Friday 26 October 2018

Meghan's Magical in Sensational Oscar de la Renta!

What a day it's been for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex! They began with several engagements in Tonga before boarding a five-hour flight back to Sydney just in time for the for the Australian Geographic Society Awards.


People reports:

"The plane carrying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Australia had to abort its landing in Sydney because another aircraft was on the runway below. The airplane came within seconds of landing but the pilot had to pull away again and re-approach when the coast was clear. An announcement from the flight deck said: “There was an aircraft on the runway a little slow to roll … so the decision was taken to abort the landing,” the BBC reported."

The annual gathering is a celebration of Australia's brightest and best in exploration, science and conservation. Ahead of the awards, the AGS said: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Sydney for the Invictus Games and this year’s AG awards include a number of recipients who have overcome significant physical challenges to achieve amazing feats of endurance. The Duke is well known and respected as an explorer and adventurer, and as such exemplifies many of the values and objectives of the Australian Geographic Society. At this year’s event we also plan to highlight the Duke’s other achievements, particularly in conservation and as an advocate for youth."


Recognising greatness since 1987, the Australian Geographic Society Awards are Australia’s longest running awards for adventure. The Lifetime Achievement Awards for adventure and conservation are the society’s highest honour, recognising those Australians who have a lifelong commitment to their chosen field. Along with conservation awards added in the early 1990s, the AGS Awards annually celebrate the best of Australian endeavour. As the event is a celebration of achievement and not a competition as such, not all categories are awarded annually. Each nomination and category is judged on merit alone. Past winners have included Valerie Taylor AM, Bindi Irwin, Tim Flannery, Ian Kiernan AO and Dick Smith AC. In recent times honorary awards have been presented to Buzz Aldrin and Dr David Suzuki.



Each winner receives a gold medallion.


The event was held at Sydney's Shangri-La hotel. Nestled in the historic Rocks District, the luxury five-star hotel features spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and its bridge, and Sydney Opera House.


Harry and Meghan presented youth awards to honour the highest achievements in conservation and adventure.


The Duchess presented the award for Young Conservationist of the Year to Sophia Skarparis. Earlier this year 15-year-old Sophia started a petition to ban plastic bags in New South Wales. In August her second meeting with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian took place; the first having happened in early May. “When I [first] met her I only had 7000 signatures so she was only going to respond by letter. After the meeting, I advised her office that I would set up a meeting with her when I obtained 10,000 signatures, as that means that she has to table the petition in NSW Government and it guarantees a conversation,” Sophia said. Since then Sophie has discovered that her petition has been tabled by Gladys Berejiklian, her local member, and is scheduled for a conversation in NSW Parliament on Thursday, 25 October at 4.30pm, the day before the AG Awards. "I believe my generation can be the ‘game changers’. We are more conscious about the environment and looking for a more ‘shared’ economy. Also through the use of social media we can mobilise interested supporters in a way that has not been seen before." 


Harry presented Jade Hameister with the Young Adventurer of the Year 2018 award. Sixteen-year-old Jade Hameister set five new records after successfully completing her epic 1,300km, 37-day journey along the Amundsen Coast to the South Pole in January this year. Jade is officially the youngest person and first Australian woman to ski from the coast to the South Pole (unsupported and unassisted) and the first woman to set a new route through the Transantarctic Mountain Range. Her message to other young women dreaming of adventure is: "We need to shift our focus from how we appear to exploring the possibilities of what we can do. Don’t wait until you think you can do something perfectly. Just get started and have a go."


The Queen was honoured with a special environmental award by the Australian Geographical Society for the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. The video below features footage of Meghan presenting and Harry's speech.


Harry praised his father's forward thinking views and conservation efforts in his speech:

