plebs, so put on the jewels and tiara and let us ogle the bling!

    • Becks1 says:

      and, we know they have the money. so while sometimes the expensive outfits are really inappropriate (I think of Kate’s McQueen outfit when meeting with flood victims), most of the time I find the Zara or whatever to official engagements a little….I dunno. not off-putting but maybe condescending? I know you can afford designer clothes. Just wear them already.

      But if Kate wore nothing but designers we would criticize that too lol.

    • Bella DuPont says:

      @ Becks:

      The optics…

      You can’t really have custom made Givenchy in peoples faces day in day out, when the cost of those dresses came ultimately from the same funds that gave us the inferior fire proofing at Grenfell just last year. It’s jarring.

      They can mix things up a bit and still look fabulous. It doesn’t have to be Zara, there are many other smaller and mid-range designers that can work just as well.

      • Tina says:

        The Duchy of Cornwall has nothing to do with Kensington & Chelsea council. The Duchy belongs to the British people, yes, and it’s public money that is used to pay for Meghan and Kate’s working outfits. But it’s not like cutting their clothing budget will put more money into the coffers of Kensington & Chelsea council. They’re not the same funds.

      • Bella DuPont says:

        @ Tina

        The public won’t see it that way. Most people (like me) don’t know or give a hoot about the inner workings of the finances of the BRF. As far as they’re concerned, both are publicly funded, whether they’re reciprocal or not won’t matter one tiny bit in the court of public opinion.

        The majority of the UK are just starting to get to know Meghan, so the narrative is crucial at this point. Notice the DM has been placing carefully pitched pieces, eg one talking about how much her diamond collection is now worth (a million) in the fortnight since she got married. And then days later, there’s a piece with Kate at Polo, running around, looking radiant in a £30 Zara dress.

        This is after reporting on the $75k engagement dress, the £300k wedding dress, £250k diamond bracelet ,£40million wedding cost….etc (all massively and deliberately exaggerated, obviously).

        If you think it’s a coincidence, I have a bridge to sell you. They’re trying to turn her into a Marie Antoinette because they know that *nothing* will make the public start to genuinely hate her faster than financial impropriety especially in these times. It’s a trap.

        She just can’t continue the wall-to-wall designer approach. She needs to mix things up! Suggestion:

        20% bespoke pieces
        30% off the rack designer pieces
        30% upper high street (LK Bennet, Reiss, Joseph etc like someone suggested above)
        20% whatever else

        Besides, if you have a very good tailor, you can make Zara look like Gucci…..(well, almost). 😬

        PS: I’m not trying to cheapen her, just worried/looking out for her reputation, that’s all.

  41. Lizabeth says:

    I love the dress! I think it suits Meghan. I wouldn’t wear it but I’m not going on a solo outing with the Queen either! I like the length and that she doesn’t have to tug on it when sitting down. Or use her clutch to cover her bare thighs the way Kate did on her first outing with the Queen.

    It is windy but I think if her hair had been in an updo 1. the wind would have wrecked the style without the use of an industrial strength hairnet and 2. her head would have looked too small above the boxy cape without hair framing her face.

  42. Leyton says:

    Meghan looks chic. I love it! It reminded me of something I’ve seen on Suits before. She’s very sophisticated in her style. It’s elegant and conservative but can be modern at the same time. It doesn’t make her look like a woman in her 60’s but she also doesn’t look like a 10 year old.

    Very much a Hit for the Duchess! The Queen looks wonderful as always and they seem to get on well. Lots of smiles going around!!

  43. VeronicaLodge says:

    I think TQ has a good sense of humor and probably appreciates MM. would love to know what they were giggling about….

  44. Lucy2 says:

    She looks very elegant, but I think I would find that dress uncomfortable. They do seem to get along quite well, which is very nice.

  45. CCB says:

    She needs to cut her hair, stats.

    • loislane says:

      I think she won’t cut them…at least not for a few more years.
      I bet Harry loves her hair this long.

    • Olenna says:

      I don’t think cutting her hair is going to change anything about it’s manageability in windy weather conditions. Either she pulls her hair back in a bun or pony-tail that’s well-pinned or wears a well-anchored hat. And, it’s obvious by now that she does not like to wear it pinned up tightly.

    • Peeking in says:

      Some of you don’t understand the relationship women of African descent have with their hair. I keep seeing criticism of Meghan’s hair, “she should cut it” “she should pin it up” “she need to stop touching it” etc. Meghan is not about to adapt a “hair in a bun” or any other up do anytime soon, nor is she cutting her hair, like ever. She’ll trim, but that’s it.

