The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in South Africa. They were just in Rome on Friday for Misha Nonoo’s wedding, but they apparently skipped out on some of the after-parties/receptions so they could fly back to London (on a commercial airline) and prepare for this 10-day tour. Because Harry and Meghan are not the future king and queen, they did not do a big splashy reception/greeting on the tarmac. I guess journalists were not even permitted at the airport, so no photo-op with Archie.
So the Sussexes did what they do best: they immediately got to work. They arrived in Cape Town and immediately went to a Methodist church in the Nyanga township. The purpose of their first event was to highlight the work of Justice Desk, with seeks to empower girls and women through knowing their rights, self-awareness and safety.
Meghan wore a dress for the Malawi label Mayamiko, which is “sustainable fashion.” The dress costs £69 and it’s made from traditional African cloth. It’s just a cute wrap dress and as you can see, Meghan still has a little postpartum tummy, which is totally normal for four months postpartum. I love that Meghan planned out her fashion with mass-market African labels too.
What else? Last night, Meghan added something to her tour schedule: on Wednesday, she’ll make a trip to mothers2mothers, a charity which “delivers health services and education to women and their families in townships around the city, and visit with clients and their children. The peer-based program delivers essential services across local communities, educating women about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV as well as initiatives covering early childhood development, adolescent health, and positive youth development.”
Oh God I just saw that she’s wearing wedges!! Well, that’s one way to get Kate to stop wearing them.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Getty.
How many seconds until Kate gets fashion inspiration credit for DOS wearing wedges??
..in 5,4,3,2,,,
Selective memory will forget that Meghan wore those wedges on Bondi Beach and instyle said she broke royal protocol. Months later Kate wore wedges and was setting fashion trend. So next up. Meghan copied Kate
But seriously… These two look SO adorable here, so relaxed and happy! Hunky Harry sure can pull off a casual white button down, amirite? And Meghan is glowing. Love their outfits head to toe, and the whole vibe of these pics.
I agree, they both look great, THIS is exactly the type of dress wedges are perfect with.
I have some neutral colored wedges I wear.
Having bad feet with no cartilage between the bones on my big toes, these shoes at least allow some comfort while wearing “heels”.
And I sure miss wearing my heels ~
Thank goodness for the successful tour. Thank you Kate
Lol!!
😂 #ThanksKate
She looks very pretty. THANKS KATE haha
I think she looks lovely here. She’s a beautiful girl, so is easy to make look great, but I also think she looks best when she’s not polished up to within an inch of her life. She seems happy and relaxed here, and that’s nice.
Amazing WERKKKKKK Duchess.
The videos on twitter are so sweet and warm and Mayamiko sounds like a company with a great ethos, so I’ll overlook the Wedges Of Doom just this once.
Well done, Kate!
That made me laugh out lol 😉
She looks great. Love the outfit.
I do, too. This is the peefect dress for wedges, and I love the sleeked-back ponytail. One of Meghan’s best looks ever.
I still hate the wedges. Very surprised she went with them, as they are kind of Kate’s “thing”. Perhaps she wanted the lace up to draw attention to her ankles (& away from other areas). . . .
I know wedges get a lot of hate on the site, but let me tell you, I have a pair that I pull out every summer. I love it to pieces. They’re comfortable, their great dealing with events that are on grass. The problem with Kate wearing wedges some times is that she wears them too much. Sometimes it’s appropriate other times not. These wedges are spot on for the beautiful dress.
The problem isn’t the wedges, it’s mismatching styles. Here they’re paired with a wrap day dress that’s got a very casual vibe-great pairing.
ThankyouKate teams the wedges with everything and it just doesn’t work.
My thoughts too. Love the dress and the wedges actually work with this look. But it’s also a question of moderation vs wedges with everything!
I am fairly anti-wedges in general (I think its partly bc they make me feel clumsy), but I agree – what gets me about Kate and her wedges is that often they just don’t work with a particular outfit. Here, I still don’t love the wedges but they work better than with other outfits.
