Meghan Markle recycles sky blue £465 Veronica Beard shirt-dress she wore in Tonga a year ago during Africa tour
MEGHAN Markle has recycled one of her favourite dresses from her South Pacific tour last year as she stepped out with Prince Harry in Cape Town this afternoon.
The Duchess of Sussex first wore the beautiful £465 sky blue shirt-dress by Veronica Beard during a visit to Tonga when she was three months pregnant last October.
For its first public outing, the Duchess paired the chic button-down midi dress with some light blue heels and minimal jewellery.
Shortly after Meghan stepped out in the dress the first time, we revealed that she’d had both thigh-high slits sewn to cover her knees and avoid breaking royal protocol.
But almost a year on, Meghan has recycled the dress but chosen to style it completely differently.
Wearing her hair down in her signature waves, the Duchess didn’t don any of her usual necklaces or bracelets – opting only for a pair of simple gold earrings.
The Duchess also kept on the £80 black espadrilles she’d had on earlier in the day as the couple arrived for their tour District Six Museum to learn about the work done to reunite people affected by the apartheid.
The Veronica Beard dress appears to be a favourite of Meghan’s as she chose a picture of her wearing it during last year’s tour for both her birthday thank you cards and Harry’s Instagram tribute on her 38th birthday.
Earlier today, Meghan arrived for her first engagement of her 10-day tour in a patterned wrap dress made from a sustainable African label.
The Duchess’s espadrilles are by a brand loved by Kate Middleton.
The mum-of-one’s shoes are black canvas wedges by Castaner, and she’s previously worn them on her royal tour to Australia last year.
Meanwhile, her stylish maxi wrap dress – which has currently sold out – is by Mayamiko, and costs £69.
The website says the dress has been ethically made from locally-sourced 100 per cent cotton in Malawi, by artisans from the Mayamiko workshop.
Today, Meghan could be seen hugging children as she arrived at the Nyanga Township in Cape Town with Harry, 35.
The stylish duchess attended a workshop that teaches children about their rights, self-awareness and safety.
Meghan was pictured beaming as she wore her brunette locks pulled back in a neat pony tail to reveal £482.46 diamond and turquoise earrings from Jennifer Meyer.
Both Meghan and Harry wore matching bracelets that spelled out the word Justice, and the duchess was also spotted wearing a Hamsa necklace, which is said to bring “luck, fertility and good fortune”.
Just hours earlier the royal couple landed in Cape Town after a British Airways flight, with Meghan proving she can nail airport chic in a stylish grey coat, white jeans and £133 flats.
She arrived in the South African city with Harry and four-month-old Archie, who wore a white bobble hat.
The adorable hat looked nearly identical to one worn by Harry as he was carried by Princess Diana in 1985.
- Dalitso maxi wrap dress, £69 from Mayamiko –
- Castaner canvas wedge espadrilles, £80, Net-A-Porter –
- Diamond Bezel with turquoise marquise studs, £482.46 from Jennifer Meyer –
Meghan wore Everlane The Editor Slingback shoes as she arrived for the tour, and these are available in numerous styles.
Meghan is a fan of the US-brand, which claims to make quality products at ethical factories.
The couple got stuck into the tour straight away and Meghan gave a powerful speech within hours of their arrival.
The royal couple visited an impoverished township on the first morning of their visit to Africa, following a series of murders of women in South Africa.
According to the World Health Organisation, the country’s rate of women being murdered is five times the global average.
While royal family members typically tend to avoid getting involved with the politics of countries they are visiting, sources claim the Sussexes will speak out on the violence.
The palace confirmed: “Harry and Meghan will begin their tour in a township in Cape Town where the royals will view a workshop that teaches children about their rights, self-awareness and safety and which provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community.”
And after a number of public appearances together, mum Meghan is expected to stay in Johannesburg with Archie while Harry goes to Botswana, Angola and Malawi.
As part of the tour, Harry will also meet a British military unit who are working alongside the local rangers to help combat the threat of the illegal wildlife trade in Malawi.
- The Editor Slingback flats, £133 from Everlane –
The new dad will also make a “significant and poignant” trip to Angola to see his mum Princess Diana’s legacy, who helped raise awareness for the threat posed by landmines in 1997.
The palace said that while Harry is eager to “support young people across Africa to reach their potential”, wife Meghan will also be “working with organisations to promote women’s education, health, entrepreneurship and leadership”.
The couple are also expected to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu at their legacy foundation.
They will also speak with Grace Machel, the widow of the late President Nelson Mandela, before the tour finishes on October 2.
Meghan last week dazzled in £8,900 Valentino dress as she arrived with Harry for pal Misha Nonoo’s lavish Italian wedding.
We also revealed Princess Charlotte’s hair flip was hailed the “cutest thing ever” as she arrived for her first day of school.
And we showed you Meghan’s tribute to Vogue photographer Peter Lindbergh following his death at 74.