      • Serpentinefire says:

        Yeah I agree. These hair comments really pi** me off.

      • Sophia's side eye says:

        The hair policing bothers me. Her hair is lovely, looks healthy and shiny. She takes very good care of her hair, there’s no reason to cut it.

      • bonobochick says:

        I agree. I’ve been noticing the hair policing and some of the comments… folks need to educate themselves on hair in the Black community.

      • magnoliarose says:

        There is a whole social aspect to women’s hair length and feminism but I am too tired to get into it. Just to say there has always been a correlation between a woman’s hair and her sexual desirability and fertility. An older woman is expected to wear shorter hair since she is no longer a “maiden” and long hair is seen as very feminine and appealing to men. There is more to it of course but that is a simple explanation.
        I wear my hair long because I like it and society doesn’t get to decide about my looks or what I decide to do at any age. I am never going to do the midi shoulder chop. Not happening. So I support long hair on women if they want it that way. Short if they want that way. Midi if they want it that way.
        I like Kate’s hair longer because her hair is one of her best features. MM looks good with longer hair too. I don’t think it is entirely professional to have it shorter because again it implies more “feminine” is less professional.

      • Anesthesthetizes says:

        Thank you! I have been thinking this for a long time.

      • Andrea says:

        Funny, I wear my hair short because my moither always wore her hair long and I think it is a dated style. I wish MM wore it natural.

  46. erwin says:

    I love the dress! The color of the dress won’t outshine the Queen, but the cutting is very uniqe.

  47. Other Renee says:

    I’ve seen other pics that show a lot of wrinkles in this dress. Another less wrinkle-prone fabric may have been a better choice. Sorry I just don’t like this lampshade nun’s habit look. How can she move in that thing? I like the look of the bottom half of the dress. That kind of cut suits her. The Queen looks great as usual.

    • PrincessK says:

      The wrinkles show it is made of a good natural fabric and not horrible polyester.

  48. Gigi LaMoore says:

    I think she needs to do a better job at dressing for her body type. Her clothes do not highlight her best parts. As a fellow woman with skinny arms/legs with an undefined waist, I have learned that I have to pick dresses very carefully.

  49. Busyann says:

    Oooh the Queen gave Meghan the earrings she’s wearing.

  50. Honey says:

    Just bopped over to the DM (will shower later) but in one of the pictures you can see one of the Queen’s Ladies-in- Waiting. Its one where they are seated on the platform. Anyway, she is tucked in the back shrouded in navy blue and looks to be saying “ole girl we’ve had a good time of it; a few laughs and a few tears but I think this going to be my last roll with cha. I need to step down.” Poor thing. And I mean that with grace and charm.

    • PrincessK says:

      Yes, the Queen’s elderly lady in waiting bless her. She must be a good friend to the Queen but she is looking old, although sometimes going out and about is good for the elderly. This lady must be in her 80s bless her, was still doing her duty by collecting bouquets from the Queen, I doubt she can do much else though, probably just a good companion for the Queen.

      She followed the Queen to the Chelsea Flower show and could hardly keep up with the Queen.

  51. HK9 says:

    I love the dress. It’s unexpected but not loud, it covers the knees and she can still move and interact with people. Her hair and makeup are well done too.

  52. Mego says:

    Aready People magazine (and others) is trotting out the “let’s compare Meghan’s first outing with the Queen with Kate’s first outing with the Queen” because we can’t forget about Kate and must compare these two women to death.

    • anika says:

      That’s what people always do. If you do a quick search on the comments on this post 1 in 4 compare her to or a least mentions Kate.

    • Enn says:

      Well people are doing it here too, so…

      I’d rather just talk about Meghan and TQ!

  53. OriginalLala says:

    I like the dress alot – it’s a professional look with a bit of zing (the shoulder thingie). Meg’s face has been looking a bit different since Trooping, her teeth look really crazy white? new veneers? I’m trying to figure out what it is…

    • Lizabeth says:

      @Originallala– To me, the difference is she has a tan so her teeth looker even whiter than before. I think she’s also put some weight back on lost in the pre-wedding days. Maybe she got veneers but if she was going to do that or go for a big-time professional whitening, I’d think she’d have done it before the wedding (as Kate supposedly did), not during the time she was supposed to be on her honeymoon.