I usually dislike Kate’s wedges because she chooses them when she’s too chicken shit to wear flats or sneakers. Or she’s worn them with a too long dress and they end up looking heavy.
I like them here. I like them occasionally on Kate.
I just don’t care for Kate’s wedges with super tight skinny jeans and fitted shirts (London olympics come to mind…)
I think the shoes are adorable with this dress, but….what season is it in South Africa? Spring? I still go by the rule of no espadrilles after Labor Day, but that’s for the northern hemisphere.
Personally,I love wedges when worn with appropriate clothing and for events that will require a lot of walking around and standing.They give support and add height.My daughter’s first “high heels “were (gasp!)nude wedges!She wore them with a sleeveless dress and her hair up for an event that was both inside and outside and she was comfortable.
They aren’t high fashion,but they serve a purpose,and the ties around the ankles on Meghan just accentuate her delicate ankles of which I’m quite envious 😉
I love wedges. I still wear my wedges, I know Kates’ were nicknamed the wedges of doom, but I still like them and I think they look good with the dress.
I’m team wedges, too. Sometimes they don’t look great, and I’ll admit that. They’re not for ***every*** outfit.
But they can pry them out of my cold, dead, hands.
I love the dress, not crazy about the super tight ponytail but if her hair is anything like mine, super hot climates do a number on my curls.
ETA: I don’t think she had a post-partum tummy at all, the side shots show a flat tummy. Meghan just has a naturally wider waist and more boxy torso, she looks really great right now
@OriginalLala – I agree with you, she does have a more boxy torso. I think she looks great too, and the dress just hits her body at an inopportune spot.
However, I totally support her wearing it because the message behind it is amazing! She and Harry are doing SUCH good work!!
She’s just short waisted- I am, and I know how I looked postpartum after my first. Let’s not forget the fact that the ribcage widens to a degree, too.
SA actually isn’t a hot climate. It’s quite mild, and it’s very early spring right now, so highs top out at about 70F/21C.
Thanks for the info, Green Turtle. I was of the impression it’s a lot warmer there, even in the spring.
Oh god no, the WEDGES. Even Meghan can’t make these look good.
I agree! I hate those espadrille wedges. If the wedge part was black I might like them, though. Dress is nice.
ITA, wedges make Every woman look like she has giant hooves.
Hooves…LOL
Is it just me or does this look something Kate would have worn on her first tour to Australia? The dress is a little short and flimsy fabric for the apparent breezy weather (notice she’s grabbing at it.) and the wedge espadrilles is totally Kate.
All in all its fine, but lady you are better than this and we all know it.
These wedges are the very similar to the ones PippaTips wore on her honeymoon in Australia.
I believe they are Castañer espadrilles.
In some of the photos at the DM you can see that shes’ wearing a white slip under this dress. So while it might be breezy, she won’t have to worry about flashing anyone.
Right, but if Meghan is lacking for anything it most certainly is not options. We shouldn’t be seeing slip. Its such a rookie mistake and she’s totally better than that. Her head remains lovely as always, though.
In all the videos I’ve seen, Meg is almost the same size she was pre baby Archie. He tummy is not snake-flat flat, but it’s a healthy post baby flat. Also, where I come from, even flashing yr slip or half slip is considered flashing, those undergarments are called such for a reason, Meg should of taken extra precautions.
I love her outfit, I love that it’s an African designer, I love that it’s already sold out, I love how it hugs and fits her figure, I don’t hate nor love the espadrilles, I’m just indifferent to them though I think they work on this outfit and for the occasion. On a shallow note, I enjoyed the clip of Harry playfully touching and strocking his wife’s ponny tail, he is one besotted hubby. I love the Sussexes’ energy, I loved their speeches, I love the informality of this tour and I hated the intrusive pictures of their arrivals that are going around. I will not click on them since I already read here that they’re blurry and grainy which tells me the sneaky press violated them once again just to take unauthorized pics of Archie, I refuse to give them any of my clicks. But all in all, so far so good.
