Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are on their first international tour since stepping back from royal duties, promoting the Invictus Games in Nigeria. As they travel, Meghan’s fashion choices are catching everyone’s eye, sparking a heated online debate.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in London in 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have participated in several tours as part of their royal duties. However, since stepping down, they have embarked on their first international tour to promote Prince Harry’s Invictus Games in Nigeria, independent of any royal representation.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Florida in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Regardless of whether the tours are official royal duties or personal endeavors by Markle and Prince Harry, the media consistently highlights the fashion, particularly the Duchess of Sussex’s attire. Let’s explore Markle’s fashion evolution throughout her global tours
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Düsseldorf, Germany in 2023 | Source: Getty Images
One of the memorable tours of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was in February 2019, which was their last one before they became first-time parents. The tour was based on women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and inclusivity.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The couple started off their three-day royal tour in Morocco, with Markle wearing an elegant red dress with an embroidered cape over her shoulders to meet the prince of Morocco. She kept her hair out of her face and finished off the look with nude pumps. Her husband rocked a grey suit with a pink tie and grey suede shoes.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
On the second day, the couple visited a girls’ boarding school, and both Prince Harry and his wife kept their outfits casual. Markle wore black skinny jeans with a matching top showing off her baby bump and black loafers. She then threw on a navy blazer, a grey scarf, and black sunglasses.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The Duke of Sussex was just as casual with a light blue jumper paired with a white shirt peeking at the neck. He paired it with navy pants and brown shoes and protected his eyes with brown sunglasses.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Later on in the evening, the couple changed into more formal wear for the reception hosted by the British Ambassador in Morocco. The then mother-to-be wore a long cream dress with draped sleeves. She pulled her hair back and finished off the look with a gold clutch and gold pumps. Her husband kept it simple with a black suit.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The final day was at the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports, which was another casual day. Markle wore black pants with a striped shirt and a military green jacket. She paired the look with black heeled boots and put her hair in a low ponytail. Prince Harry wore a blue button-up shirt with a black jacket over it, paired with dark grey pants.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Morocco in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The next royal tour was in South Africa in September 2019. Markle had just welcomed her son Archie and showcased her post-birth fashion. For her 10-day tour, the Duchess of Sussex opted for neutral colors.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
One of her first outfits was during her visit to a history museum in Cape Town, where she kept a casual look with a blue long-sleeved button-down dress paired with black espadrilles. On the same day, she visited the Nyanga Township and wore a black and white wrap dress with the same espadrilles.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The next day, September 24, 2019, the former actress donned another casual outfit. This time she wore black jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a jean jacket over it. For shoes, she went with brown leather loafers and a green bag.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Later in the day, Markle had a tea party and a visit to a mosque and changed into a long khaki button-down dress with a belt around the waist, paired with beige flats. Her husband kept the neutral theme and wore a cream suit.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The Duchess of Sussex changed again into a long green and brown striped dress, with thick straps showing off her shoulders. She accessorized with black earrings and kept her hair down.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
For her tea with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on September 25, 2019, she went for a blue and white patterned midi dress with black heels. Prince Harry wore a navy blue suit and on this day, they also brought a special guest, their son Archie.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with Archie in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
In the afternoon, she changed into a black jumpsuit with her hair slicked back and kept the same black heels. For the rest of the days, Markle kept a rotation of neutral-colored dresses.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Cape Town in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
On October 1, 2019, she wore another green button-down dress, but this one was short and paired it with the same black suede pumps.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
On the same day, she changed into a brown short-sleeved blazer dress with brown buttons and wore it with cream pumps. The next day, Markle wore a similar dress but this time a bit longer and in a lighter cream shade.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
She also complemented this outfit with cream pumps. The Duchess of Sussex then changed into a long white button-down dress, accessorized with red earrings and the same nude heels.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
For her non-royal tour, Markle brought back a few pieces from the past, but some outfits caused a heated debate among internet users. Prince Harry and his wife were in Nigeria for the promotion of the Invictus Games recently. The couple was only there for 72 hours but had many engagements that required different outfits.
On the first day, the Duchess of Sussex started off the tour with a peach maxi dress, exposing her back and her arms. Her husband complimented the brown tones with a light brown linen outfit. However, readers were not too impressed with her outfit choice, especially since she was meeting school kids.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Commenters felt that her dress was inappropriate and indicated that Markle had not considered the modest dress codes in Nigeria.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“When you visit another country, you check the dress code so as not to offend,” remarked a reader. “Backless hem dragging on the ground, crumpled and VPL. Looks like an old blanket draped around her,” added another internet user.
More netizens emphasized how it did not match the occasion. “Her dress is appalling and inappropriate,” expressed a commenter. Another shared the same sentiments, adding, “She lacks a sense of location and occasion, often choosing clothes that are inappropriate.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
In the evening, the 42-year-old went for another elegant look. This time she wore white pants with a matching blazer, which has been thought to be the same blazer she wore at the Invictus Games in Sydney when she was still pregnant with her now five-year-old son. Prince Harry opted for a contrasting deep green suit.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
She accessorized with a gold necklace, but repeating the blazer was seen as a sign of financial struggle by a few commenters. “Running out of money to buy new clothes,” remarked a reader. While another added, “She started wearing outfits more than once. That’s very unlike her. A sign of their shrinking finances.”
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The next occasion the couple had was a lunch with the Nigerian defense minister and they brought back the glamour. The Duchess of Sussex went for something simple but elegant. She wore a strapless white floor-length dress with a dainty gold cross necklace and Prince Harry wore a cream-white suit to match.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
However, for a few commenters, this was another outfit from Markle that missed the mark. “Full-length evening dress for lunch!! Got it wrong again MM!” expressed a commenter. Another emphasized that it was inappropriate, “Covering herself would have made her look much more classy. Poor girl just can’t get it right.”
People pointed out that the outfits Markle had worn thus far were either backless, strapless or had straps, while the rest of the women in the pictures had their shoulders covered.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with the attendants of the Invictus Games celebration in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
For the next event, which was with Nigeria’s Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Markle went for a vibrant red dress. The dress had thin straps but was long with a ruffling detail at the end. She said she chose the color because she realized she had to match the colorful fashion in Nigeria.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Women in Leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
“It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived, and I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more color so I can fit in with all of you and your incredible fashion!” expressed the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Women in Leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
But people still thought the dress was an “odd” choice. “It seemed an odd choice of outfit for the occasion. More suitable for a night out,” suggested a commenter. Some readers still had a problem with her bare shoulders. “It is a pity she did not read the rest of the memo which said ensure your shoulders are covered!!”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Another also thought going for an outfit with more coverage would have been more befitting because her red dress made it look like she was going to the beach.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Women in Leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
To watch the game, Markle sat on the sidelines with her husband beside her. She went for a long leaf-detailed dress with dazzled-up straps. The sundress also had a small cut-out right under the bust area, and to keep it casual, she went with black sandals.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
For one of her last outfits, Markle brought back another piece of clothing she had worn before. This time she wore the flowy yellow dress she wore when she announced her pregnancy with her daughter. She chose to wear the special silk dress for a meeting at the State Governor’s House in Lagos.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Lagos, Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
She paid homage to the Nigerian tradition by adding a green and white fabric over her shoulders, which perfectly complemented her yellow dress.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Lagos Nigeria in 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Wearing her pregnancy dress had some people wondering if the Duchess of Sussex was expecting again. “Something funny around her abdomen area!” Another speculated, “Is she pregnant? She’s so slim but this tiny belly is not usual for her and given her calculating every move, it seems deliberate.”