Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wowed crowds as she made a surprise appearance on stage at the British Fashion Awards in London on Monday night.
The duchess, who is expecting her first child with Prince Harry in spring 2019, came on stage to honour her wedding dress designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of Givenchy, with the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award.
And all eyes were on Meghan’s growing baby bump which she cradled as she stood on stage, dressed in a fitted black one-shoulder velvet gown by Givenchy, with her hair pulled back in a sleek bun.
The duchess delivered an impassioned speech about women’s empowerment to the audience, which was filled with the who’s who of Britain’s fashion set, including her own wedding guests, David and Victoria Beckham.
“It’s so nice to see so many familiar faces,” the 37-year-old told the crowd, news.com.au reported.
“As all of you in this room know, we have a deep connection to what we wear. Sometimes it’s very personal, sometimes it’s emotional. But for me this connection is rooted in, really, being able to understand that it’s about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women.”
While accepting her award, Waight Keller, 44, thanked the duchess personally in her acceptance speech, describing her as “amazing”.
“This woman is so amazing. I got to know Meghan on such a personal level. To have someone like that trust you on such a personal moment in their life … I can’t thank you enough because it was the most beautiful moment.”
The designer created the beautiful silk wedding gown that Meghan wore to marry Harry at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May.
The event was the first the duchess has attended this month, having slowed her busy schedule as her pregnancy progresses. Last month she returned to Hubb Community Kitchen in London to visit the Grenfell Tower survivors she got to know so well over the past year.
Meghan collaborated on a cook book with many of the local women at the community kitchen who came together after the tragic apartment building fire to cook and strengthen the bonds of their community. The proceeds raised from the book have been used to redesign the modest community kitchen into a welcoming space where women and their families can come together to cook and share meals.