Talk about a Royal welcome to the family! The Duchess of Sussex arrived in Chester for a day of royal engagements with none other than Her Majesty the Queen.
Meghan and Queen Elizabeth arrived by train to Runcorn Station.
The Queen & The Duchess will view the new Mersey Gateway Bridge, including a plaque unveiling to celebrate the new infrastructure project.
The actor in Meghan will surely appreciate the visit made to Storyhouse, meeting a Syrian settlement group engaged in craft work and watching a dance performance by ‘Fallen Angels’, a group of young people finding recovery from addiction through dance.
Finally, Her Majesty The Queen and The Duchess of Sussex walked to Chester Town Hall where they attended lunch as guests of Chester City Council before returning back to London. At the lunch, images of Meghan emerged with the cape portion of her dress removed – a smart touch by Clare Wight Keller to ensure Meghan could eat with ease!
Image via Instagram
Dress: Bespoke Givenchy for Clare Waight Keller based on their Spring/Summer Collection’s ‘Look 35’
Belt: Givenchy 2G Buckle Belt
Shoes: Sarah Flint Perfect Pump 100 in Black Nappa
Bag: Givenchy Leather Crossbody in Black
Earrings: Pearl and Diamond studs, a gift from the Queen, from her personal collection.
Bracelet: Diamond Tennis bracelet, TBC. Possibly believed to be Cartier as seen previously.
What we first noticed was something missing – a hat! Most royal women wear hats when out with The Queen, something Meghan did not adhere to for her engagement today. Meghan’s look was definitely reviewed by Royal advisors, so it was not an oversight! We think that it was a personal choice, and another step towards how the royal family is modernizing under Meghan.
We also loved the personal touch that was shared between the Queen and her new granddaughter-in-law as The Queen gifted Meghan with a pair of pearl & diamond earrings which Meghan wore today. We love to think of the Queen digging through her personal collection (the rumoured source) to find something for Meghan, and then also of how special those earrings will be to Meghan.
The Dress
The Belt
The Shoes
The Bag
The Earrings
Image via PA (Legion Media)
What did you think of Meghan’s look today?
All images are via the British Royal Family/Kensington Palace on Twitter unless otherwise noted.
I think this was a very appropriate outfit. Simple, true to Meghan’s style and doesn’t distract from the queen. Not surprised it was Givenchy upon viewing it- there’s definite similarities with her wedding dress.
It’s not Chester, it’s Cheshire, wow…..
Thanks for the feedback, Polly! We were referencing Operational Notes, but will check to make sure we have the correct use included!
The town of Chester is in the county of Cheshire
This color palette is here to stay – 3 neutral dresses in a row. Lovely dress – just want a different color. I had hoped for a switch up. That said, the dress itself is nice.
Well at least she didn’t pair the dress with blush pumps and a tonal handbag. The dress looks off white, but I’m guessing the photography washes out the color. I think she’s wearing the Cartier diamond tennis bracelet, Blush is here to stay! Hip, hip hurrah!
Beautifu from head to toes. Very class. It is windy nothing she can do about it and the effect on her haïr. I like it that she didn’t wear any hat as to my opinion it would have been boring ( only black and cream as options) and it would have made it too much. Simple class. Working woman at a very formal event. Givenchy dress it seems, similar to the style thé designer wore during the Met gala. The simple lines and minimum make up just highlight meghan ‘s natural beauty. She is a beautiful woman definetely.
Beautiful beige dress which enhances Meghan’s complexion and will be her signature color palette- check
Lovely shoulder detail with the caplet by Givenchy – check (I would love if they develop an ongoing relationship with bespoke clothing for many of her future official engagements)
Loose, yet still polished blown out hair – check
Perfect black pumps – check
Meghan’s outing with the Queen was an outstanding success!
The pantyhose is still a bit too light.
She likes an interesting neckline! The cape style of the top reminds me of her Stella McCartney dress from the Queen’s concert. It’s elegant and simple, as is the whole outfit. Looking at her style as she becomes royal, she’s keeping colors neutral but throwing in interesting features like the neckline/hem on the Roland Mouret dress; the off the shoulder Carolina Herrera at the trouping; the sheer top at the garden party; the wedding dress of course. The Queen looks like she’s having a good time!
The Duchess of Sussex is beautiful, elegant as usual . But, for the earrings I saw that Birks put, on instagram, it was theirs that she wore.
Hi Naty, Buckingham Palace confirmed that they are NOT from Birks. It’s most likely that they are from The Queen’s personal collection.
Yes. Sorry. I saw that after. For me, fan of bag and shoes, all the collections of the Duchess of Sussex make me dream.
It does for all of us!
xo,
A&C
What is that bracelet?
Not 100% sure yet. It *could* be the rumoured Cartier tennis bracelet that we saw previously. Still working on confirming 🙂
Love the dress. Appropriate but still definitely her style. I am OK with her wearing neutrals because they flatter her (unlike most people, myself included), and for the most part, the outfits have had interesting details that make up for the lack of color. The shoes are boring but go well with the black accessories. My only complaint was going to be the earrings because pearls are so Sloaney, but now reading that they are a gift from the Queen, it makes sense that she would wear them for her outing.
I actually love how delighted the Queen appears to be with her. In these pictures and ones from other news sites, Her Maj is very animated and seems to be having a genuinely good time with Meghan.
Meghan has certainly been rocking the retro look lately and I’m loving it!! At first I wasn’t too sure about the top part of this dress, it seemed to overwhelm her petite frame, but the more I see it in action the more I’m liking it.
Wow, a gift of earrings from the Queen!!! Jumpy claps, jumpy claps!!! HM and Meghan appear to be getting on like a house on fire, I don’t know when I’ve seen the Queen smile so much during an engagement. I have to say that these two are really cute together and I hope we get to see more double engagements in the future.