'As all of us in this room know, looking after our environment is a lifelong commitment. We are all part of a global family and we share the understanding and universal privilege of being able to inhabit this earth, with its natural wonders, glorious flora and fauna and biodiversity, from sky to sea, that is awe inspiring.
But I use the word privilege for a reason, because with privilege comes great responsibility.
To highlight this point, I wanted to share a few excerpts from a well-known conservationist. He starts by saying: Conservation means being aware of the total environment we live in. It does not mean simply preserving every hedgerow, tree, field or insect in sight, but means thinking rationally and consciously just as much about the urban environment as about the countryside.
There is an unbalanced trend in our own time, when we have armoured ourselves with such an arsenal of machines and chemicals to do what we like to nature, and to reshape the world, that it has led us to see ourselves as somehow separate from, and superior to, nature. He continues to say: There was a time, when as human beings we thought the world belonged to us. Now we are beginning to realise that we actually belong to the world. We are responsible to it, and to each other. And that whatever we do to nature, whether it is on the grandest scale or just in our own gardens, is ultimately something that we are doing to our own deepest selves. We have not been put on this planet to destroy it.
Ladies and gentleman, those words were shared in speeches dating back to 1970 and up until 2002, by my father, The Prince of Wales. And yet now, nearly 50 years later, those sentiments resonate just as much today, if not more, than ever before. My father and others have been speaking about the environment for decades - not basing it on fallacy or new-age hypothesis, but rooted in science and facts, and the sobering awareness of our environmental vulnerability. And while those speeches would sometimes fall on deaf ears, he and others were unrelenting in their commitment to preserve the most valuable resource we have – our planet.
But let that be a cautionary tale.  We are all here tonight because we care deeply about using the world's resources wisely and safeguarding them for future generations. And, I am certain we are more aware of the need for this balance now, than ever before. We must appreciate our planet and what it has to offer.  The world we live in cannot be replicated or tamed - it is a wild place where beauty takes time to form, in most cases, thousands of years, and without it, we are nothing.
Year after year, we hear increasing reports of human-wildlife conflict, how little time we have before it's too late to counter the impact of climate change, and how we can no longer sacrifice sustainability in development. The idea that these are the next generation's problems is not a view we can accept. I know that here in Australia you have particular challenges such as coral bleaching on your magnificent Great Barrier Reef, recurring drought, and ever increasing bush fires. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see your natural treasures being changed forever. I was amazed to see that Australia supports up to 700,000 native species, a high proportion of which are found nowhere else on earth. 
So as Australians, the excellent work that you are doing to preserve your native biodiversity is really important,  not just for your own benefit, but for the whole planet. But I am confident that positive and permanent change is on the horizon. Young people now innately understand far better than previous generations that we simply cannot continue to destroy our natural world, without facing major, irreversible consequences. And they understand that many of the solutions we need to tackle these issues can be found by working together and empowering communities to come up with long-lasting, sustainable solutions.
That's why tonight I have been so inspired by the awardees who are making such a remarkable difference in their communities, and I hope this platform will inspire others to do the same. These are lessons we have all learnt and which we must urgently act upon. We cannot continue to pollute the oceans with plastics and other wastes. We cannot continue to breathe polluted air while cutting down our forests, or without reducing emissions. We cannot stand by and let our wildlife disappear from the earth and our fish from the seas. In closing, I think we can agree tonight that there cannot be any more excuses.  Thanks to the tireless efforts of everyone in this room, and the environmentalists and conservationists of the past, we are ready to translate our awareness into action. 
It is going to take every single one of us to stop the clock on the destruction of our planet, and time is not on our side. The standard we walk past, is the standard we accept.  It's time to take personal responsibility and realise what a privilege it is for us to live alongside nature. Thank you for your dedication to our environment, our planet, our future, our Mother Nature.'

Harry and Meghan received several gifts for Baby Sussex.



The Duchess looked sensational in an Oscar de la Renta white tulle dress with black bonded, looped ribbon, tweed laser cut birds. There was a collective gasp on social media when images began to emerge. It is an incredibly beautifully designed, magical gown. I imagine this one is a contender for look of the tour (if not look of the year). One aspect of Meghan's style I always enjoy is seeing unexpected choices and surprises. She was certainly 'Queen of the Night'.



A closer look.



The design is from the Pre-Fall 2018 Collection.


Heaven notes: "The embellishments on Meghan’s Oscar de la Renta dress were made by Sarah Esmoingt, a French embellishment designer established in New York who works for Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen among other designers."


From Oscar de la Renta.


The piece is very much reminiscent of the timeless Edith Head gown Grace Kelly wore in Hitchcock's Rear Window. The elegant dress epitomised 1950s elegance and remains an iconic Grace look. It's one of my all time favourites. The movie was one of Grace's biggest hits before she left Hollywood behind to marry Prince Rainier becoming Princess Grace of Monaco. Meghan too is an American actress who fell in love with a prince and started a new life in a new country. Grace nailed regal sophistication with a hint of fairytale sparkle; Meghan achieved exactly the same tonight.


Meghan wore her trusty Aquazzura Deneuve Bow pumps.


It appears Meghan accessorised with Birks rings.


Meghan's hair was worn down for the evening.


If you're just joining us, click here to read about Harry and Meghan's engagements in Tonga this morning. Meghan wore a green striped Martin Grant dress.
As we prepare to enter the final leg of the tour, it's already been hugely successful. The Evening Standard reports:

'Beautiful and poised Meghan, now pregnant and a royal duchess, hasn’t put a foot wrong on her gruelling Commonwealth tour of Australia, Fiji and Tonga before heading on to New Zealand next week. 
She clearly knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk. Her first major speech on women’s empowerment at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji took royal speechmaking — often a little stilted — to another level. Her message, in which she drew on her own experiences as a student and confessed she’d relied on “scholarships and financial aid  programmes” to earn her degree, was a powerful one.
It was a virtuoso performance from a class act, clearly determined to embrace her new role alongside husband Prince Harry on a new stage. So powerful is Meghan’s draw that all the major US networks have sent  correspondents and film crews to cover her every move on this, her first major trip. “She is big news in the US, the ratings are going through the roof”, one American correspondent told me. There has not been this much interest in our royal family from across the pond since the heady days of Princess Diana.'

Meanwhile veteran royal photographer Mark Stewart told Vanity Fair:

"It’s not just her clothes. The way Meghan is with people reminds me of Diana. The way she bends down to interact with children, there’s a natural empathy and humanitarianism. The way she sees the cameras and actually makes eye contact. She’s terrific just like Diana was." 