@JaneDoesWork: Rookie mistake? Hardly. I’ve seen the Queen’s undergarments. She came to Canada back in the sixties and there was a big event at Exhibition Stadium where she was driven around in an open car. She stood up at one point to wave to the crowd and a puff of wind came along and between trying to hang onto her purse and hat, she lost control of her dress and it blew up. Stuff happens, it’s better than flashing a bare butt.
The welcoming committee is made up of (tribal) dancers and usually school kids and their parents. That’s the “standard” for every dignitary that require pomp.
Anyway what you see at Nyanga is the norm for visitors, they did it for Theresa May as well.
She looks pretty, I like the dress. Looks like she was enjoying the dancing.
If any of you are interested in local media that’s covering them, check out eNCA and Eyewitness news (PS: The response from SAns isn’t great but these are the media houses doing live updates. The rest are not)
I hope they have a successful tour in my country.
Love the look. She has a pretty face and it shows when her ponytail is pulled back tightly it’s neat and not in her face so her hand is not in her hair as much. I found that to be distracting. I have two pairs of espadrille wedges so I am a fan. I love how she paired it with the wrap dress.
I also am a fan of the informality of this so far. No red carpet roll out, just get to werk!!!
I like her tight ponytail as well. You’re right, it allows the hair from blowing in her face and being distracted touching her hair.
I’m a big fan of hair down Meghan, but I like the pony – especially here. It looks relaxed, but still polished. She’s truly got a great face – and I can see why you’d prefer it up.
Nah. Kate will wear wedges even more now. After all it’s when Meghan showed up that Kate magically discovered trousers existed.
Excited to go on this journey with the Sussex’s!!!
Me too!! So excited!!
Meghan’s words to the teenage girls seemed so appropriate, “Now I know it’s not easy and I know it must feel insurmountable at times, but your commitment to what is right gives all of us hope, especially your brothers and sisters here in your community who need you to continue to shine your light brightly.”
I felt those words could also apply to her and Harry, they have faced some NASTY BS, and in all likelihood, that will continue.
Agreed. Lovely message for those girls, and for lots of people everywhere! I find Duchess Meghan so inspiring!!!
Well I love this outfit and the look. I’d slam Kate for showing leg so I will be equal opportunity here. But she isn’t the future QC so I give Meghan some slack.
Leg? I didn’t see anything wrong with the length
She’s at work. Regardless.
But why?
I am really asking, without snark, why is it a problem to show a little leg (it’s like next to nothing here?)
I
I view it as inappropriate because you’re at work. This is a work trip and I wouldn’t deem this appropriate for an office
Perhaps they took the heat into account? This is outdoor Africa we’re talking here. The outfit seems okay for the climate and the job, to me.
She doesn’t work in an office.
That outfit would be considered perfectly acceptable work-wear in many jobs. It certainly would be considered totally appropriate work-wear in my job.
Only in the strictest, most conservative of traditional office jobs would a below the knee wrap dress be considered inappropriate and she doesn’t work in anything like that. Bit like judging her for not wearing nursing scrubs when she’s not a nurse.
@Purrrr that dress is totally acceptable office wear at every job i’ve had. don’t assume every office is as conservative as yours.
I work in an office and regularly show this much leg, as do many of my coworkers. Like, since when are knees offensive?
Good lord, am I thankful for my work environment!
The dress itself is appropriate for work, be it office etc. However, if Meg is spending half the time trying to hold it down, that’s what the problem is. As already mentioned, had she taken extra precautions and added a pin to kind of close half the wrap or whatever, it would have done her a world of good. You know, like those safety pins that hold wrap skirts together? Something like that would have been really helpful. Just because the queen flashed her undergarments don’t mean it’s right.
@LadyD- Outdoor Africa? Yikes. Please do not stereotype an entire continent. SA is not Ethiopia. It has a mild climate. The highs right now are in the very low 70s. It’s early spring.
Thank you Green Turtle. I thanked you above when I read your comment a few minutes ago, however it never hurts me to have something repeated to me.
