Meghan Markle wears a Mackage coat for her first royal event in Nottingham

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham

I forgot that Meghan Markle really is going to hit the ground running! Bless. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out today in Nottingham for their first official royal event as an engaged couple. This event was announced on Tuesday, in the huge news dump that Poor Jason gave to all of the media outlets. Harry does a lot of work with the youth groups in Nottingham, and the British media is making a big deal about how Harry wanted to “show Meghan” a town very close to his heart. I think it was probably more about convenience – they didn’t want their first event to be in London, but they didn’t want to travel too far. They apparently took the train to Nottingham, and these photos are from the first part of the excursion, the public “walkabout.”

Meghan wore a long, heavy navy coat by Mackage – the coat from the Canadian label apparently costs $790. She seems to be wearing a beigey-tan mid-length full skirt, a black turtleneck and black slouchy boots underneath the Mackage coat. The purse is the Nano tote from Scottish label Strathberry, and it has already sold out. Her outfit seems very heavy, but I don’t know how cold it is in Nottingham today. If I was just judging by her outfit, I would say that she was preparing for snow. It could just be that she’s a California girl and she’s trying to prepare for her first English winter though, God knows. Personally, I’m just grateful she’s not wearing the coat as a dress. I would imagine she intends to take the coat off as soon as she gets inside! Also: do princess lessons involve a course in “Loving Gigantic Buttons”? Duchess of Buttons 2.0.

In addition to the walkabout, Meghan and Harry will be attending a Terrance Higgins Trust World AIDS day charity fair at the Nottingham Contemporary, then they’re going to the Nottingham Academy to spend time with the youths.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of reports about Meg and Harry’s big May wedding at Windsor Castle. TMZ confirms that the wedding will absolutely be televised and it will be a “pool camera” – meaning that everyone gets the same footage and camera angles and such. The Sun also reported yesterday that Meg and Harry had settled on the date of May 26th (a Saturday) for the wedding, which would mean that they would be marrying over the Memorial Day holiday here in America, and during a bank holiday in Britain. The Daily Mail’s sources say that the date is bullsh-t though and Meg and Harry still haven’t officially set a date. Whenever they do set a date, British people still won’t get a bank holiday, though – because Harry’s not the heir.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nottingham

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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355 Responses to “Meghan Markle wears a Mackage coat for her first royal event in Nottingham”

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  1. whatever says:

    That outfit makes Kate’s dress coats look fashionable. I think people are really going to have to lower their exceptions when it comes to her style – especially winter/outdoor style. I liked how she styled her hair though, she kept it out of her face.

    • Loopy says:

      She needs to get better fitting coats,at the moment they seem to be wearing her instead.

      • WTW says:

        Meghan is short and petite. I think that’s why coats look different on Kate. Also, don’t understand how Kaiser thinks Meghan would have a hard time adjusting to a UK winter when she’s lived in Canada for years.

      • Erinn says:

        WTW – Google has them only an 1-2″ apart in height – Meghan somewhere around 5’6″ which is hardly what I’d call short. She’s got 4″ on me, I’d consider her average height.

        ETA: Season six filmed April – November, and I believe they just wrapped the latest filming last month as well? So I’m going to guess they’re mainly filming during out WARM months. It’s December – March that’s usually the coldest.

      • Unoriginal Commenter says:

        @Erinn, my understanding is she lived in Toronto year-round. Of course, I have no doubt that she enjoyed quite a bit of travel when she wasn’t filming, but I think she likely still got plenty of Canadian winter time under her belt.

        I think that they may be somewhat close in height, but absolutely different body types. Kate has a long torso and shorter legs, Meghan is the exact opposite (I am boxy like Meghan ). I know others talk about Kate’s long torso as if it is a bad thing, but the sillohuette she has is just so gorgeous that I am beyond jealous. Grass is greener and all of that.

      • AG-UK says:

        @WTW it’s colder in Canada and NY but it’s the dampness here that kills you goes straight through you.

      • Princessk says:

        Well I thought the coat looked nice on her. And if you saw the film of her walking around you would see how it flared open at the front to show the movement of her skirt, a lovely contrast in colour too.

      • Liberty says:

        I’m with you, PrincessK… she’s looks wonderful. I like the design, softness, play w the skirt at the front. And she is onto the longer coat trend that’s happening this year, too.

    • jeanne says:

      I would love to see her hair back though in a low bun or something. her face is gorgeous and she looks so good with it pulled back.

      also, i’m with you on the coat, however, perhaps she’s different than kate in that she uses coats just as coats – utilitarian. they aren’t the whole outfit since she, like most people, probably intends to take it off the second she’s inside. kate has always been sort of weird about that.

      • whatever says:

        “kate has always been sort of weird about that.”

        To be fair – all the Royal ladies do that. Kate, Sophie, Camila, Beatrice, Eugenie even HM in past decades. The Royals ladies use their coats as part of the outfit and not just as a coat to keep them warm.

      • Alexandria says:

        Jeanne, I was just thinking that, her face looks so good and glowy here, is she photoshopped? Regardless, gorgeous. Maybe she felt so nervous so her hair became her security blanket. Personally it is for me, so I’ll own that. Hopefully she gets more confident in the long road ahead, I really want to see them grow old together.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I’m with you on the hair, Jeanne. That’s the one part of this that fails to me, flyaway hair. Yes, kids, I’ll be on her about that too. Put it up or pull parts back in an up-down, simple. Only not like Stephanie of Lux who still uses banana clips like she’s 12.

      • Hannah says:

        @ Alexandria

        I saw lots of photos from randoms on twitter that couldn’t have been photoshopped . She really is more gorgeous than I was aware ( I always thought she was pretty). You also see her brown skin tone is much lovelier in real life, in photo shoots they seem to photoshop her to look lighter or something.

      • Maria S says:

        Hannah: I have Meghan’s skin tone and it looks much lighter in photographs – – especially in outdoor light. In photographs with my siblings it’s really noticeable. But it looks normal in indoor photos provided that a flash isn’t used. Something to do with my yellow undertone? Not sure.

      • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

        Low bun, especially with a turtleneck. *chef’s fingertip kiss*

      • Princessk says:

        She should save putting her hair up for the many big tiara SPARKLing occasions which are to come. Meghan is a fan of Audrey Hepburn, so I expect to see her channeling that style too.

      • Mel says:

        @Alexandria – I’ve seen a close-up in the Guardian, definitely not retouched, and I must say her skin looks surprisingly bad under that heavy cake.

      • still_sarah says:

        @ Jeanne : “I would love to see her hair back though in a low bun or something”. I saw the video clip and I agree she needs to pull her hair back. She kept touching her hair to tuck it back behind her ear (the hair kept flying across her face). I thought “Oh for god’s sake, Meaghan, leave your hair alone!”. Live and learn as she adapts to high wind in Britain.

    • LadyMTL says:

      I generally like (not love) MM’s fashion, but I’m not a fan of this coat. Mackage have some really fantastic pieces, and I find this one is just a bit blah, as well as being a wee bit too long for a walkabout, IMHO. I think I would have liked it better if it had been just below the knee, or maybe mid-calf, because I think the color is great on her.

    • Eleonor says:

      To me this coat is too big and has a bad cut.

    • mint says:

      I think she is too tiny/small to pull off such a long and heavy coat. And to me personally the color/ outfit coordination is ridiculous.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      -1000 Disagree!

      Princess Henry in waiting is very Regal chic and beautiful. Right length for such freezing temps.

      You cant be serious considering she has lived in Canada for over 7 years (CA is cold too).

      • Elle says:

        I love the outfit, too. She’s naturally feminine and regal. She doesn’t need twee styles or cinched waists to look beautiful.

      • Princessk says:

        Meghan looked great in that entire outfit, nothing at all wrong with it. I love the way she is managing to use her own clothes before her royal clothing allowance kicks in , after marriage.

      • Liberty says:

        I am going to keep standing with you, PrincessK. She looked magnificent, regal yet understated, and that is quite a thing to pull off so well.

    • minx says:

      Yeah, the coat is dumpy IMO. She’ll be fine.

    • Hazel says:

      I think she looks fabulous!

      • NLopez says:

        I Think she looks fab too Hazel

      • Spring says:

        Me, too. I think she looks absolutely lovely. I hope she’ll be true to herself in every area, including her fashion choices, and develop a Teflon shield when it comes to critics who will pick apart her every choice and try to change her.

    • jax says:

      This is an old coat she’s had for a while, she was papped in it last year (2016) in Toronto and on a trip to see Harry. I was happy to see her wear something old of her own.

      I personally like liked what she had on.
      This pic especially, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DP-Tb7OWAAACETM.jpg:large she managed to make it stylish on a very very cold day.

      It was nice to see them show PDA, and be insync the entire time. Great first outing!

      • Lilly says:

        Yes to you both. She looked amazing. Love the coat.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        I agree — the only thing that looks awkward to me is the handbag…and to me it oooks ridic! A shoulder bag wouldn’t have looked so silly as gripping that stiff-handled bag in her hand when she’s doing a meet-and-greet and using her hands so much.