Tomorrow, Saturday 27 October:

  • The last day of the Australian programme falls on the final day of the Invictus Games. Harry and Meghan will spend the afternoon at the wheelchair basketball finals at the Quay Centre.
  • In the evening, they will attend the Closing Ceremony that evening at Qudos Bank Arena. The event, at which both the Duke and Duchess will speak, promises to be a celebration of the outstanding achievements and inspiring spirit of the Invictus Games competitors.

*************

And that's not all for today. We're briefly switching gears to discuss Harry and Meghan's wedding exhibition. From today, when visitors to Windsor Castle reach George IV’s Semi-State Rooms they will see the special exhibition ‘A Royal Wedding: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’, a display of Harry and Meghan’s wedding outfits and also those worn by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.


The exhibition features a fabulous surprise; audio commentary from the Duke and Duchess discussing their wedding plans, decisions and how it all came together for the day. News of the exhibition has been met with great excitement; the ability to hear directly from Harry and Meghan adds another dimension entirely. "'A great deal of detail went into the planning of our wedding day,’ says Meghan. ‘We knew how large the scale of the event would be, so in making choices that were really personal and meaningful, it could make the whole experience feel intimate.'"


Meghan wore Queen Mary's beautiful bandeau tiara on the day. How exactly does a royal bride know which piece from the jewel vault she will be lucky enough to get? It turns out several options are presented and one handsome prince is required to judge the best. Meghan revealed: "'When it came to the tiara on the day I was very fortunate to be able to choose this very gorgeous Art Deco-style bandeau tiara. Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with Her Majesty the Queen to select one of the options that were there, which was an incredibly surreal day, as you can imagine. That was the one that I think, as we tried them on, stood out. I think it was just perfect because it was so clean and simple, and I think also at that point an extension to what Clare and I had been trying to do with the dress, which was have something that could be so incredibly timeless but still feel modern.' 'Every girl’s dream,' the Duke interjects. 'To be able to try on a tiara and funnily enough the one that suited the best, the one that looked the best on you without question. I shouldn’t have really been there; it was such an incredible loan by my grandmother. Very sweet.'"


Discussing the process of working with Clare Waight Keller, the Duchess added: “I had a very clear vision of what I wanted for the day, and what I wanted the dress to look like, and so what was amazing in working with Clare is that sometimes you’ll find designers try to push you in a different direction. But she just completely respected what I wanted to see for the day, and she wanted to bring that to life for me. So I knew at the onset I wanted a bateau neckline, I wanted a cropped sleeve, I wanted a very timeless, classic feeling and, obviously with respect to the environment we were in and St George’s Chapel, being really modest in what it would look like, I knew that the tailoring was so key, because the dress itself would be so covered up.” ITV reports: "Meghan says in the commentary she had followed Clare Waight Keller’s career for a long time and she ticked “all the boxes” from being British, to reflect the duchess’ new home, and a woman, to working for Givenchy as artistic director, a global fashion house which added an international dimension to the big day."


Talking about the bridal attendants, all under the age of 7, the Duke of Sussex says: "‘Everyone said it was impossible to have them behaving, but they did it! They did a great job.’ ‘It was a miracle,’ the Duchess suggests, with a laugh." Below, George and Charlotte's outfits from the day.



'The bride’s bouquet, which featured a number of plants and flowers including sweet peas and sprigs of myrtle, was designed by florist Philippa Craddock and has been recreated using artificial silk flowers for the exhibition which opens on Friday.
The duke and duchess said cold weather earlier in the year meant there were less flowers available for the wedding bouquet from their cottage garden at Kensington Palace. Meghan revealed they had been doing some planting in the “fall” and said the duke made a “really beautiful” gesture by picking blooms for her on their wedding day – May 19.
Harry added: “We didn’t have as many flowers in our little garden as we had hoped for because I think it snowed at Easter. “That kind of ruined the whole thing. But, they’re very much a bouquet of wild flower, wild flower meadows and making sure that we had forget-me-nots in as it was one of my mother’s favourite flowers…”

It was especially touching to learn Harry chose the music Meghan walked down the aisle to. More from ITV:

"As the Prince of Wales accompanied Meghan towards the altar, where Harry was waiting, as Handel’s Eternal Source Of Light Divine played. The spell-binding cantata was sung in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel by Welsh soprano Elin Manahan and featured David Blackadder as the trumpet soloist.
Harry, speaking in the audio commentary notes for a new Windsor Castle exhibition about his wedding, said: “I was looking for something completely different and ended up stumbling across this piece of music. “Something that epitomises the whole day, the whole feeling that I have for her, and this incredibly impactful music with no organ whatsoever, with a soloist who actually did the most incredible job, to the orchestra.
“And now, both of us, wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, we can close our eyes, listen to that music and take ourselves straight back to that moment. It’s a beautiful thing for both of us."

Relive the moment below.


Meghan also discussed turning to Charles for advice on the wedding music and how much she enjoyed that process:

“It was really fun to spend some time going through selections with him and then there were specific choices that were made. We knew that we wanted to have a gospel choir, for example.
“There was a song that was very meaningful to us, Stand By Me, but we wanted a gospel rendition of it for it to really have a lot of soul and then the choice to be able to have Amen This Little Light of Mine be the song as we were walking out of the church was also very important to us. To really give it a sense of our personality in conjunction with something that still had a formality and sense of tradition.” 

View a video from the exhibition below.


