Meghan wears Diana’s £75K aquamarine ring to accept Ripple of Hope award
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Tuesday attended a public event for the first time since the trailer for their bombshell Netflix documentary dropped.
The pair attended the Ripple of Hope Awards Gala in New York City to receive the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award.
The couple held hands and posed for photographs before the star-studded gala, dressed to the nines in outfits worthy of a red carpet event.
Meghan, 41, wore a custom off-the-shoulder ankle-length gown by Louis Vuitton in an off-white shade, whilst Harry, 38, opted for a navy-blue suit and tie.
Meghan slicked her hair back into her signature low chignon, and accessorised with diamond earrings, and Diana’s £75,000 aquamarine ring, which was given to her by Harry on their wedding day as her ‘something blue’.
The dress, which featured a slit up the front centre, is yet another example of how her style has changed post-Royal Family.
Not only is a shoulder-baring gown such as her’s rarely seen on a royal (although Kate did make waves with her Roland Mouret number in the summer and again at the Earthshot Prize Awards last week), but also unusual for a member of the Royal Family to opt for a fashion label such as Louis Vuitton, as most choose to represent British brands.
Diana herself only reached for European brands such as Vuitton, as well as Chanel and Gucci, after her and the then Prince Charles had separated, and became a style icon in her post-divorce days.
Of course, before she married Harry, Meghan was used to being in the public eye. Not only was she starring in courtroom drama Suits, but the then-actor was attending events and walking countless red carpets, so she has always known a thing or two about looking good in front of the camera.
A-list events, and even her own lifestyle blog The Tig, had to take a step back though when she became a senior member of the Royal Family when marrying Prince Harry in 2018.
Cue high-neck midi dresses and work-appropriate pencil skirts for public appearances, and demure gowns for evening wear as the couple took on their duties on behalf of the monarchy.
But when, in January 2020, the couple made the decision to step down as senior royals, the duchess’ style blossomed into its post-royal glory.
Firstly, unrestricted by protocol, or the unwritten fashion rules of 'The Firm', Meghan has been able to stretch her sartorial legs out again, trying out ensembles that she may not have been able to as a working royal, such as baring slightly more skin and shorter cuts.
Her wardrobe now also features more trend-led pieces. Meghan’s royal wardrobe was understandably quite conservative, but today we’re seeing a lot more experimentation with different silhouettes and designers.
Read more: Every time the Duchess of Cambridge and Sussex subtly honoured Princess Diana
Of course, she hasn’t lost her own sense of style. The classics – button-down shirts, blazers, indigo jeans – that she wore before are all still there, if even more refined.
As the Duchess of Sussex returns to the red carpet, take a look at how Meghan’s style trajectory has changed since leaving her role as a senior member of the Royal Family.
December 2022
Meghan wore a custom Louis Vuitton dress to accept the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award in December 2022. She paired the draped design with Diana's aquamarine ring and diamond earrings.
September 2022
Meghan wore a black caped dress by British designer Stella McCartney to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth on September 19, 2022, along with a pair of pearl and diamond earrings gifted to her by the late monarch upon her wedding to Prince Harry.
September 2022
The Duchess of Sussex revealed her toned bare arms on a trip to Dusseldorf, Germany in September 2022 for the Invictus Games One Year To Go events. She paired the knitted halterneck top with cream wide-leg trousers, and didn't wear a jacket on top.
September 2022
Meghan chose an all-red ensemble for her the One Young World summit in September. It was her first public speaking engagement in the UK since the couple left England for California, and stepped back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family.
The sleek silk blouse and co-ordinating wide-legged tailored trousers by Valentino were accessorised with gold hoop earrings and a gold signet ring.
July 2022
Meghan opted for a smart, black figure-hugging, knee-length dress, which featured three-quarter length sleeves as she supported Prince Harry during a speech at the UN for Nelson Mandela day. She wore her hair back in a coiffed ponytail and accessorised with a black Mulberry handbag and high heels.
June 2022
For her first official royal event in over two years, Meghan wore a Dior haute couture white coat midi dress featuring a belt, statement collar, cropped sleeves and a slight A-line skirt for the Service of Thanksgiving in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
April 2022
A pair of indigo jeans and a belted cream jacket were the items of choice for watching the volleyball at the 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands in 2022, after they had been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2022
Meghan forewent what would have been royal protocol and went for a Khaite off-the-shoulder bodysuit and tailored trouser combination to introduce her husband during the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony. The white ruched top was also compared to one worn by Meghan's late mother-in-law Princess Diana in the '90s.
April 2022
What's so un-royal about a white suit you may ask? The Duchess of Cambridge wears her Alexander McQueen version regularly after all. But Meghan's Valentino two-piece offers a little more oomph that makes it decidedly more 'fashion'. Wide-leg tailored trousers combined with the oversized blazer makes for a cool, effortless, laidback-luxe feel without losing any elegance.
April 2022
Diana is that you? Meghan opted for a classic look for a fun day out with kids and families at the 2020 Invictus Games, that could have come directly from Princess Diana's playbook. The casual but practical jeans? Check. A boucle navy jacket by a prominent French brand? (Diana's was Chanel, Meghan's Celine) Check. The two tone ballet pumps? Check check check.
November 2021
Younger female members of the Royal Family have always had a penchant for wearing red, but this Caroline Herrera dress is something else, and far from what you might see a working senior royal wear with its plunging neckline and front slit. Still, Meghan manages to make it elegant and not look overly sexy.
September 2021
Whilst the to half of Meghan's Valentino dress for Global Citizen Live in 2021 is still quite conservative, a mini dress on a royal? Shocker! This is where we really start to see the duchess branching back out with her own sartorial style.
March 2020
For one of their final appearances before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to their new home in California, Meghan opted for deep green dress and matching fascinator for the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. But it was the additional draped cape that gave her outfit a little oompf, and gave fans a glimpse of what was to come from her post-royal style.
January 2020
The day before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back from their roles as senior royals, the duchess wore a sleek monochrome brown outfit, where you could already see her stretching her sartorial legs in a way that working royals can't.