    • Bea says:

      It’s the tan that makes her teeth look brighter.

    • Sid says:

      Her skin is darker due to wherever they spent their honeymoon. Teeth will look whiter against darker skin.

    • rolling eyes says:

      Meghan had her teeth done a long time ago.

  54. Cher says:

    I like the dress not the wrinkles. The Queen’s dress did not wrinkle and I am sure Meghan’s dress costs an arm and a leg.
    Additionally, Meghan needs to put her hair up to avoid spending a ridiculous amount of time messing with it.
    The interaction between the Queen and Meghan is lovely to see.

    • Natalie S says:

      Keeping a dress from wrinkling is one of those details that could be really helpful for a newcomer to learn. Tips on fabrics and styles for different travel plans and events. I wonder if there’s a compilation of all this information from all of Liz’s events over the years?

    • Agenbiter says:

      Anyone know if HM favors polyester doubleknits?

    • notasugarhere says:

      HM also plans looser dresses underneath, with a long coat that covers any wrinkles. The coats sometimes have a long slit up the back, if she’s going to be sitting for a long time. That way, she can move the coat out of the way so it doesn’t wrinkle while seated, and when she stands the unwrinkled coat covers up the wrinkled dress underneath. Or don’t put your coat on until right before you get out of the train.

      Angela Kelly (Queen’s dress maker) wrote about this, and about how much HM has taught her about fabric through the years. HM sticks with wool, silk, or wool and silk blends for breathability, tests the fabric by crushing it in her hands and smoothing it out to decide whether or not it will work for a certain outfit, etc.

      Her book is called Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe

    • PrincessK says:

      The Queen always looks as though she is dressed in polyester, when an outfit creases a bit to me it is a sign of quality fabric, I like it. I am a big fan of pure cotton and linen.

  55. Lisa Stensson says:

    The queen SMILES???? she literally looks like she just laughed for the first time out loud lol …. SO AGAINST PROTOCOL Lol

  56. bread says:

    The cream colour is beautiful against her brown skin and I like the pops of black in her hair and accessories. But the cape… I’m not sure. It’s makes the dress more interesting than a plain shift but it’s also very stiff and big for her frame. Like she’s cut up a pair of man’s jodhpur trousers and hung over her shoulders.

  57. Lexa says:

    There’s something a bit off about the shoulder cape to me—it might be because it’s a touch too long or just too constrictive looking? Overall she looks nice, though!

    • Lexa says:

      I take back what I said about the fit—it’s growing on me, but the dress definitely has some bad angles, and it looks odd when she raises her arms. But I really appreciate that it’s a different look.

  58. MellyMel says:

    I really like this dress. I think she and TQ look great and like they really get along!

  59. MM says:

    Why are so many acting like the Queen never smiles? There are so many great photos of her smiling.

  60. ValiantlyVarnished says:

    I love it! It’s fashion forward while still being conservative and appropriate for the occasion. My fave thing is that it’s clear that TC truly likes Meghan and they get on well. TC looks genuinely happy and like she’s having a great time in these photos.

  61. Vava says:

    Nice ensemble! I’m glad she’s avoiding the ‘fit and flare’ style of dresses that Kate has overdone.

  62. lobbit says:

    Meghan looks so elegant!

  63. Cerys says:

    I’m not mad on the dress. I think the cape sleeves would be a bit restricting and it was very wrinkled when she got off the train. It’s also very windy here today in the UK so her hair might have been better pulled back into a ponytail-type style.
    However, the neutral colour was nice and didn’t take attention from the queen. Her skirt was a suitable length, standing and sitting unlike Kate’s first outing with HM. I seem to remember someone (Philip?) handing her a blanket to put over her knees in the car.

  64. LT says:

    East Africa has lots of beaches – along the coasts of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, the island of Zanzibar, so they could have had a safari and beach honeymoon.

  65. Amelie says:

    Hahahah it seriously feels like Meghan is trolling her critics with this outfit since she got so much criticism for daring to bare her shoulders at Trooping the Color, she was like “Fine I’ll cover my shoulders and make it SUPER obvious!” But obviously she chose this outfit ahead of time probably before Trooping the Color.

    But I just can’t get with the cape (?) element covering her shoulders, it looks like the top half of a sci show uniform, like what the cast of Star Trek or something similar would wear but it got deconstructed somehow halfway through. I really can’t get the space element out of my mind! But I like the color/belt/structure of this dress otherwise. She and the Queen look very chummy!