'A Royal Wedding: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ is part of a visit to Windsor Castle from 26 October 2018 to 6 January 2019. Click here for information on tickets.

119 comments:

  1. Wow for all the right reasons. Love love love this. She looks amazing!

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    1. Yes, yes & yes! :)

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    2. Royal 👑 Watcher26 October 2018 at 11:24

      Hi Kiwis! I agree completely! The most beautiful dress that I have ever seen I think 💭

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    3. And from another Kiwi, I say yes, yes, yes too

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  2. OMG she looks amazing!!! And the reception they received - just Wow!!

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  3. This reminds me of the Ralph & Russo gown she wore for their engagement photo shoot.

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  4. How, how, how do you do it??? You are so quick to blog before anyone else. The event is not even in the Daily Fail yet. You are amazing!!!!

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    1. Royal 👑 Watcher26 October 2018 at 11:26

      I agree, I’m in Australia, same time zone and you’re first, Charlotte! All I could get was that the plane ✈️ aborted their first landing attempt due to another plane not clearing the runway in time. I feared Harry and Meghan had missed the event. Thank you.

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  5. Steph from Canberra26 October 2018 at 11:09

    Oh wow!

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  6. A totally stunning wow!!! So pretty and feminine, this dress looks perfection on her....she truly is just a picture of glowing loveliness :-)

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  7. And as for those gorgeous shoes....again just wow, the perfect style to accentuate the perfect dress!! Must start saving.... :-)

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  8. Two gorgeous outfits back to back ! Also thank you Charlotte for always being right there with these posts - from the first look at the blue shirt dress yesterday to this post so late in the UK you are amazing ! The best royal blog out there. I couldn’t imagine following the royal tour without you!

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  9. Charlotte you are fantastic. Ive been following your blogs since the beginning. How do you get this information so fast? This is my first ever post. What a wonderful tour they are having. I really love this dress,such detail. It has the wow factor.The duchess is really hitting her stride in her new role.

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  10. OMG this is the look and dress I have been waiting for!!! This screams duchess 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I can't even say how much I love it. It's still in neutrals but the materials, the embroidery just elevate the whole look 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

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    1. There really is nothing wrong with this dress whatsoever -- it is my favorite look of hers to date, not just on the tour, but of her whole royal wardrobe, so far. I just love tulle!! And I really can't get over the bird detail. It's just an incredible look. Then again, I don't think I've met an Oscar de la Renta I haven't liked lol!

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  11. Oh, wow! This is a beautiful dress!

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    1. Zora from Prague26 October 2018 at 15:26

      It is indeed, Erika!

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    2. It's gorgeous. I really like the shoes with it as well. And she was smart not to over accessorize either. it really is lovely.

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    3. Yes, the shoes are perfect, bluhare. Delicate just like the dress and the bow mimics the wings in a way.

      Zora, the way the birds are dispersed on the dress reminds me of Kate's LK Bennet Lasa dress. I think you and I had a discussion about that dress a few posts back on DK. Just so pretty.

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  12. BRAVA!!!! This entire tour is a complete and utter knock out!!! The gowns have been superb!!! And this - is the princess moment to end all princess moments. Radiantly beautiful and joyful, both of them. Their child will love seeing these photos one day.

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    1. I totally agree, Diane!! The two of them are so good together and look so happy.

      I would loooooove for Meghan to do an annual "princess (for boys too though) ball" like Princess Madeleine of Sweden did. Meghan, dressed up in full princess regalia - tiara included! - treating ill girls and boys to a wonderful tea party.

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  13. Love this dress!! Best look of the tour so far. Meghan looks amazing!

    Lisa in NJ

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  14. Love it! Remind me of a gown once worn by the Duchess of York.

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  15. Wow!! This is by far my favorite. I have enjoyed all the clothes the Duchess of Sussex has worn this tour, some were more appealing to me than others; but this semi-formal attire is a real WOW. I’ll have to catch up later with the full post. Thanks, Charlotte.

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  16. Oscar de la Renta is such a wonderful label - if I only had the money (and the looks) ... Meghan looks beautiful in this dress, very good choice!

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  17. You are brilliant Charlotte. This site is one of more beautiful on the duchess of Sussex. But say I, maybe one has already asked you this question, why use you the profile of the duchess of Cambridge for this site dedicated to Meghan de Sussex.

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    1. Hello,

      I have the same account with two different blogs.

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    2. What is the other blog please ? It has to be interesting

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  18. Wow---I was really surprised to such such a gorgeous dress! And I love the bird design.

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  19. Wow i love the gown she very good in choosing beautiful label when i first saw these on twitter i was very happy see her and good choice

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  20. This dress is just beautiful! And she looks amazing in it. Between the blue dress earlier today and this Oscar de la Renta the fashion on this tour keeps getting better & better.

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    1. It really does! Ever since Fiji, her looks have been getting more colorful and more daring. It's exciting to see.

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  21. Wow. Best look of the tour so far. Well done Meghan.

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  22. That tulle dress is stunning,and the pumps are one of my favorites on the Duchess.

    Praying for the couple's health and hapiness:)💙💙💙

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  23. She looks beautiful, Love it - Charlotte and Team, thank you, you do wonderful work that is appreciated by everyone here. I wouldn't know where else to look for tour updates if not for you guys

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  24. Wow. It looks like something out of a dream. Very magical.