Absolutely! I appreciate your graciousness, Lady D.
Huh? Since when are women not allowed to wear dresses at work?
It’s not ok for the black duchess to show her knees.
Although it’s perfectly fine I have seen the white duchess’s actual ass a number of times over the years
Love everything, except those wedges. Small quibble.
There are blurry pics and video of them debarking the plane where you can see Archie in what looks to be Harry’s old pom pom hat. Adorable.
The Fail and Rebecca English call the township the murder capital as if that’s important. They irritate me so much. I’m glad they went there. The dancing was amazing. Justice Desk does good work.
Yep..saw the “murder rate” front and center. I could figure out if she wanted DoS murdered or was blaming them for it.
I think she looks great!! I’m excited for this tour!
The dress is from a UK label actually. Which partners with Malawi for design/ cloth/ labor. Hence the pounds on the website, it is owned by a company headquartered in London.
But as a huge complaint is she doesn’t wear British companies it’s a beautiful tie-in.
Meghan is stunning, beautiful dress. I loved the videos of Meghan dancing
She looks good in that dress, but £69 is definitely not mass market for most Africans. But good job to her for showcasing a business that empowers Africans.
It’s a British company. The company does deliver outside UK but with another 10GBP shipping cost, which isn’t bad imho. Its target audience is more international I thought.
Exactly. The pieces are made in Malawi for sale in Britain. Most of the fast fashion for sale in the US would not be mass market to the Bangladeshi and Vietnamese workers who make it.
Okay let’s not be too picky, these”buts” are totally unnecessary. If and when garments/products are made in developing countries, what’s shipped out gets priced in that wherever country and what remains in the developing country is priced at local market value. Example: a good number of developing countries make and export sunflower oil to the West but do you think the product that remains in those particular developing countries is priced at the same ridiculously high prices sunflower oil costs in the western world? Simple answer is no. But even with that being said you’d be surprised at how many average African women CAN actually afford a £69 dress.
I look forward to the cost of Kate’s outfits being seen as too expensive for the average Pakistani woman when they visit next month …. oh wait that won’t happen because it’s never been raised during the tours over the last eight years and this nonsense only comes up as a bs reason to criticize Meghan.
She looks beautiful! The wedges are fine when you have a lot of walking on different surfaces.
Oof…. I don’t think I like it. Her hair looks great and I generally love a wrap dress. But the slit at the bottom of this one seems to make it bunch weird. And I really really don’t like the shoes. They look outdated.
I’m a huge Meghan fan and I hate criticizing her because she gets so much unfair, racist criticism, but I just don’t think this is her best look.
Such a cute dress! I hope this is a great tour all around.
I’m really hoping she’ll wear a Zuri dress while on tour. US company that sources the kitenge cloth from women throughout Africa. There’s only one shape—a triangle. But they’re fun and flattering. http://www.zuridress.com. And, no, I don’t work for them—but I love the dresses!
i just looked at Zuri dresses and wow, they look awesome. i think Im going to get myself one! Its so hard to find beautiful prints like these!
it’s https://www.shopzuri.com
Thanks. I love the black and brown dress on the front page. Little pricier in my dollars but still worth it.
Thanks for correcting the link, @olive!
Watching some videos from these events and she’s holding her stomach which makes me think she’ll be announcing a pregnancy this tour. If not, I’m so happy she’s flaunting her mom tum (I still have mine and haven’t been pregnant for four years!)
omg her son is just FOUR MONTHS OLD. i highly doubt she’s announcing a pregnancy this tour (which would mean she got pregnant when archie was like 5 weeks old) and wish people would give her a break and not start bump watch this soon post-partum.
@olive don’t you know Archie is really an 8 month old #sarcasm
I too think it’s just a little tummy that’s not shifting post-partum. I lost my weight quickly, but the scale didn’t tell the whole picture. My stomach stayed soft and wider, especially common when nursing as you retain more fluid in that area. I think she looks good with the extra weight thought.