    • Elle says:

      I would hope Meghan wouldn’t waste an opportunity like this to troll internet jerks. (Beyonce spends a lot of energy on responding to critics. I think it just shows them they got to you.) Meghan should enjoy her life and let the trolls be jealous.

  66. HeyThere! says:

    Meghan looks wonderful here. That dress actually looks comfortable too! The Queen looks wonderful, also! Meghan looks charming and easy to get along with. Good for her.

  67. rabbitgirl says:

    M is so seriously stunning that my eyes always just focus straight away on her face. The Queen however has blinded me with that lime thing she is wearing. Bless her heart, she looks like she was drenched in slime.

  68. Elle says:

    The Queen looks wonderful. She’s really an example of how to age well. Obviously, she has help, but she has also kept herself in better shape (and fashion) than many women would even if they had her resources.

  69. Laura says:

    Meghan is so pretty ❤ I think she has happy eyes 😊 The Queen is her usual lovely self 👑

  70. cher says:

    I see Samantha Cohen is accompanying Meghan and the Queen.

    • PrincessK says:

      Well spotted, I always felt that she was the one who had the idea about this joint engagement.

  71. Guest says:

    I’m glad that she is gaining some weight back. She looks amazing. One thing for sure about Meghan is that girl can adapt to any situation.

  72. Guest says:

    She knocked it out the park. Shes getting praised all over and the bitter hags at dailymail and royaldish cant ir. Stay pressed haters. 😎

    Once she starts making speeches and working with her charities they are really going to have their panties in a bunch.

  73. Janie says:

    I like the dress. Very chic and suits her. I like long hair but I think Meghan would look really nice in a shorter more professional hairstyle. It appears so thin on the part that I do believe she wears extensions. I dunno it just looks ratty on the ends to me.

  74. Cathy says:

    Nice outfit but how does she walk around in those heels?

  75. Ishq the Cat says:

    I agree that the dress cuts a modern and chic silhouette- lovely!

  76. The Original G says:

    She looks lovely. I like that she looks sleek and professional and yet a bit out of the box.

  77. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    I love it. It’s totally appropriate and not a fugly coatdress. That’s a win for me.

  78. RowZ says:

    I like the dress! And the shoulder cape! She’s very pretty here, I agree with some posters that if she had her hair in a polished updo that it would have elevated her look. But overall she looks really fab. Happy to see her looking so cool as I wasn’t into some of her recent looks.

  79. april says:

    Meghan and the Queen both look beautiful and joyful. I love both of their outfits.

  80. mazzie says:

    That dress is shade, straight up shade. Love it.

  81. mazzie says:

    That dress is shade, straight up shade. Love it.

  82. mazzie says:

    That dress is shade, straight up shade. Love it.

  83. Tony the Tiger says:

    I think the fact that everyone is talking about Meghan’s dress shows it accomplished its purpose.

    She made a bold fashion statement with the design of that dress without overshadowing the Queen and that was smart of her.

  84. --- says:

    Love the dress! Both ladies looked lovely. The queen seems like a wonderful person and she looks so pretty and vibrant always. Seemed like a fun day!

  85. Angry Bird says:

    It looks like they cut a hole in a tea cozy and pulled it down over her head. Just let her go sleeveless. I love the dress but the capelet is incongruent and makes her look like a stormtrooper. 🙁

  86. JB says:

    gorgeous beaches in East Africa – Mombassa area and Zanzibar is fabulous. Could have been Tanzania & Kenya & maybe Zanzibar?

    • jetlagged says:

      How about Tanzania with a stopover in the Seychelles? Although Zanzibar would definitely be on my short list.

  87. Tony the Tiger says:

    My mom is English and her older sister worked as part of the staff at Buckingham Palace for decades and knew the Queen and Prince Philip and the rest of the royals including Charles and for a brief period Diana.

    What I remember best is her older sister telling us over and over again that the British royal family from the Queen down were as dumb as a box of rocks without any knowledge or culture.

    The Queen’s favorite tv show was Kojak or anything else American, she only read light fiction and had zero knowledge about any of the artitsts whose masterpieces were on the walls of her palace or her own royal history or anything else. Her sons were even less cultured than her although apparently Charles tried to get into architecture.

    And Philip was a visceral racist but so dumb no one paid any attention to it.

    • PrincessK says:

      😂 Kojak!