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  25. Dee from Adelaide, Australia 🇦🇺26 October 2018 at 13:58

    The most magnificent gown I could imagine! She is a goddess tonight!

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  26. Courtney from NC26 October 2018 at 14:00

    Hands down the best look of the tour. It just so happened on the best sartorial day of the tour! Any quibbles I had about the fit of previous looks are laid to rest with today's looks.

    Loved the striped dress with the olive green heels and the blue Veronica Beard with those fabulous heels but this is perfection. Keeping my fingers crossed that she follows up today's successes with more tomorrow!

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  27. Silvia from Tuscany26 October 2018 at 14:28

    What a dress! Can't wait for more details!

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  28. Finally!!! I had been very underwhelmed with her choices so far barring a few. This looks phenomenal!!!! Fits her perfectly, she doesn’t look uncomfortable, it’s not baggy or pulling at the wrong spots. Her hair is gorgeous. I know it’s not her job to make me happy with fashion but that’s why I follow Kate and her. It’s a little bit of fun in blah days.

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  29. The dress is absolutely gorgeous! Maybe the skirt is a bit see through but the pattern distracts from it fairly well. Meghan looks stunning.
    I love that she doesn’t wear new stuff from head to toes. Repeats will be one important way to get less (well received) criticism from the public who funds them.
    C.

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  30. She looks amazing. Reading this post was a delight! Your in-depth coverage of this tour has been outstanding. Thank you for covering Meghan’s fashion but so much more.

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  31. This dress is absolutely gorgeous! Old style Hollywood in the best way. I especially love the Mad-Men era style flared dress. Best look of the tour by far.

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  32. In regard to Harry picking flowers from the KP garden on the wedding day itself - May 19: I thought he'd stayed at Coworth Park the night before. Seems doubtful to me that he went all the way back into London that morning to pick flowers.

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  33. I just LOVE that beautiful dress!! Meghan looked so beautiful!
    -JF

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  34. Susan In Florida26 October 2018 at 15:03

    Wow ! beautiful Oscar De La Renta dress! She looks radiant. DoS needs to consider more Oscar designs. I loved Prince Harry’s passionate speech. Thank you for sharing the wedding dress exhibition. As I said before , I love embroidery.


    Now I need help form our friends Down Under :
    I am confused about the Young Conservationist Award winner who said her petition was “tabled”. In the US, to me as a Board Member of different organizations, it would mean they set aside the petition for further consideration. Do I read this right by trying to discern that her petition IS being considered ? Do I read this right that the word “tabled” in this instance means it comes up into the government for consideration?

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    1. Those from Australia and the UK can probably answer this better than this Texas girl can, but my husband has mentioned before that “tabled” has opposite meanings in American English and the Queen’s English in his business dealings. To Americans, it means to end the discussion—or at least to put it aside for the time being. It means to put on the table for discussion in countries that use British English. It’s funny how the same terms can mean totally different things depending on where you are from!

      T

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    2. Canada here. :-) As above. Tabled in the legislature means brought forward to or introduced in the legislature.

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    3. Similarly, we ‘run’ for public office, but British candidates ‘stand’ for elections. The differences in meaning can be fun but confusing.

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    4. The "Opposition party" versus the "minority party" in the US. It is interesting that both the party of the PM and the opposing party (cross bench?) are recognized in many important occasions in Australia and GB.

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  35. The dress she wore at The Australian Geographic society and the over all image of the couple most likely will duplicate in a wax museum.

    Are those birds and butterflies prints on the dress? It is a sheer delight which also reminds me of bouffant undergarments which puff-up outer garments for wedding and reception looks. In her dress's case, the outer material is structured that way with stiffer material and a spread out effect w/o looking like bouffant. This had been the exception of the looks so far / what a variety and well planned clothing with a touch of color coordinated with Harry most of the times.

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  36. “I was looking for something completely different and ended up stumbling across this piece of music. Something that epitomises the whole day, the whole feeling that I have for her..."

    How can you not tear up reading this??? Just beautiful!

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  37. Eve from Germany26 October 2018 at 15:25

    Wow, wow, wow, wow!! What a beautiful dress!! Cinderella Princess Meghan!!

    Lovely details about the wedding dress exhibition!! Wonderful that Harry and Meghan wanted to be so involved in it!! They really do care!

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  38. Charlotte, I loved your comparison between the Duchess and Grace Kelly. I hadn't thought of it that way but they were both American actresses who found their Princes from afar. Very romantic!

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  39. Best look of the tour but wish she added earrings or a bracelet, just a little bling

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  40. WONDERFUL exhibit of the wedding clothes. I loved the boys' outfits and it is great that the veil can be fully appreciated.

    Camilla said Meghan was a star when the engagement was announced; she knew what she was saying. Lie those T-shirt slogans: "Let Meghan handle it." So happy for her!!

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  41. Absolutely gorgeous! Wowzers! This is a knockout look. Love love love.