        She is lovely, and she seems to be a natural when it comes to public occasions. The two of them look so happy together, and it warms my battle-scarred and cautious little heart to see Harry so happy.

    • Vox says:

      Agreed, she needs to up her coat game

    • HIDIPUS says:

      I think shes more classy than Kate ,her whole outfit is both fashionable and CHIC , i think she doesnt have to hire a new dressmaker yet

  2. Nicole says:

    She looks lovely. The dark coat is gorgeous not sure if she needed one that long but I’m not in London. NYC is having some weirdly “warm” temps so my barometer is off

    • Tina says:

      It’s cold here, between 0-4 degrees (I think that’s high 30s in Fahrenheit?)

      • Nicole says:

        Geez okay. Wow it’s frigid. But I also agree with commenters that it should be better fitted.

    • Digitial Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

      Its around 4 degrees in Nottingham today.

    • Kate says:

      Etiquette says coats should be longer than what they are covering. Maybe that is why it so long and frumpy.

      • Seraphina says:

        Kate, I was tight the same thing by my mom who was a seamstress. She need to be styled by a professional. But kudos for kitting the ground running. Love to see people enjoying giving back-to whom much is given, much is expected. Well done PH and MM.

      • Nicole says:

        Ahhh interesting never knew that! I have a dress coat but never knew that rule. But then again i never follow much etiquette

      • Plantpal says:

        yup, that’s how I was taught to dress also. The coat is longer than the dress/skirt. Helps keep the outfit underneath clean and keeps the line of sight clear. Tho’ I am not always successful (I have a glorious swing coat that some of my dresses peek out from under) I do try!

      • M4lificent says:

        Central Canada and the central northern US have the same continental weather patterns as Siberia. If we followed etiquette and fashion trends on dressing warmly, thousands of ladies who lunch would be found under melting snowdrifts each the spring thaw.

      • Princessk says:

        But I think that rule has been overridden in some circles. I used to fret about my blouse being longer than my jacket but nowadays it is de rigueur.

      • JerseyBeachGirl says:

        I always wonder what happened to that rule. I hate a skirt or dress longer than the coat. Looks sloppy.

    • Milla says:

      I like the lenght cos of the maxi skirt. Also, i have similar if not identical skirt… Either way, i hate it when a coat sort of breaks a skirt or a dress.

      She is really tiny. She didn’t look so petite in pics before the engagement.

    • Helenw says:

      Coordinated colors those two! Cudos to Harry! That’s too cute! I promise I got a bit teary… Eh, it’s just… So holiday movie like. In a good way.

  3. mamacita says:

    wow that coat. amazing. congratulations to them.

    • Rachel in August says:

      I love the coat too, and she’s just so gorgeous.

    • royalSparkle says:

      +1Million
      Congratulations!

      Lets hope Prince Henry Couple build on this great welcome and goodwill! Prince Princess Henrys’ seem all about The Queen /Monarchy – GB CW people . It’s commendable Princess Sparkle began within the same week with Royal Duties meeting the people. No luxury hideaway vacay to celebrate engagement first. This is how it’s done marry ins.

      No middleton entitlement/Laziness/luxury vacationing and hideaways with all hangers on climbers!

    • jax says:

      here she is in the coat last year, papped at the airport
      http://meghansmirror.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-Heathrow-Airport-Christmas-girlfriend-761008-590×600.jpg

      I hope she’ll keep her old wardrobe and just had newer things to refresh and up them. Saves money, keeps something familiar and hopefully she won’t be accused of spending all her time shopping for new stuff for every engagement. For me its great too because it means we’ll see more of her Canadian brand stuff.

  4. Maria F. says:

    the outfit is nice, but the purse does not really work for a walkabout. She does not really need such a large bag for a visit…

    • Mrs. WelenMelon says:

      Precisely. It’s not like MM needs to carry more than lipstick, Tylenol, and a tampon. She no longer even needs a wallet.

      • Jessica says:

        There’s probably nothing in that bag at all; Michelle Obama carried purses with nothing in them. It’s just for decoration and something to do with hand -shaking.

    • Alix says:

      Then she should give the bag to me, ’cause I looooove it!

    • bluhare says:

      Oops! Loopy below said what I was going to!

    • royalSparkle says:

      The purse reminds me of HM. Maybe a nod to TQ handbags.

      Princess Henry in waiting seems (teary eye?) emotional of the welcome.

      • Princessk says:

        Well when she stepped out to the cheers of the crowd I shed a few tears, it really has been a long journey through all lies and untruths spread about her and the lengths that Meghan and Harry have had to go to protect their romance in the early beginnings.

    • Liberty says:

      And yet she carried it off and the world didn’t end. 😏I love the bag, though.

  5. jeanne says:

    i think they look lovely and harry seems so proud and excited to show her off. I like Meghan but, for the first time, she looks endearing to me. She looks a little nervous and unsure and I think that’s great. The engagement interview felt a little rehearsed. This seems more authentic and they look adorable.

    i want to see the coat off. If she’s giving us long beige skirt with boots and turtleneck – my mind is going straight to Carolyn Bessett Kennedy and I’m all for it. Give me more of that!!

    • L84Tea says:

      Agreed! I’m dying to see the outfit underneath. From what I can see, it looks very smart!

      • bluhare says:

        She took the coat off inside. Black turtleneck and beige skirt.

      • L84Tea says:

        Where did you see her without the coat? I’m searching and everything is coming up with the coat on.

      • amilu says:

        L84Tea, there are photos of her inside the event without her coat on on the Daily Mail. I’m looking at photos on an article very lengthily titled, “‘She’s beautiful… Only a prince can have a lady like that!’ Radiant Meghan wins an army of starstruck new young British fans as she joins fiancé Harry for their first royal charity engagement” right now.

    • Liberty says:

      He looked so proud, they were so lovely together. It almost felt magical, lol. Even my sort of disinterested blah-to-the-royals friend texted me a “wow, now here’s the true young Queen, thank you, Harry.”

  6. Loopy says:

    I read she doesn’t get any staff until marriage,i guess thats why she had to carry her bag around off the train.

    • notasugarhere says:

      A lot of royal ladies have bags with them on engagements, mostly clutches. HM has an old-school one with long handles she slips over her wrist and keeps at her elbow. Anne is the only one I’ve seen using a clutch-with-shoulder-strap on a regular basis. Why the rest of them don’t adopt that sensible attitude (need purse, but keep your hands free), I don’t know.

      • frisbee says:

        I’m sure I read somewhere TQ uses her handbag as a signalling device to her ladies in waiting. If she swaps the bag from one arm to the next it means she wants to move on from the person she is talking to. No doubt other members of the BRF have similar ‘codes’ to get away when they need them.

      • notasugarhere says:

        iirc that story came out during the Jubilee, along with what she carries in it (lipstick, hanky, powder compact Philip gave her as a wedding gift). Poor HM. She’s probably had to stop signaling or come up with a new one. There’s another story about fiddling with her engagement ring means, “Get this person to move along, etc.”

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      Well if Princess Henry Sparkling the way she is and have HM Sandringham Christmas, H M POW need to adjust her staff now – she needs an Assistant.

      See the young Meg Sparkle on Nickelodean. If she continues this way – potential King Henry to have Princess Henry in waiting as Britian Queen Consort.

      • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

        What? Your posts alway pique my curiosity, but it is if they are written in some sort of code… do elucidate and elaborate!

      • RoyalSparkle says:

        Thank you – The post fell out of place to someone explaining that marry ins would receive an Assistant/staff after marriage …
        (If they adjust to her attending Christmas with TQ/ TRF before becoming Princess Henry Wales – maybe they could adjust an Assistant before marriage. )

      • argonaut says:

        can’t believe we actually got a translation on a typical word salad post from RoyalSparkle.

      • Maren says:

        Potential King Henry? So you think Will, George, Charlotte and the new baby will all die or something? That’s odd.

      • Amelie says:

        What? This post makes NO sense hahaha. What does it even mean?

  7. Talie says:

    He looks like he stepped up his style game too! Ha! They make a chic couple.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      Ha, yes, I do think he is wearing a more stylish coat too. I think they coordinated their blues, but I Iove it!

      • Sylvia says:

        They do look like they coordinated, and not just the blues, also the beige of her skirt and his scarf. I like it, they look chic and cute together! I was kind of whatever about this pairing, but I have to say they’re growing on me. She seems so classy and polished.

    • Cath B. says:

      Yes!! That was actually the first thing I noticed. I like her ensemble, but I was like, Whoaaa way to work that long coat, Harry!

  8. Digitial Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    Its cold in the UK today, was snowing lightly in London yesterday. Have watched some of the footage and she seems quite comfortable and confident meeting the public, more so than Harry was (she did the arm rubbing thing a few times with him). She’ll do just fine.

    Love the outfit – me want the coat!