@eliza lol i forgot he’s either actually 8 months old or is just a doll 😉
Ladies, please. Archie is actually the third secret child of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, but was carried in Beyonce’s fake pillow stomach for four months before being given to Megan.
It’s science.
ITA with FC: she looks pregnant!
She looks uncomfortable with how high the slit in the dress is, she’s clearly holding it down in a couple of the pictures. Can you imagine the hysteria we’d be dealing with here if this were Kate, lol.
She looks super pretty and happy though! Proving again she’s the perfect fit for the job.
No, Kate shows her bare arse.
there’s pap photos from their arrival at the airport on the DM and archie appears to be wearing either the same white pom hat harry wore as a baby getting off a flight with diana or a similar modern version!
She looks really great. Her casual style is always on point.
The wedges work with the dress. I dont hate it. 🙂
Wedges are my go-to everything shoe– not necssarily espadrille but definitely closed and rubber-heeled – NEVER hard plastic.
I’ve worn rubber bottom wedges for mapping and hiking, garden working (shovelling), 2 hours walking w headphones, all kinds of shopping and errands in an weather/storms and ice and snow and if you find a fancy pair it can be business too. I have to buy a fresh pair cos I just wear them totally out and beat them senseless 😀 But they dont fail!
She looks cute, I would have weighted the bottom of the dress somehow.
Plain dress and ugly wedges. This look is a miss.
I like the print of the dress and the style. I would have worn a cami under it but that is just me, my girls are a bit more out there, lol. The wedges, eh, I don’t like the ankle ties but other than that they are ok. Not a fan of ankle ties/gladiator sandals but maybe it’s because I don’t have 6 feet of legs to show off!
On another note, I don’t see how they can just jump off the plane and get right to work. I am wiped out after traveling and I head right for bed! Kudos to them for getting the ball rolling right away!
They traveled overnight so maybe they slept? I can’t sleep on a plane to save my life but if they’re in first class then hopefully they were able to.
She looks cute and appropriate, but I’m not a wedge hater either. I find them much more comfy than a regular heel.
Also, Harry looks hot in that white shirt — he’s got nice broad shoulders.
I like wedges, but I don’t like them with the ties around the ankle. (Just personal preference.)
I like the look and she looks good. Wish she would wear more color/ prints in general since she relies too much on black and neutrals but that is her style. I love wedges for summer, and even like Kate’s wedges , although she wears them way too much and the beige is too pale for her.
Haha, she’s trolling with them wedges!!! Well played Meghan!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Harry is wearing a see-through shirt and sneakers. Id love to see some “not-so-royal” commentary on that attire.
Also, for Harry to reference the South African president’s comments, on gender-based violence, seems tone-deaf compared to SA citizens, who were appalled at their president’s lack of timely response and general inaction.
Harry doesnt quite measure up to his wife.
Would someone please advise Kate and Meghan to stop wearing the espadrille wedges.
I love wedges not espadrille wedges.
The dress is cute.
Nice to seeing these two out and about again.
I don’t hate wedgies (I have a pair) but it depends on what you pair them with and the style. Plus some people can wear a dirty bin bag and make it look fabulous.
The dress is meh but appropriate for the weather.
I like wedges but agree not the espadrilles so much. They look more beach wear to me. There are hundreds of different styles of wedges to choose from so not sure why Megs and Kate like these ones so much.
Also looks like Megs needs to weight her hems as well.
I like the black and white dress it’s pretty and a good price. The blue one she wore later is hideous though but I hate those shirt dresses with the belts she seems to love, they’re not flattering at all imo
Would have preferred to see these with the lovely aquazurra flats she wore at the baseball. But I’m not a fan of the dress, it’s cut all wrong for her.
She needs to wear shoes that elevate her because she is so much shorter than Harry, and wedges in this instance, heels would not have worked.
Amen. Honestly, I think this wouldn’t be a terribly flattering cut on a lot of people, though I do like the pattern..
Not quite sure why the barely noticeable tummy is pointed out in the first place! Is there a time limit on how long women are allowed to look like the have given birth?