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  42. Charlotte - THANK YOU! You have been doing an incredible job this tour. I haven't had a full night's sleep since the tour began so I can only imagine how exhausted you must be. Your updates are so timely and so thorough. Thank you for all of the work you've been doing :)

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  43. A dream dress, magnificent, and by Oscar de la Renta, who was, and shall remain an icon of fashion. Meghan is breathtakingly beautiful tonight. What a joy, and what joyful memories they are creating together. How meaningful to travel the world as such a loving, supporting team.
    I love reading all the background information you include Charlotte. This whole post is just chock full. Thank you.

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  44. You really can't go wrong with Oscar de la Renta evening wear. This is by far the best thing she's worn since her Stella McCartney wedding reception dress. Just gorgeous.

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  45. Gorgeous dress, but how did they manage to make it work fit wise? The white gown she wore they said they made it with seams that could be let out, so maybe this is a semi bespoke piece or the original design had seams that could be adjusted?

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  46. This is realy lovely! I'm loving this tour, Meghan is doing a great job.

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  47. A fairy tale princess dress Meghan style, simply stunning!

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  48. Perfection. Meghan is spreading her wings and the dress shows off her star power beautifully. Harry made an excellent choice in pursuing her.

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  49. Love this dress! Whimsical and goes with the event about nature, conservation and adventure. Oscar de la Renta doesn’t disappoint.
    Thank you for this, and all the others, post. Very prompt and informative.

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  50. I absolutely still love the dress as I commented above! On second look, I still love the dress but wishing for some jewelery accessories- earrings and bracelet would really have tied the look together!

    Lisa in NJ

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  51. She looks like a dream. Giving us all the magical fairytale duchess vibes. Might be her best look all year. She should return to Oscar De La Renta in the future. And her trusty Deneuve pumps never fail. The whole look is perfection. The bird detail is exquisite, especially fitting for a conservation event. It is done tastefully, if not, it could have run the risk of Alfred Hitchcock The Birds and less Grace Kelley. As an American, I will say she “hit it out of the park” and she is just glowing and really embracing her role. Looking forward to more “wow” moments. If she can top this! Allison from US

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    1. Funny when I saw it I immediately thought of Hitchcock's "The Birds"! The over all effect is stunning, but I wonder if it is "timeless".

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  52. This is dress is princess magic! And I so, so wish I could be in Winsor for the exhibit. I haven't been to England in 8 years, I'm due for a visit!

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  53. Oh my goodness! Yesterday's blue and this dress seem to be her best day and night look in the tour so far. Stunning. So princessy and dreamy. This is a 10/10 for me.

    Look forward for their next day already.

    Thank you Charlotte for the prompt post and please take some rest. :)

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  54. Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant! Both Meghan & Charlotte!! :) xx

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  55. I guess everyone has pretty much already mentioned any superlatives I might have said; would just like to add that choosing a dress embroidered with birds for an event celebrating an organization centered around conservation, the environment, nature, and adventure is another brilliant move. On the heels of Tongan red, Fijian blue, and the many other choices that go beyond a "pretty dress" this is quite the statement.

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  56. So many thoughts! The first few days of this tour seemed like such a disappointment to me, but the last few have completely turned that feeling around. Tonight's dress - perfect, stunning, WOW, love it!

    Thank you for including the wedding clip. It was such a beautiful wedding. My favorite moment was included in the clip, but it wasn't actually Meghan or Harry. It was when they were just about to enter the church, the trumpets began playing and one of the Mulrooney boy's jaw dropped. I think he was amazed by the real life fanfare. That was so cute and also understandable.

    Great post, great tour!

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    1. I agree with you on the momentum of the tour. It seemed to start out in a lackluster way, without polish and did not feel like a BRF royal tour to me. However, since their arrival in Fiji something shifted and it just feels and looks different now. I think it's been showing in the amazing photographs that have been coming out during the past few days.

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    2. I wholeheartedly disagree about the tour being lackluster and without polish. Maybe fashion wise, some people feel disappointed. But the first leg of the tour had so many meaningful elements that I have not seen with royal tours so far (and I am talking about the young generation here).

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    3. I can always count on you to disagree with me, Anett 😊

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    4. Not necessarily, but I view the tour differently, it's true.

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  57. Joyful, magical look! Meghan looks so radiant and happy. This is a princess look of all little girls. Imagine looking like this after a full day in another country and a five-hour plane ride. She's a trooper!

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  58. This dress is definitely Meghan's look of the tour and look of the year. Gorgeous and stunning, yet delicate. Love it!

    Big thanks for the details on the wedding exhibition. I can't see it in person, so this was a great way to see it from afar.

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  59. The absolute epidemy of elegance.

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  60. Tammy from California26 October 2018 at 18:16

    Yes, yes she IS magical in that dress. What girl doesn't need some magical? Wonderful ensemble and very representative of dress lines the Queen has worn throughout her reign. Wonderful to see.

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  61. Stunning dress! I just wish the designer had used a slightly darker modesty layer - Meghan's complexion isn't that pale - and I don't think she's been sunbathing on this trip. Otherwise it is gorgeous!

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  62. FABULOUS dress, perfect shoes - she's just glowing, and don't you know that dress must be so much fun to wear!

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  63. This dress is lovely! It reminds me of my daughter's wedding dress (minus the gorgeous birds!) with the sheer top that gave a strapless look, and a full tulle skirt. She loved it and although it was a morning wedding, she kept it on all day, saying that it was so light and comfortable yet elegant that she couldn't bear to take it off. So many gowns are so heavy. I hope Meghan found this dress to be wonderful as well. I'd love to see more of the dress that Sophia Skarparis is wearing--it looks really interesting too.