    Was watching some of the footage of William in Finland and even he seemed relaxed and confident when interacting with the people he met. There is a difference when he’s on his own and when he’s with Katie Keen – when they are together he seems to spend more time making sure she’s OK rather than on whats going on around him.

    • jeanne says:

      i agree. i actually like william when he’s alone. he’s funny and willing to banter (like yesterday when he made the comment about harry scrounging which i thought was cute and funny). when kate’s with him he always seems so protective and on edge. not sure why. need a psychologist!

      • magnoliarose says:

        I noticed he is more easygoing without her around and this is not the first time I noted it. It is sad, and it doesn’t bode well for them just like Charles and HQ predicted. Hopefully, it improves for the sake of the cute dumplings they have.

      • African Sun says:

        LOL cute dumplings that’s so funny

      • SoulSPA says:

        @magnoliarose, would you care and say more about Charles’ prediction? Thanks

      • Casey. _. says:

        Weird comment @magnoliarose

        You sound like you have them more than halfway to divorce court already, even as they glow with love fresh off their new engagement.
        That’s just an odd thing for you to say.

        Are you in the Uk? Do you follow Harry? I’m in the States and personally i know zip about them – so how do you notice or ‘know’ anything about them or what they’re future holds when they’ve only recently been declared betrothed, and seem very much in love? It’s not like they have a sitcom or talk show that airs weekly. When do you see them interacting? Is it enough for you to make ominous predictions about their relationship.

        It’s funny. The only other time I’ve seen sentiments like the one you expressed, is when it’s a famous guy with a large female following/fandom, the famous guy falls head over heels in love and those females proceed to imply that the guy really isn’t happy, that he’s somehow being forced into things (by HER), that he was happiest/happier (without HER) and that he was more handsome (before HER). Rather than being based in reality, I think it’s a coping mechanism of bereaved envious females who get some satisfaction from the idea that without HER in the picture (Meghan, K-Stew, Angelina, etc. Lol) HE would be so much better off and happy.

        It’s a weird pathology.

      • magnoliarose says:

        🙂 African Sun

        Charles didn’t think they were a good match and years of off and on was proof. Camilla can’t stand the Middletons, and I am sure it does not help his feelings either. William was obsessed with Isabella Calthorpe, but she turned him down, but Charles wanted that match. I used to think it was snobbery but I think he knows William is not a hard worker or an enthusiastic heir so a dazzling aristocratic wife would have been better for him.
        Now from the body language, he doesn’t really bother to hide his lack of fondness.

      • LV487 says:

        Like Charles knows what a good match is. He married a dazzling aristocrat and we all saw how that worked out. I sincerely doubt that outside of Charles, anyone in the family gives a flip what Camilla thinks.

      • BAnna says:

        @Casey: She was talking about Willam and Kate..

      • notasugarhere says:

        There were also stories that Charles said the same to William that Prince Philip said to him – cut her loose or marry her, because you’re destroying her reputation. Charles married her, William strung KM along for another 5 years.

      • Princessk says:

        Well insiders have said that William is actually in Kate’s shadow as she is so strong minded.

      • LV487 says:

        Charles married Diana, realizes he’s not happy, then publically blames daddy for his plight. If Will and Kate divorce, we’ll have to see if Will decides to blame dear old dad.

        Oh please, Kate hasn’t the strength to have anyone under her thumb.

      • LAK says:

        Magnoliarose: the Queen sanctioned an article that quoted her saying it would end in tears. Same as she sanctioned an article calling out Kate’s lack of a work ethic.

        At first i thought William being tense with Kate in public was his usual habit of discourteous manners to her and resenting having to show her what to do despite assuring the nation during their engagement that she was ready and knew what to do.

        ….but years later with no change in his behaviour and i think he knows he made a bad choice. At least he isn’t jaw clenching like he once did.

        PrincessK: i think it’s Carole holding that marriage together. Just as she held it together during the dating years.

        It will be interesting to see how it manages when Carole isn’t around anymore.

      • LV487 says:

        With all these sanctioned articles from the Queen, one would think you could post them.

      • notasugarhere says:

        LAK there was also the classic about how William feared he didn’t love her enough to be faithful. Given the constant cheating during the decade of courtship, at least he recognized that about himself.

        LV487, I suggest you go dig for yourself, both in online editions of newspapers and the older threads in long-time forums. The courtship dragged on so long, they stretch back to mid 2000s, etc.. A few managed to survived the Great Post-Engagement Whitewashing of 2010, others you can only find on old forums.

    • Sixer says:

      It feels bloody freezing here but I think it’s about 5 or 6C, so not really that bad. But I’m in mild Devon. Must be colder in Nottingham.

      I thought she did pretty well – looked genuinely *keen*, teehee.

  9. SK says:

    I saw some footage of the outfit without the coat and it was nice.

    • HK9 says:

      I went searching and found the outfit. I really like it and it’s appropriate. I’m a Canadian girl who likes long coats in winter so the coat is a yes from me.

      • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

        Ooh, get a long down coat… I’m in the upper midwest, and I have and 800 fill count down coat that goes to mid shin. It is invaluable when we get periods of wind chills in -20s to -3os F (-3os C).

      • royalSparkle says:

        It is a beautiful coat colour and it does fit her well tailored.

        An article claim Canada First lady wore similar coat – First Lady seem belted and not the same (?)

        Meanwhile 50s waitie the HG Do Little, drove carol to buckleberry it seem and chose to come back Friday during The Henry Wales first Royal Duty call , so she could be pap at Kings Station.

      • Linda says:

        @royalsparkle. Canada does not have a first lady. She is known as the prime minister’s wife. It’s the same in Britain.

    • island_girl says:

      Same! I love it. The boots, the skirt…I had a shorter variation of that skirt once.

  10. Maya says:

    It’s freaking freezing in UK right now and up north it’s even colder than London.

    I could use that extra bank holiday 😤

  11. erni says:

    Is it just me? I don’t think I ever saw W&K holding hand in official engagement. Not being snarky here, but is it actually allowed to hold your partner’s hand on such occasion?

    • The Original Mia says:

      There’s no rule about no PDA. That’s just the Cambridges. They choose not to engage like that. Other royals do and it doesn’t take away from the event or their professionalism.

    • Beth says:

      My parents have been together for 40 years, and I’ve never seen them holding hands, hug, or kiss in front of any of us. My father gets flustered with any kind of physical affection in front of other people, maybe Will and Kate do too

      • Nicole says:

        My parents were never into PDA either. I’m not into PDA. Never affected my relationships nor my parents marriage.
        Frankly I’m not comfortable with PDA. It changes nothing about how I feel about someone.

      • InVain says:

        This is entirely possible… but she doesn’t seem to have any problem showing her bare arse in public.

    • anika says:

      I think I have – like when they left the hospital after the kids and stuff like that.

      • Plantpal says:

        Yes, and I remember one Christmas morn, didn’t they walk to church hand in hand (Prince Will and DuchKat)

      • Plantpal says:

        Yes, and I remember one Christmas morn, didn’t they walk to church hand in hand (Prince Will and DuchKat)

    • notasugarhere says:

      No protocol against it, but some people are more touchy-feely than others. Henri and Maria Teresa of Luxembourg are like that, where they end up holding hands at some point during most of their engagements. Those two are my big royal couple crush.

  12. Alexandria says:

    I like Harry’s coat more. That’s cos I prefer streamlined and plain coats since I’m petite. So for coats (when I go to cold countries), I can’t carry off double breasted or too much buttons. I just look bulkier (I think).

  13. Naptime says:

    There’s nothing noteworthy about the buttons on her coat. Not everyone loves a zipper…

    • Beth says:

      Yes. Those are the same kind of buttons on my pea coat, leather jacket and rain coat. Without buttons, the coats wouldn’t stay closed, and not every jacket looks good with zippers.

  14. Jennifer says:

    I love it! She looks like american girl doll samantha. Adorable. Love the heel on boots also.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Samantha! Back in the day when my daughter was about 6, she and her Samantha doll had matching coats: old fashioned, long,lavender velvet with faux fur on the cuffs and the collar. We were visiting NYC to see the Christmas lights/Radio City Music Hall show and another mom and daughter stopped us to say my daughter looked like a princess.

    • Princessk says:

      Yes, I was really hoping that she would wear boots and not shoes in the cold weather today.

  15. Skylark says:

    She’s dressed entirely appropriately for the very unseasonly cold weather we have here. You only have to see pics of the crowd to see everyone is wearing winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves. Someone was actually holding a hot water bottle!

    I like her coat.

    • Odetta says:

      I like the coat too, looks nice and warm. I don’t know about Megan but I’d pick cozy and warm over fashion. I live in Newfoundland, canada, right on the water….I have to walk my young daughter to the bus every morning, I wear a big coat with a fur lined hood(fake fur lol), it’s huge and I know I look silly but I’m never cold with it on.

