She’s got one of the most enviable wardrobes in the world with an endless supply of outfits on hand, but Meghan chose to transform one of her statement pregnancy dresses for her latest outing – and she completely stole the show in the vibrant look.
The Duchess of Sussex opted for an eye-catching purple maxi dress by Aritzia for her solo appearance at the One Young World summit on Tuesday evening. While it reportedly initially cost £81 (AU$152), it has since been reduced to just £29, a far cry from some of her stunning designer outfits on past royal engagements.
While the duchess originally wore the dress with a bright red coat and matching heels while pregnant with Archie, she wore it on its own this time round and glammed it up with some high blue stilettos. Wearing her hair loose in waves over her shoulders, it was a change from her elegant up styles in recent months.
The duke and duchess’ official Instagram page shared a video of her incredible entrance to the summit shortly after, as the crowd stood to welcome her while she took to the stage with a beaming smile. Hugging people on stage, she proved a natural as she congratulated the inspirational young leaders.
“The Duchess of Sussex attended the 10th Annual One Young World Summit Opening Ceremony at the @RoyalAlbertHall in London along with 2,000 young leaders from 190+ countries,” the caption read. “This is her third time in attendance as a counsellor for these extraordinary young leaders from around the world, and her first time attending as a member of The Royal Family and Vice President of The @Queens_Commonwealth_Trust.”
It was Meghan’s first public appearance since a bombshell documentary with her husband Prince Harry in which she admitted she’d struggled with the media backlash during her pregnancy and in her first few months as a new mum. The duchess, who became a mother for the first time in May this year, opened up in her most honest interview to date about the “vulnerability” she felt at the time.
Footage was shared online from the ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, which showed Meghan openly discussing her personal struggles, in her first solo interview since becoming a duchess. Speaking to ITV journalist Tom Bradby, the mum-of-one said: “Look, any woman especially when they are pregnant you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a new born, you know…
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“And especially as a woman, it’s a lot. So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed. And, also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
In the short clip, Meghan could be seen getting visibly emotional as Bradby then asked her: “Would it be fair to say, [you’re] not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle??” To which the duchess replied: “Yes.”
In another heartbreaking clip from the show, which was released days ago, Prince Harry also became emotional as he opened up about the “festering wound” caused by his mother Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997.
After Bradby asked Harry if he feels “at peace” yet, Harry replied: “I think probably a wound that festers. I think being part of this family, in this role, in this job, every single time I see a camera, every time I see a flash, it takes me straight back.
“So in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life, as opposed to the best. Being here now 22-years later, trying to finish what she started, will be incredibly emotional. Everything that I do reminds me of her. But with the role, with the job and the pressures that come with that, I get reminded of the bad stuff unfortunately.”
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