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  64. Nicole from France26 October 2018 at 19:08

    Such a lot in one’ post, Charlotte , I am absolutely’ amazed at your skills , you too deserve a great solid gold medal, and to become an example for all,journalists !
    Just’looking At this amazing Oscar de la Renta’s dress , I though ... well, let’s be girly a bit , I thought certainly little Meghan dreamed of wearing a princess dress and meet her’ own prince.... she certainly also was aware this was not the only things for a woman to dream of , but .... she now has the dress, the prince, and she is certainly a woman of influence ! Great achievement . This tour certainly defines what she and Harry will be in the coming years , like the first chapter sets the tone for the whole book ....

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  65. Okay, London readers. I'm relying on you to visit this incredible royal wedding display at Windsor Castle and relay all the details! Clips of the sound recording would be especially appreciated. ;)

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  66. Loved the black and white 1950's inspired evening dress Meghan looked absolutely gorgeous. Can't wait for more of Meghan's looks as her pregnancy progresses.

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  67. WOW yes, I think you're right, Charlotte, that this will probably take look of the year award! She looks STUNNING!

    Isn't it funny how at previous events where attendees were dressed up, Meghan wore a simple black pantsuit? And now, she's the dressiest in the room! It just goes to show that you can't always guess what Meghan will wear. The dress is perfect for the event, with the birds, and is so unique. I just love it. I want to wear it!

    The audio commentary for the exhibit is such a cool insight into their wedding and their relationship! Harry discussing Eternal Source of Light Divine is really touching -- how he describes that it captures the way he feels for Meghan and how it's something they can always stop and listen to and remember their wedding day by. Just beautiful. And it's nice that we got to "hear" a bit about Meghan's relationship with Charles directly from the source. My opinion of him really has changed since Harry and Meghan's wedding.

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  68. I usually can find at least one little thing to get picky over when it comes to Meghan's outfit or accessories or hair or something, but with this Door look, I'm at a complete loss to find anything that she could have done differently. Perfect.

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  69. My God, that dress was dazzling. She is certainly part of my favorites of this tour. I would dream to go to Windsor to see the show especially with my details about the wedding it must be fabulous. Thank you Charlotte for all this information

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  70. So touching to hear that Harry chose the processional music for their wedding. That boy is such a romantic, and that he chose music to express his love for her brings tears to my eyes! Thank you Charlotte for including the wedding exhibition in this post. You are absolutely amazing!

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  71. I would urge anyone who hasn't to click that video and watch the dress in motion. That's how it's meant to be seen. The skirt is so light and just floats with each step she takes. Absolutely beautiful.

    I only wonder if she'll end up changing the lining of the bodice for herself. We can see what effect it's meant to have in the look book image, but Meghan's skin is darker and prone to looking very different depending on the lighting. I'm already eager for its next outing (with more jewelery next time ;-)) and to see if she'll leave the lining, change it to flesh tone, or make it white like the skirt.

    Harry's speech on the same night as his father's birthday celebration was lovely.

    Touched by how they continue to share their wedding day with us at home in such an intimate way. It's so thoughtful and the little details add a new dimension to what we've already seen. Love that they were both so clearly involved.

    Saw your tweet about Outland denim too and I'm pleased for them.

    Thank you, Charlotte. I don't come here as often as I should, but you're my favorite Meghan blog and I've heard many people say the same. This blog regularly comes up even from people who choose to do their watching in less public spaces.

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  72. I've noticed, through reading comments, that Meghan always wears one or two things less than some would wish or think she should wear. In the case of this dress, I think it is the star, along with the beautiful woman wearing it. You know what to look at- the beautiful designs on the dress and her happy smile. IMO,some blingy earrings or bracelet for example, would be too much to look at, sensory overload. I remember reading some advice in a fashion column once which said look in the mirror after you're dressed and accessorized and remove one thing. Accessories and dress should enhance each other, but this dress needs no enhancement. I think the blue dress and the chandelier earrings in Fiji are a good example of complementary dressing. The dress was "plain" with an elegant silhouette and the bling looked gorgeous peeping out of her hair, enhancing both hair and dress. Anyway, I obvously like Meghan's style.

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    1. The "remove one thing" quote was from Coco Chanel, one of the most talented designers in history. I also think 'less is more' and in the case of Meghan's dress, a bracelet might have been a problem as the skirt is tulle (netting) and a bracelet could get caught in it.

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  73. It’s a glorious design for her. Charlotte, I agree with you about Grace Kelly in “Rear Window”; don’t forget Audrey Hepburn’s party dress in “Sabrina” and Princess Grace again in “To Catch a Thief”. Meghan inhabits this era as though the fashions were made just for her.

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  74. Beautiful dress and thank you for all the fantastic coverage!

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  75. Wow, these two seem to be non stop! What an unbelievable tour! I'm amazed at all they've been able to see and do and all the extraordinary people they've met along the way.

    I can't help but wonder how they're holding up. They sure make it look so easy! I bet they'll be glad to have some down time when home, especially without cameras everywhere and just hanging out in comfy clothes or lounge wear (and no heels or make up if it were me!)
    And they have so much to look forward to in the coming months and year.