      • lala says:

        @Odetta, I lived in NL for a decade! even though the temp didnt usually go down as low as my native Montreal I always found the cold in St John’s chilling to the bone, even at like -10 which isn’t even that cold! I also had a huge coat when I lived there to combat the wind and dampness 🙂

        oh I miss Newfoundland alot, I loved it there

      • Odetta says:

        I live outside the city, my house is right next to the Atlantic, it’s so cold here and windy as hell almost everyday. But I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else….love Newfoundland.

      • Beth says:

        I’m in Orlando, Florida and shivering while wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt sitting outside in the breezy 55° morning. It really chilly, and it will actually will be a lot colder in a couple of months, but not as freezing as my native Boston will be. I really do miss the freezing cold, snowing winter weather though

      • Emily says:

        Oferta – what part of Nl? In St. John’s myself

    • island_girl says:

      Same here. She looks lovely and so relaxed. Love it!

  16. PettyRiperton says:

    Welp she’s going to be dressing like Kate oh well I had high hopes but I forgot the firm kills anything with personality.
    They look nice though.

    • island_girl says:

      Nah, she looks like herself. And her style is impeccable.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Oh please. She’s wearing a lovely coat, her skirt and turtleneck are chic, and she looks confident and radiant.

    • Jaded says:

      Her style is 100% better than Kate’s and will continue to be so. No doily dresses, jeggings or wedgies for MM. And no ass flashing either.

    • Nessa nessa says:

      She have literally worn something like this before

    • Liberty says:

      Kate’s coats make me think of the coats worn by the mother and little girl (tiny Natalie Wood) in the old movie Miracle on 34th Street, from I think the 1940s. Uptight on one hand, juvenile on the other.

      Meghan on the other hand looks modern, comfortable, herself. She knows who she is, and it shows to her advantage, and that comfort extends it seems to those around her. She was born for this.

  17. Eileen says:

    They are both wearing navy coats and it’s cute. On Good Morning America I saw a video clip and the royal protection officers were hotter than the sun

  18. Eileen says:

    They are both wearing navy coats and it’s cute. On Good Morning America I saw a video clip and the royal protection officers were hotter than the sun

  19. Sushi says:

    The coat looks warm and comfortable. I would love to have one for myself but probably too pricey for me.

  20. Tina says:

    She has to tread a fine line with clothes until they are married. $790 for the coat is about right. Compare Kate’s Dolce & Gabbana coat for Remembrance Sunday, which was £2000 minimum (not that I didn’t like it, I did, but she’s on a different budget).

  21. Basi says:

    How about let’s celebrate the fact she’s only days engaged and is already WORKING! Side eye to Kate and Wills.
    Love her.

    • Zapp Brannigan says:

      That is the sad thing, she is going to have to work harder than any of the others to be accepted into “the firm”. Some of the online comments about her are awful and don’t even get started on the tumblr theories. I hope Harry is worth everything she will have to tolerate to be with him.

    • Scal says:

      Kate did the same thing with events right after the engagement. I’ll wait to see what happens after they are already married.

    • Princessk says:

      Well the good news is that the comments on DM are getting much better. People who don’t usually post are now coming on to shout down the haters, people are really falling in love with Meghan. I knew that once their relationship was in the open air and away from speculation that the British public would adore her.

  22. Courteney says:

    She has spent the last few winters living in Toronto. She knows what cold weather is all about, and how to dress properly. I think they are the cutest couple!

    • Mazzie says:

      You know there are layers under that coat. I live in Toronto and I’ve always found the south of the UK to be way more damp in winter.

  23. A Croatian says:

    You’re never happy! 😀 she wore a LONG coat, something which Kate rarely does. I am happy with the outfit because it looks appropriate! 😀

    • Celia says:

      I agree – I think she looks stunning! The coat is perfect! (And you can bet there’s no chance of a helicopter ever blowing her skirt up and showing us her G-string!) Kate and Will are going to pale into comparison to these two in every way. And so it begins… 🙂

      • Dally says:

        Ugh, why turn a nice comment into something so nasty? This isn’t Real Housewives, but actual grown adults living real lives. It’s kind of gross to be gleeful about someone’s humiliation.

      • Jaded says:

        Dally, Kate new exactly what would happen if she wore flimsy little skirts and dresses with nothing but butt floss underneath. It happened again and again until the paps caught William yelling at her while she desperately tried to hold her flimsy little dress down next to a helicopter with whirling blades. There are dress protocols the BRF adheres to like weighted skirts, proper underwear and no skin-tight, revealing stuff. Kate repeatedly defied these standard protocols until her bare ass was flashed all over the world, taken during an official trip at the airport where they were greeted by all kinds of news organizations and local VIPs.

      • Nic919 says:

        I think it continued after that because there was a fly up incident when she was in Australia walking down the stairs of the plane while holding George. Oh and during the India tour at a memorial.

      • Lady D says:

        She graced Canada with a flash of her ass on her first trip here at Calgary airport in 2011.

    • wolfpup says:

      We have to be kind to this woman, called Kate. She is so outclassed by the the little number coming down the aisle.

  24. Lucy says:

    She looks nice to me. I don’t get the big deal with the buttons as I doubt she picked the coat because of them, but whatever. It’s only her second outing so it’s all good.

  25. Pinar says:

    I dont know but i feel like theres a mini bump hidden in the midsection, isnt it??? But if – no no no ??Same was with the white coat when the engagement went official? Could that be???

    • Elizabeth says:

      If she were pregnant, I don’t think they’d be getting married in May.

    • magnoliarose says:

      Probably a hefty English fry up baby. lol

      Do the Scots and Irish do different fry-ups? Or the Welsh? I don’t recall them in Ireland or Scotland. I do not understand the beans.
      I used to eat them after a long night out when I ate meat.

      • Lara says:

        You def get an Irish breakfast! I remember when I met my partners parents for the first time in Ireland I had one – there is a lot of bread…

      • bluhare says:

        My sister’s American husband and children head straight to the beans when in Britain! They throw everything on their plates; one of my nephews even eats black pudding.

    • Lenn says:

      I highly doubt it. No royal wedding has a pregnant bride. But hey, there’s a first time for everything..

      • notasugarhere says:

        I’m ignoring the potential troll because no, not pregnant, but am answering you. A visibly pregnant bride in a high-profile royal family? No. Madeleine of Sweden was 3 weeks pregnant when they married, months after they announced the engagement so it wasn’t a shotgun wedding.

        Prince Emanuele (Prince of Venice) and Clotilde Courau married in a big church service when she was 6 months pregnant. Beautiful, simple Valentino gown and massive bouquet. BTW she’s also an actress and 3 years older than her husband.

    • Unoriginal Commenter says:

      Definitely not. Check out this picture from their appearance today on the Kensington Palace twitter page. From the side, no coat, she is absolutely tiny.

      https://twitter.com/kensingtonroyal/status/936576324021506048

    • KiddVicious says:

      She’s short waisted, anything of bulk around the mid-section (like a coat) is going to look even bulkier on her. I have a feeling we’re going to be in for a lot of baby bump speculation until she gets better tailored coats.

  26. tracking says:

    So cute they coordinated their ensembles.

  27. Jussayin says:

    There was snow yesterday and it’s still very cold today so what she’s wearing makes sense.

    I kind of like Meghan and what she stands for but still feel sort of disappointed that to some extent she is selling out by marrying into Royalty. There are plenty of causes she won’t be allowed to support now and she won’t be able to make her political views knows. Her ‘job’ is now shaking hands and making occasional speeches. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’s so in love that she actually doesn’t care so much about her career or causes and she’s seeing things through rose tinted glasses. Perhaps she will return to all of that.

    • Brandi says:

      I wouldn’t say selling out but compromising. She understands marrying Harry comes with some restrictions.

    • spidey says:

      Or perhaps she knows what is important to her – it is her life after all.

    • IlsaLund says:

      Her life. Her choices.

    • Lucy says:

      Maybe she’ll find the way to use the new aspects of her life as an advantage to continue to work for the causes that are important to her.

    • Midigo says:

      Well, it’s not like she is Oscar or Nobel Prize material, you know? She is 36 and the best years for her acting career are over since even same age a-listers find difficulties in getting roles. As for her humanitarian work or political views, well, they didnt have any visibility or relevance before Harry. I think she is giving up her job and part of her interests and social network, but she will be front cover from now on. it’s up to her to use this visibility for something meaningful.

  28. The Original Mia says:

    I loved the coat. Her outfit underneath looked warm and comfortable. Not a fan of slouchy boots but they were clean and not scuffed.

    Harry is so proud of her and with good reason. He chose well. She’s going to do fine.

  29. lightpurple says:

    I suspect we are seeing Meghan wearing clothes that Meghan bought for herself to wear in her pre-engagement life without any intention at the time of wearing them for royal events – a warm coat to wear over dresses and skirts in winter.

  30. lala says:

    Meghan is so in love with herself in this role. Actually, this role is gonna be the biggest love of her life. Not Harry. THIS!

    • I'mScaredAsHell says:

      Case of Meghan Derangement Syndrome. THIS!

      • lala says:

        that´s ok if someone has different opinion than yours. you do not have to define it as symptom, just accept it. this is how the world ticks.

