The Duchess of Sussex’s fashion choices often contain special meanings, from keeping Prince Harry and her kids close to her heart to supporting female empowerment
Markle also paid homage to Princess Diana several times, including a Cartier tennis bracelet that once belonged to her late mother-in-law and a Christian Dior Lady D-Lite handbag popularised by her

Over the years, Meghan Markle has always appeared elegant, with well-put-together looks that are both appropriate and stylish. But there are also hidden special meanings in her sartorial choices.

Here’s how the Duchess of Sussex incorporates sentimental touches to her outfits …

1. Good Morning America interview, 2019

Meghan Markle gave an interview to Good Morning America in 2019. Photo: GMA

Advertisement

The Duchess of Sussex kept her husband and son close to her heart in a Good Morning America interview taped in 2019.

Markle wore a set of zodiac sign necklaces by Canadian jewellery brand Suetables for the pre-recorded interview, which aired in 2020. It marked her first TV appearance after stepping down as a senior member of the royal family.

Canadian jewellery brand Suetables’ Zodiac Collection. Photo: Suetables

The US$84 horoscope necklace featured Harry’s Virgo sign while the US$152 coin necklace had a Taurus charm in honour of Archie’s May birthday.

2. Royal engagement at the Commonwealth Day Service, March 2020

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meets children as she attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 in March 2020, in London, England. Photo: TNS

One of Markle’s final royal engagement looks seemed to honour the late Princess Diana. She wore an emerald green Emilia Wickstead dress and cape, paired with a matching hat and netted fastener. The look was reminiscent of Princess Di’s 1982 maternity ensemble that she wore to Trooping the Colour.

Advertisement

The royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremony, in 1982. Photo: Getty Images

Markle’s green netted fastener was especially similar to Diana’s accessory, though it is unclear if she paid tribute to the late princess on purpose.

3. Global Citizen’s Vax Live benefit concert, May 2021

Meghan Markle at Global Citizen’s 2021 Vax Live benefit concert. Photo: Vax Live

Advertisement

At Global Citizen’s 2021 Vax Live benefit concert, Markle wore a necklace from a collection honouring Kamala Harris. Her necklace is actually part of the Kamala Harris + Woman Power Necklace Set from the brand Awe Inspire. The two-piece set contains a coin necklace engraved with a photo of Vice-President Harris and a charm necklace with the female gender symbol.

In her pre-recorded speech that aired during the concert, Markle spoke about female empowerment and welcoming a baby girl. At the time of the speech, she was pregnant with her and Harry’s second child, Lilibet.

4. Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, June 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, talk on Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special, in June 2021. Photo: TNS

Advertisement

The outfit and accessories Markle wore for her and Prince Harry’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey featured many hidden details.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a US$4,700 Armani gown decorated with a white lotus flower print. According to Binghamton University, the plant “symbolises purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth”.

A spokesperson for Markle told The Telegraph that she was aware of the print’s meaning and “understands that a lotus seed can withstand thousands of years without water, able to germinate over two centuries later”.

A representative for the duchess also said that Markle paid tribute to Princess Diana by wearing a Cartier tennis bracelet that once belonged to her late mother-in-law.

5. Global Citizen Live Concert, September 2021

Meghan and Prince Harry attend Global Citizen Live, New York City, in September 2021. Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

At the 2021 Global Citizen Live concert, Markle paired a US$4,500 Valentino dress with an accessory inspired by Princess Diana. The Duchess of Sussex accessorised with a Christian Dior Lady D-Lite handbag, popularised in 1995 by Diana.

Princess Diana wore a bright orange suit designed by Versace and carried a Dior handbag while visiting Liverpool, in 1995. Photo: Getty Images

According to Marie Claire, the bag was given to Diana as a gift from Bernadette Chirac, then France’s first lady. The outlet reported that Dior renamed the bag in her honour after Diana was photographed with the accessory on multiple occasions.

A spokesperson for Dior confirmed that Markle carried the Lady D-Lite bag and that it was personalised with the duchess’ title “DSSOS”.

6. On the cover of Time, September 2021

Meghan Markle is seen ahead of her visit to the iconic Titanic Belfast during her trip with Prince Harry to Northern Ireland, in March 2018. Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

In September 2021, Meghan and Harry graced the cover of Time for its 100 most influential people list. During the photo shoot, Markle was wearing the duet pinky ring from the jewellery brand Shiffon Co., a representative for Markle confirmed.

According to the company’s website, the duet pinky ring’s design is meant to symbolise women supporting women through a “pinky promise”.

Shiffon Co. duet pinky ring: a company that supports female-owned businesses. Photo: Shiffon Co.

Shiffon Co. was founded by 24-year-old Shilpa Yarlagadda with the intention of giving women financial freedom. Half of the company’s profits go to the Startup Girl Foundation, a non-profit founded by the company to support female-owned businesses.

7. NAACP Image Awards, February 2022

Advertisement

Meghan and Harry both wore outfits by black designers when they received the President’s Award at the NAACP Image Awards in February 2022.

Markle wore a custom Christopher John Rogers dress in a vivid shade of blue for the ceremony, which according to Vogue, referenced her first public appearance of the year.

“I was immediately struck by her warmth and just her overall demeanour – her sense of ease and confidence within herself,” Rogers told the publication. “We quickly touched on this idea of a reveal. She hadn’t really stepped out like this in a while.”

Advertisement

Harry’s tuxedo was designed by British designer Ozwald Boateng.

8. Invictus Games in the Netherlands, April 2022

Meghan Markle wore her wedding Cartier earrings and Princess Diana’s watch at the reception for the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands. Photo: @meghan_markle_page/Instagram

For a reception at the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands, Markle reportedly wore Princess Diana’s watch and a special pair of diamond earrings.

Advertisement

The Cartier Tank watch she wore to the event once belonged to Princess Diana and was given to Markle as a gift from Prince Harry, according to British media.

She also donned a pair of Galanterie de Cartier earrings by Cartier, which she first wore for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, the outlet reports. She also wore the same pair of diamond earrings to her son Archie’s christening in 2019.

9. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, September 2022

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in September 2022, in London, England. Photo: WireImage

Advertisement

She honoured the late Queen Elizabeth at the monarch’s funeral with her earrings and dress.

Markle’s cape dress, which was designed by Stella McCartney, was the black version of the navy frock she wore to the queen’s 92nd birthday celebration in 2018.

Her pearl and diamond earrings were a gift from the late royal. Queen Elizabeth gave them to her after she and Prince Harry announced their engagement in 2017.