    I'm thinking we'll be having Meghan and Charlotte withdrawal😖 (and Harry!)

    Charlotte, as we've all said, you're simply phenomenal! Words cannot express how much we appreciate you and all of the history, culture and adventure you bring to us (not to mention fashion!).

    When I'm not in mom mode I'm usually caring for my 88 year-old mother who I have always been very close to and love dearly. I don't know if your mom is still with you (or dad for that matter), but I know they must be so, so proud of you. You are a dear and incredibly gifted😊
    Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!


    alexandra
    florida

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  76. Cinderella for sure!!! I so hope this isn’t ‘one and done’ for the dress! I will never get tired of seeing her floating in it!

    Charlotte—thank you for your quick posts and basically being up round the clock for this tour! You are amazing!

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  77. Beautiful...just beautiful!

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  78. OK, I know folks will hate me for saying this but the dress for some reason, gives me the Halloween vibe or Hitchcock’s other movie, the Bird. It also seems that she’s a tad overdressed for the occasion but I could be wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    1. I'm with you, J.B. To me the dress looks like a great dress to wear to a Halloween party. But the Duchess looked happy in it and that's the main thing.

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  79. Rhonda - Wisconsin27 October 2018 at 01:06

    I propose a toast to Charlotte for her amazing dedication to this blog, for her phenomenal research and history lessons (that we all love) and for her attention to detail. Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!!! Thank you Charlotte for giving so much of yourself to your blogs. We love you dearly.

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  80. This is just a dream outfit on Meghan! Someone mentioned that her jewellery was kept to a minimum, and honestly, I didn’t even miss it. The first thing I see is her face. It was lovely to hear that she and Harry are so popular in the US (“the [media] ratings are through the roof”) and that she’s a lot like Diana in the way she interacts with people and the press. You go, Meghan!!!! Thank you again, Charlotte - I always come on here before I trundle off to bed - it’s a lovely way to end the day!

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  81. Marvelous choice, love ❤️ this dress so much, it’s fun, memorable! She was born to be a princess!!

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  82. Charlotte, I finished the full post. Thanks for the videos. The Duchess presents well at the “mic”. I enjoyed what the Duke had to say about conservation and the planet. He really spoke with passion and I felt it was really a cause he believes in. The info about the Geographical Awards was interesting and it was nice that the Queen was award for her Commonwealth Canopy. With your post, I’m constantly learning something new. The whole tour has been so much fun and because of your diligent work, Charlotte we haven’t miss any of it. Thanks soooo much.

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  83. Wow - this dress is sensational. Love, love it. After a tour filled with either meh or downright awful sartorial choices , finally a home run.! Thank you Charlotte for an excellent blog.

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  84. JB @ 00.40. No one hates you for a respected, nicely put opinion. And you are right, you could be wrong. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Nothing Halloween, to me, about this dress; but I did see the “regal sophistication with a hint of fairly tale sparkle”. Thanks, Charlotte; well said.

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  85. Watching their wedding video again, the part that gets me every time, is when she reaches the alter and the kids go by her. The last little girl, one of her friend's twins, swipes the back of her hand across her eyes like she is crying. That's just so sweet. <3

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  86. Sara from Canada27 October 2018 at 06:56

    I enjoyed Harry's speech. . but I'm confused when he talked about sustainability with such passion & eagerness towards action, and then his wife (the belle of the ball) wears a dress of tulle (made of petrochemicals--and does not biodegrade.) Sustainability & conservation is in much the little things as the big things. . . and the fashion industry is in need of renewed paradigm when you consider the tons and tons of garment waste that land up in the dumps and the inability to reconstruct poly blends.
    I knew she has made a 3-4 sustainable fashion choices amongst at least 100 garment /shoe choices she has featured on this trip. . .but this seems like merely a nod, and not action as called out by Harry in his speech: "These are lessons we have all learnt and which we must urgently act upon. We cannot continue to pollute the oceans with plastics and other wastes"
    Why not wear something that aligns with the speech, and the heart-beat of one of their major missions?
    Thank-you Charlotte for all your hard work. I feel you deserve a great honour! I have wondered if Kate is reading your blog to keep up with all the speedy updates you have provided.

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  87. This dress, WOW! Meghan truly looks like a fairy tale princess. The dress moves so beautifully when she walks. And she's glowing, yes the pregnancy glow, but also I hope because she feels so good in that dress. And Harry, of course, looked so happy and proud being with his amazingly beautiful wife. WOW, again. Thank you Charlotte for bringing us the tour news so fast and for the history lessons and backgrounds of the places they have visited. I can't wait for New Zealand.

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  88. I agree with you Sara @06.56. In this approach to sustainability and conservation, it is such a long process. On some levels, we all miss it from time to time. I love nature and in my efforts to protect, I miss it but my heart is in the right place and I keep trying until the goal is reached. Not everyone in the fashion industry and not everyone in high level politics agree with the conservation msg so these ideals are not perfected in the earth by any means; not perfected by anyone. It is a vital msg but definitely a ‘work in progress’.

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  89. I love those shoes more every time I see them her beautiful dress is a dream Harry is lucky to wake up to her every morning she looks every bit the princess

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Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)