      • IlsaLund says:

        @lala. Agree, everyone has their own opinion. Given some of the ridiculous, snarky comments on CB about Meghan, it does appear some commenters suffer from the thought of Harry & Meghan being together.

      • Tina says:

        The whole point of an online message board is for discussion. If someone disagrees with something you post, they are perfectly free to object to it.

    • lala says:

      ugh @lala, I guess I will need to change my name so people don’t think I’m you

      • notasugarhere says:

        That’s happened on here before with certain first names, that’s how we ended up with The Original InsertName from some posters.

      • OriginalLala says:

        took your advice on the name thing @notasugarhere!

      • Maren says:

        Why does everyone get so angry and even mean when people have a different opinion? There are reasons to like Meghan and also,doubt Meghan. I think it is not right at all to be nasty to someone cause they dont like her.

  31. Becks says:

    She and Harry coordinate which is cute (you can see her cream skirt underneath the coat and it matches his cream scarf, so kind of reverse – her cream on the bottom, his on top).

    I like the coat at first glance but ditto others who said it seems to swallow her. Even if she is planning on taking it off inside it still is too bulky on her.

    Oh well, overall she looks nice and I hope the visit goes well.

    (I will point out that when Kate wears navy and black people tear her apart, lol.)

  32. Aerohead21 says:

    Don’t forget she’s not allowed to outdress Kate just yet. I give it until the wedding. At that point her style will go back to some sense of what it was before.

  33. Becks says:

    aw the pics on Daily Mail are really cute. It seems she was really open with the crowds and got a good reception.

    • Princessk says:

      Erm….she was given a fantastic reception. I was in tears. I have been watching the TV all day. I just hope that she is not seen in public for at least a week because I need to get some work done.

  34. WombatNation says:

    We are having freezing temperatures and snow and ice here in the UK – also very brisk winds – eek! Love the coat, and it’s very suitable (she still looks cold though, poor thing).

  35. magnoliarose says:

    So far so good on the fashion front. Simple. The coat could have been tailored a smidge, but this is a coat for use more than just fashion. It is cute that people came out to see them.

    • ArchieGoodwin says:

      I wonder if it was her own, in which case perhaps she’s lost some weight, thus it being too big now?

      I have a favourite dress coat, only the reverse is true for me. I bought it when I was work out crazy, and now it’s too tight under my arms.

  36. Beth says:

    She’s dressed great, but any kind of slouchy boots remind me of the ones Dorothy always wore on Golden Girls

  37. Fleurucci says:

    I love mackage
    The down filled coats are warm enough for Montreal
    Many of their coats are half price in the spring
    I actually really like the coat length and I think it is cute with the pointy boots, and that’s a nice colour on her

    • Millenial says:

      I also really like the coat length. It’s different and fashionable.

    • Ratsy Pomona says:

      Love Mackage too; I’ve been eyeing the Kerry coat for my upcoming Boston winter…but it’s a little too pricey for me right now!

  38. Kaz says:

    I think Duchess-to-be Meghan looks quite OK. Actually refreshingly normal, in a coat that doesn’t look like a dress and carrying a handbag! I expect she has lots of great smart casual winter gear from Canada. Let us pray that she keeps some of her American style and doesn’t just end up as a British royal family clone a la Kate.

  39. Juliette says:

    It’s Meghan mania, I’m so happy for her

  40. Jussie says:

    Not sure why people expect to be excited by her fashion choices. With the exception of one or two very simple gowns that looked awesome purely because of her body shape, I haven’t ever seen her wear anything particularly special or interesting. It’s all been pretty basic, and occasionally a bit fussy. Her street style is nice, but again basic, the kind of stuff you see everyone wearing.

    She’s an attractive woman with perfectly fine fashion sense, but nothing suggests she’s a fashionista. I suspect the ‘royal uniform’ of slightly fussy dresses and/or big buttoned coats will suit her fine. She’ll look better than Kate because Kate sabotages herself with awful fits and unflattering silhouettes, but it’s still going to be dull fashion.

  41. Watchful says:

    She’s too old to be wearing her hair long and out like that, and she keeps touching it to keep it out of her face. Unprofessional.

    • Natalie S says:

      In my day, you knew a girl was out in society when she started wearing her hair up!

    • Beth says:

      Too old? She might be too old for pigtails, but not for wearing it long and out like that

    • Nicole says:

      What is this comment? Since when does age have anything to do with how you should wear your hair? Sounds antiquated. She looks fine.

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Eye roll.

    • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

      Perhaps she felt the ambient temperature to be too cold to wear it up?

    • teacakes says:

      She’s only 36 and it’s 2017, this ‘cut your hair when you are no longer a 20something’ crap is from 50 years ago and complete nonsense.

      (this goes for Kate too, I don’t see issues with her having long hair).

    • CynicalAnn says:

      Too old? Is this 1935? She’s in her 30s-and her hair is beautiful -she looks lovely.

    • anotherkate says:

      OMG nothing makes me roll harder than a comment like this. I think Meghan’s hair looks freaking awesome. I don’t mind Kate’s hair when its longer either. I’ve never understood all the hate on it. Prefer it when it’s loose waves instead of sausage curls, but really it’s the matronly buns she wears sometimes that I think look pretty tragic and aging. Cute youthful updos do exist, but I rarely see one on Kate.

    • Jaded says:

      I’m 65 and have shoulder-length hair that has (GASP) grey in it!!! Am I to be admonished for not having the standard short, little-old-lady haircut?!?!?

    • argonaut says:

      i’m only a few years younger than meghan, can you help me out by telling what age i should stop wearing my hair long and down? i hope i haven’t missed it and fallen afoul of your outdated views on women’s hair!!!

    • Lady Rain says:

      Her hair is gorgeous and looks lovely worn down. Since when does age determine hair length?

  42. Jayna says:

    She looks pretty and was was really great with the crowd. I usually don’t notice all the things y’all do about clothes or shoes, so thought she looked great in the boots and big coat. She looked very put together. And I’m a fan of long hair and always thought Kate had great hair, but she was ripped on here for every hair style she usually has, I’m sure it will start on Meghan at some point, although she’s liked on here, so not as much. But I like Meghan’s hair, even though she usually just wears it straight, parted in the middle. Some people aren’t adventurous with their hair or cut.

    Geez, Harry is really going to lose his hair too, isn’t he, just not as soon as William? I never would have thought Diana’s kids would lose their hair.

  43. Hannah says:

    I’m across the pond in Dublin and I was wearing my longest thickest coat, plus hat, scarf and gloves today.

    It is freezing!!

  44. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Aw they’re matchy matchy!

  45. khaveman says:

    She looks great – what’s the fuss? Maybe she likes a big coat on a cold day. She did live in Toronto. I like her Scottish-label purse.

  46. spidey says:

    Was in Nottingham this morning – just missed them!

  47. LC says:

    I don’t get the big deal of wearing a winter coat when you’re going to be standing outside for an extended period of time….when it’s almost winter. I saw on Twitter that they were using hand warmers because it’s pretty cold. I think she looks lovely. The focus should be on AIDS and she looks appropriately dressed for the event. If she wore something short or flamboyant, people would say she was trying to take attention away from the event and put it on herself. Also, I personally would be more conservative in my first outing with the public.
    As a woman of color, she will have to work twice as hard at everything. I think dressing more conservative today will win her some points with traditionalists (not the racist ones, they’re a lost cause, but the skeptics because she was an actress). She is going to take a while to find a balance but it’s literally Day 1. Harry looks so happy to finally have someone out there with him, and i think he was right, they’ll make a great team.

  48. Guest says:

    I guess I’m the only one here, I like the coat it looks good on her and she look great. I figure it’s cold, look at Harry, he has on a coat and scarf.

    • Karen says:

      I love the coat. Mackage is classy. Maybe something from her existing wardrobe. And I love the skirt and turtleneck. Although she is thin she does not need to wear everything fitted. I would wear this in a minute. And they both look excited and engaged. Not like it is something they have to do.

  49. juliaoc says:

    She’s already done more work this year than Kate.

    • Bianca says:

      No, she didn’t. Kate is fine, you don’t have to hate her if you like Meghan.

      • Juliaoc says:

        I don’t hate anyone – and certainly not someone I don’t even know personally. There is a running joke on this website about Kate not being much of a worker. I was playing to that joke. If I offended you in some way, I’m sorry.

  50. Natalie S says:

    She may be trying to go low-key. She’s going to pull a lot of attention just by being there and she doesn’t want to be the “attention-getting actress,” especially considering you just know the Daily Mail is going to publish as many pictures of her as they can in more skin-exposing outfits. A relaxed, low-key rollout is best for now.

    And I wonder if there’s a little Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy inspiration going on with the lower hem skirt and the boots? Remember her introduction to the press outfit?

    • IlsaLund says:

      Agree. It’s a fine needle she has to thread. And as woman of color it’s going to be doubly hard to find her way. No need to feed the trolls and racists and give them more ammunition against you. And that horrible, racist article the Daily Fail ran “tracing her ancestry from slavery” was appalling.