Meghan is killing me with all of her awesome handbags!! If you haven’t already noticed handbags and jewelry are my very favorite guilty pleasures 🙂 and I want this bag in the worst way!! Well, actually I haven’t seen a handbag of Meghan’s that I haven’t wanted in the worst way, lol
Thanks for a great post MM!!
Hi again, I wanted to share this video that shows some very interesting seams on Meghan’s dress.
Lovely video
Thanks for sharing, Lauri!!!
Any guesses on the nail polish colour?
Our guess is still on the Ballet Slippers – one, it’s very similar to wedding nails from what we can tell and two, it’s the favorite shade of Her Majesty!
xo
I can never understand how people get Ballet Slippers to go on in a way that is not streaky and uneven. By the time I apply enough coats to even it out, it is super thick and messed up looking. It is like painting my nails with White Out. I guess opaque polish is not for me.
We’ve found that it only *really* works when you have the nails really (really) well buffed, a good topcoat and then an expert polish application. Meghan’s also used another gel polish in similar shade, the Rimmel London SuperGel Polish. Maybe give that a go?
Thanks for the tips…I have pretty much resigned myself to using shimmery/glittery polish so I will give this a go.
Beautiful! I bet HMQ had a great time. Sometimes when you get to teach a new person and show them your job you get a little energy jolt of your own, as you see it from someone else’s eyes. It’s always fun to stop to see your life from a fresh perspective and be so useful.
I adore this outfit, but then I believe in neutrals with interesting details so Meghan’s clothes almost always thrill me. I can see why some others hope for some color, or a hat, but this West Coast American’s heart is singing! This looks expensive, classy, tasteful, but still interesting and beautiful. My favorite working outfit so far. Yes, I know we’ve only had three!
I don’t think this event warranted a hat. Give me a break, should Meghan wear gloves too? Different generation. People should have bigger issues to ponder.
Hi Jane,
Thanks for the comment! It’s so much fun to see the different opinions on here – everyone has a view on fashion, which is why it’s so personal, and why we love seeing what everyone has to say. We love that she didn’t wear a hat, but also see why others could be wishing to see one. One person’s “hat gate” is another person’s “pantyhose gate”.
And as for people should have “bigger issues to ponder” – we’re a fashion blog. We’ve often said that we are well aware that what Meghan wears is not the most important element to consider as compared to her work or even just what’s happening in the daily newscycle. We’re here to share fashion, have fun and take our minds off of some of those bigger issues for a few moments. Hope you understand. 🙂
Have a great afternoon!
A&C
Ok, I’m going to say it…I’d have loved a small beret (perhaps the black Philip Treacy one she wore to the ANZAC Church Service?) I loved the outfit as it is but I just thought that beret would go well with the colour scheme. That being said, she’s not exactly breaking tradition as Kate and Camilla did not wear a hat when they went with the Queen to Fortnum and Mason’s.
Hi Smithy,
Thanks for the comment! We love that this is a spot for everyone to express their views, and can definitely envisage Meghan wearing a hat 🙂
As for the royal visits “sans hat”, yes, there have been examples of it but it is still breaking, even ever so subtly from tradition in our view. But that’s what makes these comments so great – we all have our own views!
Have a great afternoon!
A&C
The dress is gorgeous but the price tag on the whole outfit is astronomically high. Also, way too much makeup. What happened to not covering up the freckles? Megan has gorgeous skin but since she became an official royal the makeup seems heavier.
I could be wrong but I believe hats are only mandatory for church and royal ascot. Meghan looked very chic and modern and I think a hat with that outfit would have looked out of place. As for the colour, she staying true to her preferred colour palette. I’m happy she’s not changed just because she’s a royal. Kate provides the colours, the last thing I want to see is meghan twinning her sister in law.
I kind of love that she’s covered with the half-cape, I am 100% sure this didn’t go through her mind but I love the idea of her thinking ‘complain about my shoulders now, guys!’.
I absolutely love this outfit, it’s one of my favorites of Meghan’s! I adore a cape, and this dress fit her to a T. Another reader mentioned gloves, boy I would have loved some short day gloves with this!! I think Her Majesty really was enjoying her time with Meghan, what charming women!
I loved this look from head to toe. What I like with Meghan is that his style is modern and professional all I would like to wear if I did not have to put on nurse’s outfit lol
I think that the hat would have been too much with all the team she had around her if it had to be told she was told
My trick to minimize streaking with ballet slippers is to apply a ridge filler as a base coat and primer, then then two very light coats of polish. There’s enough pigment in the ridge filler to even out the colour.
Hope that helps!
Loved everything about her outfit, especially the dress and bag! I for one am glad that she is sticking to neutrals…to me, it’s a way to keep some of her old style while dressing for her new title.
Absolute perfection.
An absolutely perfect dress for this event. She has that same sleek look we see on Robin Wright in House of Cards. Many may not realize the Queen is wearing a coat and hat she wore at Ascot last year. The two look marvelous together. I’d love to see Meghan get her hair under control but Kate suffers the same difficulties with hers. I forsee more updo’s in the future.
I love this ensemble on Meghan. The color is very pretty and the dress is appropriate with and without the cape. I think it’s important to show respect for Her Majesty. The accessories were spot on. I do think that a hat would have helped her keep her hair from becoming such a distraction for both herself and those watching her. One thing she can learn from Catherine is to have a hair tie with her at all times for when the wind provides a challenge.
When going back in history Diana actually broke the “hat at all times” barrier. It was a big controversy when she started attending engagements with a “bare head” and the press went crazy. She’s also the one who ditched the gloves permanently. As Princess of Wales she had a little more latitude. I think it’s not necessarily appropriate for Catherine or Meghan to push the envelope at this stage in their royal careers.