      I have to take some of that with a pinch of salt, although it is true that the royals are not the very best educated people and the Queen has admitted that her formal education was very restricted but I am sure they all have their specialist subject areas.

      As for enjoying light entertainment….we all need ‘escapism’ don’t we? 😉

  88. Tony the Tiger says:

    I know a lot of people throw a lot of shade at Meghan for latching on to Harry and becoming a Duchess but she is EXACTLY what the royal family and the rest of England needs right now…..England has turned very quickly from a mostly white all English country into a melting pot of many cultures and races and ethnicities and Meghan while American is a great opportunity for the royal family and the rest of England to show people of other races and minorities are welcome into the fold.

    They may not all be “English” but they are all “BRITISH”!!!!

    • Aurelia says:

      I belive Philips is a dummie. He left school at 15 for the navy without learning a thing. He knew he would marry well. His uncle dickie mountbatten was going to see to it.. He only cares about the navy, womanising and killing things. I never forget reading about how he shot a rare white rhino in africa in the late 60’s , 2 weeks out from becoming the president of the UK charter of the World Wild Life Fund. The queen was standing right beside him. Hmmmmm.

  89. Levin says:

    I love this dress – I wish it were something I could afford!

  90. A says:

    Homegirl looks good. The Queen looks happy, but she has an affection for that colour of green far FAR too much.

  91. LittlefishMom says:

    I love the dress! I have never seen the Queen smile this much in photos. She really digs her. That’s awesome!

  92. Shannon says:

    It looks kind of uncomfortable, honestly. And I think I would like her hair up better as well. But I don’t hate the look.

  93. PiMo says:

    I am surprised to see so many negative comments on her dress. This is the first dress she wore since she started doing royal engagements that I would want in my closet. It is chic, it has a twist, a great structure and it is not boring at all.

    I wish she wore her hair up.

  94. JRenee says:

    I like the dress and the Queen looks great!

  95. Jayne Birkinb says:

    Queen Green! I like it, and Megs is playing second fiddle perfectly. ERII is the main attraction, as she should be.

  96. Mego says:

    I am thinking that there may have been more to Meghan being a part of this engagement than we think. A part of it involved remembering the horrific Grenfall Tower fire. I remember reading that Meghan was reaching out to survivors after becoming engaged but that her work was being conducted in private. If she had connected with survivors than it would be fitting if she was present for the time of remembrance.

  97. Sage says:

    She looks good… A safe, bland, uninspiring dress.

  98. Busyann says:

    As a person with ethnic hair like Meghan, I want to tell people, it is not easy to maintain. It’s utter hell. People don’t want Kate and Meghan to be compared, well I also don’t think people should talk about her hair much. People want her hair to be put it up in an updo, or cut shorter, and don’t want her to touch it, etc….when all of those things can cause unintended consequences. If you have ethnic hair that you put up, it may not hold and the result would be a bigger mess than windblown hair. If you cut ethnic hair, it may take months or years (yes years) to get it to grow back to the length that it was before. And it’s possible that she was touching her hair so much, to make sure it was okay. I do it often. I’m constantly fidgeting with my hair when I don’t have access to a mirror and/or brush to make sure it still feels nice. Another monster, is water. Being near water, with ethnic hair can cause whatever style you had to drop, which results in more fidgeting. And looking at the pictures from the beginning of their activities, I suspect the dampness in the air, coupled with the wind, started to negatively affect Meghan’s hair.

  99. Cara says:

    I really wanted and tried to like her outfit, but I just don’t. I think she looks pretty enough, but a big no to the dress. I think her hair looks great after hearing what a how much trouble it likely is.

  100. cindyp says:

    Love the chemistry between Meghan & the Queen, when do we ever see TQ smile like that ? That being said, M’s dress is awful; looks like a straight jacket

  101. Missy Helga says:

    Meghans extensions are so obvious, I’m surprised no one points that out seeing how everyone is always dissing on Kate for hers.

    • Sam says:

      Where the extensions.Im sure she wears them but can’t see any here

    • Deedee says:

      The problem with Kate’s isn’t that she wears them; it’s the whole denial of wearing them, even so far as having a statement sent out claiming the clip holding them in was a childhood scar. Kate can wear all the extensions she wants. She just needs to blend them better and not lie about wearing them.

  102. hey-ya says:

    …such a nice stylish outfit…looks to be loving every moment of her second marriage…when she switches through boredom theres gonna be some great tell alls…

  103. LOL says:

    Beautiful dress. The Queen looks good too.