      • Natalie S says:

        Meghan’s going to have a hard time ahead. Work too much and people will criticize her as self-important and attention hungry and work-shy Kate will be recast as dignified and appropriate in contrast. The press will pick apart her clothing bills and point out Kate’s Zara outfits.

        Do too little and people will call Meghan insincere and a gold digger. She’ll need to stay paired with Harry and let him take the lead for awhile because people will still criticize but less so than if Meghan is too independent too quickly.

  51. Lol says:

    Look at harry stepping up his style game. They are color coordinated. Meghan is really pretty. I like the coat a lot. I’ve always loved coats like that. Love the purse, but not a big fan of the skirt. Either way she looks good, harry looks amazing, and the crowds seem happy.

    Also the petty side loves the hags (not on this board) that are trashing her again. Stay pressed.

  52. Jb says:

    I hate to be cold and get that – coat is perfect!! and she took it off. The coat on always feels like you are about to leave.

  53. Starryfish says:

    There are tons of adorable videos of them working the crowds, I love that she jumped right in and didn’t hang back nervously. There was a funny clip of a guy congratulating Harry for landing such a beautiful woman despite being a ginger. 😂

  54. nephelin says:

    This!
    Her Hair — Long , wavy — Kate shades
    Overcoats galore! — Kate
    similar color pattern dresses —- very Kateish
    Boots!
    Black turtleneck and camel color skirt?—- Carolyn Bessete Kennedy , Kate Middleton.
    What different / unique / original clothing style are people talking about? 🙂

    • whatever says:

      MM does usually have nice style but this ensemble is just frumpy – there is no other way to describe it. If Kate wore this ensemble she’d be ripped to shreds on here. CBer’s better hope MM’s warm weather style is going to be better.

    • Hannah says:

      Lovely brown skin and sparkling dark eyes! All Meghan!

      Seriously what’s the obsession with comparing this biracial California girl to upper middle class white women?
      And FYI that coat or a cheaper version of it is everywhere. And her hair was the same before Harry so I doubt that is inspired by Kate or any other Royal as it’s not a very original hairstyle Kate looks great in her own way. But this silly competition some of you got going is just so unnecessary.

    • Scal says:

      Exactly. It feels like Kate 2.0 to me. From the waist up she’s pulling all kate fashion with the buttons, the blowout with the sausage curls/touching her hair with the ring hand all the time (which in movement look just like Kate’s) When I saw her I actually thought that the Middleton’s styled her.

      It’s not about starting a competition between the 2 women, but if Kate was wearing this people would be ripping her to shreds and instead are going gaga for it because it’s Meghan. The head styling and coat looks the same to me. I just want consistency. Do we hate blow outs sausage curls with wiglets and buttons or don’t we?

      That all said, from the waist down I’m happy to see a skirt/coat at a proper length, and boots. Kate would have worn this coat ending at the knee with jeggings so at least there’s that.

      • Karen says:

        This discussion is silly. Everyone has their own style. Meghan may like a more casual style and Kate feels she needs to look very proper. They are not the only women in their thirties with long hair. Some people feel it is more versatile for different styles.

        And most coats have buttons!,

    • Dally says:

      What a stunning coincidence, two women both wear warm coats when it is freezing cold out! But really, there is a fairly narrow window of appropriate clothing for events like these, and both she and Kate do have lovely long brown hair. Thick warm coats also generally have larger buttons, because of the thick material small buttons or zippers don’t work that well. But really, can’t we evaluate each woman on her own merits, and not make everything a competition between the two of them?

  55. Goodvibes says:

    There’s an article of a Kate sighting today as well. Hmmmm….seems like we’ve been seeing a lot of Kate lately. Don’t get me wrong, I like Kate. Her and Meghan have very different style. I’m enjoying seeing both out and about.

    • Ollie says:

      She was papped in the morning before Meg and Harrys trip. Maybe a shopping trip. I bet she thought she could fly under the radar as most paps were in Nottingham.

      • Llamas says:

        No, I think that was on purpose. There is no way in fresh hell that she would be lapped randomly, smiling at the cameras. She and bill would freak out.

      • CynicalAnn says:

        I don’t remotely think it’s random. They just happened to catch her out? Not likely.

      • Lexa says:

        She wasn’t out shopping. The DM said the photos were taken at King’s Cross St Pancras Station. I’m guessing she was heading to their country house for the weekend since the CC reported that William flew back into the airbase in Norfolk from Finland.

      • SoulSPA says:

        I agree. She could have not been snapped and the pictures released just like that. I maintain my opinion about the BRF keeping a tight leash on the British media. These would be the first candid pics of Katie lately. The coincidence is too big IMHO. Harry and Meghan made their first engagement today. Why wasn’t Kate “papped” any other day? Or the pictures released for that matter?

      • Nic919 says:

        Just like the pics of Harry going to the gym. Nothing is a coincidence, especially not when they are papped in the UK.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Lexa headed to the country house without kids and nannies? Looks a lot more like a deliberate pap stroll to me.

      • Natalie S says:

        It’s thrifty Kate in her Zara coat taking the train. She’s so low-key and down to earth. And wasn’t it cute how notoriously private William shared George’s letter to Santa?

        Uh huh.

        I remember Kate and William letting themselves be papped taking a train right before a big announcement. Was it a pregnancy announcement? And also photos of William taking the train back from his Cambridge bespoke course on was it Kate’s birthday or Valentines? I guess taking a train is how the Will and Kate show how down-to-earth they are.

      • notasugarhere says:

        As they say Natalie S, obvious PR is obvious.

        The train trip right before the pregnancy announcement also included them getting papped the night before (willingly since no complaints were filed?) having a casual night out at a pub near Amner while it was under construction. He had red wine, she is holding an open bottle of white. Papped the next day at train station, William walking the dog, her carrying multiple heavy bags. No nanny or son in sight and security out of frame. A few days later the news of the second baby hit when she cancelled her first of many engagements due to the pregnancy.

      • Natalie S says:

        @notasugarhere. Yup, and it’s repetitive and never subtle. But I give it at most three months before Kate wears another 50k necklace or does something equally exorbitant. One of my favorite things about their pr is that Will and Kate can never stay on message for long.

    • Lexa says:

      @NotASugarHere Maybe they went ahead with Nanny Maria? Or they’re staying in town with Carole so the parents can have a weekend away? There are any number of explanations. You’d think she’d have done her hair or dressed a bit less casual or even eaten her take away breakfast before strolling if she was going to try to intentionally pull attention from Meghan and Harry’s first event. My guess is that she thought she could fly under the radar with all the usual photogs in Nottingham and take the shorter train trip vs the longer car ride.

  56. Upstatediva says:

    I read her rubbing Harry’s arm as comfort for HER, not him. Because she is comfortable in front of a camera doesn’t mean that she isn’t also nervous about the event. Thinking about the way she refers to him physically (particularly in videos), I see her as confident at the same time as she knows it’s all very high stakes for her and Harry.
    Also, super glad to read that he is going to introduce her to Chantelle — the young woman he appeared with at the Obama Foundation Summit. His work with that youth umbrella organization impressed me.
    BTW, I really like the skirt she is wearing – nice color and shape.

    • Princessk says:

      Absolutely my sentiments too. People keep saying she rubs Harry’s hands and back to comfort him, but it is her way of dealing with her OWN nervous excitement.

  57. Freddy Spaghetti says:

    Her outfit underneath the coat (which is meh, IMO) was totally on point. And she was fantastic with the crowd.

    She does need to do something about the hair touching. Even bobby pins to keep it tucked behind her ears would work.

  58. perplexed says:

    I think she looks nice. When I think about it, she matches him clothes-wise at this outing.

    She looks like she’s doing the exact thing with her hands on her hair that Kate does. Maybe people with long hair can’t help it.

    • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

      Needed a chignon or a nice braid.

      • CynicalAnn says:

        I’m not a braid fan. I think they looks juvenile and kind of tacky. A chignon is lovely-but she has gorgeous hair and it’s a daytime event. Wearing her hair down is completely fine.

      • Wisca says:

        Then CynicalAnn you must be horrrified by Meghan’s mother’s locs. Unreal.

      • CynicalAnn says:

        @Wisca: nice try, but no. I’m not talking about her mother or other WOC who wear their hair in braids. I’m thinking more sister wives/Duggars with the french braid down the back.

    • magnoliarose says:

      I never minded the length of Kate’s hair. The dated style and lack of variety is my issue with her. I have longer than average hair, and on a windy day, it could whip me in the head so hard I would probably lose consciousness. Hair touching is a habit, and there are styles she and Kate could wear to cut down on doing it, but I am not sure they would wear them.

  59. Eden75 says:

    I have the short version of that coat and it’s fabulous. I love the long one but there wasn’t one in my size when I went looking. I think she looks nice and appropriate. If it’s cold who wants to freeze their buns off? No thanks.

  60. OriginalLala says:

    I like what she is wearing and dang her hair is so shiny! I wish my curls would be that shiny!

