Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Prove They’re Still Pros When It Comes to Royal Tours

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in “royal” tour mode—but this time, on their own terms. The couple touched down in Nigeria this week for a 72-hour visit, and their wardrobe choices thus far have spoken volumes. Exhibit A: the virtually backless dress Meghan wore for a trip to the Jewels Leading Lights Academy in Abuja on Friday that felt much more American Riviera Orchard than House of Windsor; the blush silk design is, in fact, from a 2018 collection by Heidi Merrick, a go-to label for the Duchess in recent months. (The California lifestyle brand is also responsible for her sundress at the polo in Miami.) Paired with vintage Lanvin earrings and her other jewelry signatures (namely, Cartier’s Tank watch and Love bracelet), the look felt simultaneously polished and relaxed.

In a Heidi Merrick dress for the couple’s first outing in Abuja. Photo: Getty Images

For their second engagement on Friday, on the other hand, Harry and Meghan made it clear that, while they may no longer be senior “working” royals, they haven’t forgotten the etiquette drilled into them when dispatched to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand by the late Queen in the wake of their 2018 wedding. Although it’s traditionally left to female members of the royal family to pay tribute to their host country, the Sussexes delivered a fashion double act: the Duchess slipped into a snow-white Altuzarra suit (first worn in Sydney during her pregnancy with Archie), while the Duke appeared in teal-green tailoring, comprising a joint nod to the colors of the Nigerian flag.

And first thing on Saturday morning? The couple was back at work once again, with Meghan selecting Johanna Ortiz’s Tropicana Nights dress to watch her husband play a game of volleyball, having previously turned to the Colombian designer for the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards. Ever the California girl, the Duchess has long incorporated palm leaves into her wardrobe, from diamond Luna Skye studs to the La Ligne dress she wore to announce her second pregnancy, making this particular look both sentimental and stylish. In other words, classic Meghan.

This article was originally published on Vogue.com. 

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