  61. mary says:

    i love it, so chic. kate is such a dork she makes these type of clothes dowdy

    As for Meghan, i love her natural looking hair color and the style is amazing (does she do keratin? does she dye her hair? just curious how she treats her hair cuz i thought ive seen pics of her natural curls), the navy blue is great on her skin tone, the slouchy boots are different and the ring is the best accessory. I love it all.

  62. Valiantly Varnished says:

    Eh – I like it. This is a lot like how I dress in the winter. I live in a city where winters are brutal and layers are important but I still like to look and feel nice. Everything she is wearing screams class and taste. Not to mention that it was freezing in the UK that day. They actually had snow which is rare.

  63. Hannah says:

    It was snowing in London today her coat is not too heavy at all. I am freezing, I wish I had her coat. Celebitchy should get an English writer so they can keep up with wether Meghans outfits are weather appropriate 😉

    Also everyone is wearing these long trench coats here now. At least she’s not wearing one of those tweed coats everyone is wearing.

  64. JaneDoesWork says:

    I think separately, these two outfits would work. As one, they clash and compete with each other. That coat is way too heavy to not be wearing something streamlined underneath. Even the colors of the skirt and top with the navy are bothering me.

    • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

      I agree. The color triad is…trying. Yes to camel and black together. Yes to camel and navy. Maybe yes to black and navy, but all three together are a bit jarring.

      • Polly says:

        I don’t like this mix of colours either. I’m not a fan of the slouchy boots and think the coat would look better styled with trousers. I hate how Harry has styled his scarf with the low v rather than snug around his neck. But they look happy and Meagan looks very glowy and pretty.

  65. InVain says:

    The coat is meh. She looks great either way.

    I’m just here for Harry’s SHOES! YES!

  66. perplexed says:

    When I saw her with the coat on, I thought she looked great.

    But I’ve now seen the photos of the outfit underneath. The outfit underneath looks shockingly dowdy to me.

    • L84Tea says:

      Where did you see the outfit??

      • perplexed says:

        It was on the Kensington Palace Twitter page.

        She has a good body, especially at the waist, that helps the outfit. But the actual outfit didn’t strike me as much different from something Kate would wear.

    • Jayna says:

      Dowdy? Say what?

      • perplexed says:

        Only to me, not to everyone else as I can see.

        Maybe it’s a change from the short skirts we used to see her in. The outfit in isolation may not actually be that dowdy. I think my initial reaction was “Oh, the royalizing of clothing is happening faster than I thought it would.”

        That said, I’d likely wear this outfit…and I’m kind of dowdy.

        Edited to add: I looked up the word dowdy to make sure I used it correctly. And now I’m wondering if I did. I’ve seen the word applied to Kate, and probably deduced the wrong meaning based on its application to her. I would probably use the word matronly instead to characterize this outfit.

  67. melissa says:

    I guess I’m not seeing what everyone else is? Or maybe everyone is just so used to kate’s horrible fashion. But love meghan’s coat. Its both practical and chic. Her fashion sense is simple yet elegant & not likely to change soon.

    -The buttons: Pretty sure meghan’s worn this coat/style before she met harry.

  68. mary says:

    i’m buying a black turtle neck asap

  69. HoustonGrl says:

    I think she looks great, understated and conservative. She’s clearly trying her best. Also great that they are bringing attention to world AIDS day. However, can they stop holding hands for one second, especially as they are greeting people? We get it, you’re so in love.

  70. dodgy says:

    Nottingham was freezing today. I was in town at the same time (for an appointment) and it was heaving with people. You had to pay £10 for a spot on a balcony, and you got a hot drink. Like… wow.

  71. Vicsy says:

    Gotta admit that I woke up all giddy today, hoping to see this engagement first thing (time difference). I’m surprised by how happy this match makes me, and how genuinely excited I am to see two people so obviously in love and so obviously passionate about causes. Really improves my mood in otherwise not-so-great climate in politics and the world.

    The outfit works for me! Meg looks beautiful. While proportions are not great (it doesn’t seem like it was tailor fit on petite Meghan), I love the heaviness, richness and the deep shades that do wonders with Meghan’s coloring. It all seems very Winter Wonderland yet professional, and I adore how Harry coordinated his scarf and jacket to match (or vice versa?). They look SO happy and I love how energetic, keen (but for real this time), and friendly she seems!

  72. Penelope says:

    Meghan is just lovely and already appears to be somewhat comfortable in her new role. Once she really settles into it, she’s going to be a huge asset to the RF.

  73. Lauren says:

    It’s cold today in London (and I’m Canadian!) so I don’t blame Meghan for bundling. I love the coat personally, but much like Kate, MM needs to learn to wear her hair up.

  74. L84Tea says:

    I finally found the photos where you can see what she wore underneath. I can’t believe anyone would call that dowdy. I think she looks amazingly chic!!

  75. loislane says:

    They do look great together.
    So happy for Harry, who seems so proud.
    What got me was the fact that she introduces herself with “hi, I am Meghan, what’s your name?” so natural and simple. That I like very much.

  76. Sam says:

    I really like the look.Very chic.She did great.Very warm and engaging.Her smile really is one of her best features.A great start overall

  77. Julianne says:

    Well I like this coat better than the one she wore for her engagement photo call. I love the pic that looks like Harry is showing her the ropes so to speak.

  78. KBB says:

    I thought the band of her ring was yellow gold?

  79. Hotsauceinmybag says:

    I think she looks beautiful, I’m not super keen on the cut/length of most of the outfit but the color scheme is so complementary, especially with her skin tone (not a huge fan of the bag though. Looks a little too matronly or mature for me?).

    Genuine question that has been gnawing at me for years, especially as a WoC (who transitioned from weekly blowouts to natural wash and go wear) and a big fan of Meghan’s from watching Suits: what’s her natural hair like? Does it/will it ever fit in with the Windsor’s image? So curious…

    • IlsaLund says:

      Check out this video from when she was 11 years old to get an idea of her natural hair texture. It appears to me she just gets a good blow out now.

      How Meghan Markle Shook the Advertising World as a Young Girl With Letter Challenging Gender Roles | Inside Edition

      http://www.insideedition.com/how-meghan-markle-shook-advertising-world-young-girl-letter-challenging-gender-roles-38542

      • MissM says:

        Her hair is definitely relaxed and she blows it out and straightened it. If she let it air dry it would most likely be wavy.

    • Lexa says:

      Her natural hair has beautiful texture from what I can see of it in the video of her as a young girl: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tfaGleA4qYo

      • Hotsauceinmybag says:

        Thanks all! I wonder if she would ever stop relaxing and go natural? Or maybe natural/textured hair is not seen as “royal” enough (I know I used to be worried that my natural hair was not professional enough). Either way, it’s her hair and she can do as she pleases.

      • Wisca says:

        Hotsauceinmybag & Lexa,

        I can’t imagine we will ever see her natural texture just as we never saw Michelle Os. This is a conformity demanded of many black / biracial firsts I think.

        There are many people speaking about MM’s beauty who would find her too black (not biracial) if her true curls came out. This is my humble opinion though.

        And she probably has a perm? I mean, what if she got “caught” in the rain?

        There was a woman on twitter getting attacked because she hopes to see MM’s curls. People were calling her a racist for even expressing that thought.

      • Patty says:

        Stop! Her hair is not relaxed. That’s nothing but a good blowout and a flatiron. Not every black woman or biracial woman is on the creamy crack. Meghan appears to have a finer grade of hair, even if it is curly, a relaxer would likely be way too strong for her hair.

        I loved her outfit once I saw it sans coat.

    • African Sun says:

      Another black woman here, I think she gets a Brazilian or Dominican blow out.

      I don’t think she relaxes her hair.

    • African Sun says:

      Let’s keep it trill, her natural texture if it is puffy will not fit in with their image but whatever she knows the game.

      I think she actually likes blow outs anyway and she likes her hair straight.

  80. The Original G says:

    She looks great – put together but no high maintenance or unapproachable.

  81. Tourmaline says:

    Squee!!!!!!!!

    (that is all)

  82. Falum says:

    Former actress walks around in a long coat and talks to a few people…

    Fascinating

  83. NOLA says:

    I prefer the coat over the outfit. In theory, I love the turtle neck / long skirt combo. But in pictures, the skirt is too wrinkled for my liking (from her sitting in the car, I imagine).

  84. phatypopo says:

    It looks REALLY frigidly cold. She looks polished, sophisticated and perfect.

  85. BAnna says:

    I haaate the shoes- those styles always remind me of worn out socks or tights collecting round the ankles. But she is absolutely gorgeous. I’m almost annoyed at how pretty she is!

    • Jayna says:

      Yeah, what is going on with those shoes? A total mess.

      I do like the outfit, and contrast of the camel color of the skirt to black turtleneck, except from the side as far as the skirt. It practically makes her ass look concave. But the front view is very nice. I prefer a lower turtleneck for myself, but that’s just for myself.. And I loved the coat on her and don’t get the hate on the coat. I would wear it.

      Her hair looks a little stringy inside, but I think that’s from being outside greeting so many people and the elements eventually flattening her hair, because in the earlier photos outside it had more oomph.

      She looks very pretty, though. Although, I don’t think she’s as tall as her bio says. She’s not five foot seven. A lot of actors and actresses fudge on their height.

      • notasugarhere says:

        We’ll get a better idea of height once we see her with other members of the family. Sophie is 5’4″ or smaller, Eugenie is 5’8″ iirc.

  86. nephelin says:

    Aaah… Yes! I almost forgot. Harry needs a tie.

  87. Burdzeyeview says:

    I think its fantastic that theyr already working together – megan is truly stunning and i hav never seen harry look so happy -hes like a new man – i truly wish them all th best and think together theyl be a fabulous asset to th BRF and help bring it into th 21st century xx

    • Princessk says:

      She really is a beauty, and Harry who usually smiles a lot had an extra special look in his eye. But I don’t want her to get overexposed, I hope she doesn’t start doing daily engagements.

  88. Her Higness says:

    I really like the way his she soles match her skirt. Her look has a wintery derby feeling to it, like she is going to mount a fairy white unicorn n jump some stables. I friggin love it and Kate betta watch out she has her backside covered up & I love the skirt with belt, the flare of the skirt! bring it MMPS Meghan Markle Princess Sparkleeeee YASSSSSS HUnty

  89. Lady Rain says:

    She looks absolutely lovely in that coat. I can’t get over how naturally gorgeous she is.

  90. JRenee says:

    She looked fine on the footage that was shown here in the states. The coat flowed nicely as she walked.
    They look very connected and happy together.

  91. Princessk says:

    She really is beautiful, I have seen so many pics of her over the year but today she was really stunning. People just loved her and described her as ‘genuine’, ‘natural’ and ‘warm’. Even the bodyguards seemed to be hiding their smiles. Another amazing day this week for our Meghan.

  92. Kells-bells says:

    She looks beautiful, they both look happy, and I love her coat !

  93. Kath says:

    I love that coat! Don’t think it looks dumpy at all. Plus, girl is probably freezing her arse off – the Midlands can be surprisingly cold.

  94. Cautiously_Optomistic says:

    They seem to have chemistry and know how to work a crowd. But it’s annoying though that they pretended they didn’t know about each other. If she admired Princess Diana for so long, how could she not know Harry was into charity work and helping others?

    • Wisca says:

      I knew about Diana and very little about Harry because I had no interest in paying attention to Diana’s sons. I know nothing about William but have paid attention to Kate’s style. Few to perhaps none of my friends know a thing about Harry beyond walking behind his mother’s casket and his Nazi armband. Why would we?

    • Princessk says:

      They did not pretend. Harry said he had NEVER watched Suits and had NEVER heard of Meghan Markle. She didn’t say she had never heard of Prince Harry she said she did not KNOW what he was like and she had not been influenced or read the ‘tabloid’ accounts of his character and so was pleased to get to know him directly from himself.

  95. Blaire Carter says:

    watch her pick up an accent…

  96. Trying Again says:

    Meghan is stunning.
    What if, that blind date day, they BOTH fell in love at first sight.
    What if she didn’t CHOOSE the Royalty but wanted Harry. And is in love, lust and total fear. All at once. Life is complicated. Always.
    Harry is blessed to have someone this poised and prepared.

  97. Tulsi 2020 says:

    Genuine question, for a site that rails against privilge so much how can you justify all this hero worship and gushing about the royal family?

    • liriel says:

      This!

    • African Sun says:

      I think many commenters on the site find the royals interesting, whether they like them or not. If people did not click on the articles to comment, there wouldn’t be any articles….so it can only mean one thing, people like or find the royals interesting enough for the owners to keep writing about them!

      Don’t hate the player, hate the 1,000 crowned game that sees these cats running around!

      • Tulsi 2020 says:

        That explains writing stories about them but it doesn’t explain the ignoring of their privilege or the hero worship and gushing

      • Wisca says:

        I am a small “d” democrat and am not intereted in the royals per se. I am, however, fascinated by the Kate hate even if I am not interested in her for anything other than on a style (really the attacks on her style here) level because I am a feminist.

        What I am interested in is race, gender, power and representation. MM brings those issues to the fore. There will be many think pieces about race, identity, empire, colonialism and all of it. This a rhetorical situation and people will enter the conversation and can do so without being politically naive about the role of the British monarchy in history, epecially the history of the global south and explotation.

      • Tina says:

        I don’t see much hero worship or gushing here (certainly not about Kate or William). People have been kinder to Harry, but most acknowledge that he doesn’t do much work either. People like Meghan, but that’s entirely understandable, she’s new and different. If she doesn’t do any work either, people will begin to dislike her. And we ignore privilege for almost everyone else here (mostly actors).

  98. liriel says:

    Frankly, I loved her style but this coat is a flop! As someone said it is bad even by Kate’s standards (sorry, couldn’t help but compare). It’s badly fitted, she looks like she’s swimming in it.

  99. Treesandpets says:

    They look very happy together and I think she presents very well for a first ‘royal’ event – seems elegant and at ease. I really hope they do really good charitable work together in their future as there is so much need out there and so many worthwhile causes – time will tell.

  100. Lol says:

    Lmao the mod of royaldish just closed any discussion of harry and Meghan on her board. The biggest wedding of the year is about to take place in a few months and a royal blog can’t talk about it? This is priceless.

    • Natalie S says:

      What is going on over there? I hadn’t looked over there for about a year and now Will, Kate, and Harry are all off-topic. I don’t know what led to all that.

      • Lol says:

        It got really nasty. Many posters don’t like Meghan, and a they decided to give her a nickname. They already call Sophia of Sweden hophia, so you can only imagine what they were going to call Meghan. One poster said they were starting to crossover over into racism. The poster said they were going to contact the aclu, to investigate the board for racism so the mod just shut the harry board down. No one is allowed to talk about Meghan or even harry anymore.

      • Nic919 says:

        The nickname was insensitive and the poster was right to point that out. The correct way to handle it would be to just tell posters to stop using the nickname and not close to board.

      • LAK says:

        Nic919: This is the 2nd time they’ve shut down the British section in the last few years. It became really nasty the last time that they removed entire British section for a few weeks.

        When it reopened, the commentors were much more moderate and respectful. And all the extremists didn’t return.

        Unfortunately, new ones started to replace them. I guess it crept up on the board again. That site is known as a ha8er site, but if *they* can’t take the hate, then it must be something to behold.

      • Natalie S says:

        Ah, thanks. Yeah, I’m cringing just imagining what they thought was a “clever” nickname for her. And they come down hard when making modding decisions over there.

        There’s definitely a lot of criticism being thrown at Meghan even on non-royal sites that I don’t understand because we’ve barely seen her in her new role. Feels like Kate got a much longer pr honeymoon and people were very protective of her to avoid what happened to Diana. Meghan’s not really receiving that.

      • Nic919 says:

        LAK: I didn’t know they had already shut it down. Since it is a board with registered members, the ones who use racist terms can be blocked. What I noted however, was that the person who first raised the issue had “muted” listed next to her status. That seems really wrong because it was a valid concern about a nickname that could be considered racist.

      • Lol says:

        Very few royal women are liked on that board. It’s pretty sad since for years they wanted a woman for Harry that had a job beforehand, wanted to work, friends outside him, and lived a life before him. Well Meghan checks those boxes but they jumped on her from the start. The thread about tiaras for her was uncomfortable because some showed a picture of tiara with bananas and it looked like jungle leaves. I think they said it was because she posted a ig pic of two bananas hugging, but it was still cringy. The poster that brought up racism was right in doing so.

        I do think they will open that thread back up before the wedding. The wedding will be a.big media event, and there is no way they don’t want those clicks.

      • Natalie S says:

        @Lol. Yes, Meghan is actually the list; educated, independent, successful career, involved in charity work, not a traditional society woman. The only deviation is she’s an actor but eh, so what? That just means she has some experience dealing with the media.

        And that banana tiara thing is heinous. Like they don’t know what that means.

      • notasugarhere says:

        They went off the rails before Harry and Meghan though. Moderators showing their personal biases instead of moderating with an even hand, not stopping use of inappropriate terms and nicknames, no longer banning blatantly misogynistic posters.

        It is unfortunate, because that is one of the few English-language boards that actively keeps track of non-BRF royals. I used to ignore the Danish and BRF sections completely, and just looked for news of Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, Lux, but gave up.

  101. perplexed says:

    According to JustJared, she was styled for the event by Jessica Mulroney.

    • katie3 says:

      I wonder how the concept of designer “gifting” works now that Meghan is practically a royal. Does she have to pay out of pocket for everything now or can she still accept loaners or gifts?

    • Tina says:

      Jean Chretien is in the Order of Merit and Brian Mulroney is not. That has to sting, and I’m sure the younger generations’ closeness will be noted.