Meghan Markle Quietly Repeats a Fashion Play From Her 2018 Royal Tour
Meghan Markle learned a thing or two during her 2018 Australian royal tour that she's applying to her current trip around the country with Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, touched down in the land down under with Harry, 41, on April 13 before kicking off their busy schedules of paid and philanthropic appearances over the next four days. Although this is not an official royal tour, as the couple is no longer working members of the British royal family, Meghan quietly followed the same fashion rule of wearing mostly Australian designers.
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For their first visit to the Royal Children's Hospital, Meghan wore a navy sleeveless Priscilla dress by Australian luxury fashion brand Karen Gee. The sculpted lines were juxtaposed with a softly structured skirt and gold button detailing. She paired the frock with Dior pumps and Cartier jewelry, including her late mother-in-law,Princess Diana's, gold tank Française watch.
She then highlighted Australian brand St. Agni in a monochromatic ensemble, wearing a dark khaki utility bomber jacket and a coordinated column skirt. After removing the jacket, she revealed a high-neck tank by Aussie brand P. Johnson.
Meghan representing Australian brands during her tour around the country is straight out of the royal tour playbook. During her 2018 tour, the As Ever founder's wardrobe was a mix of neutrals and tailored silhouettes by Australian brands like Karen Gee and St. Agni.
When it comes to public appearances, Meghan knows what she's wearing is an extremely important detail. During her 2018 tour, she wore black skinny jeans by Outland Denim, a brand that employs victims of human trafficking. She used the outing as an opportunity to bring attention to a cause she's passionate about.
"There was a long time where… I wasn't out talking," Meghan said on "The Jamie Kern Lima Show" podcast in 2025. "So if you couldn't hear me, how could I be heard through what I was wearing, if that was what people were focusing on?"
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Meghan knows the world is watching her fashion choices, and she uses the attention to amplify brands she loves.
In another interview with the New York Times in 2024, the Duchess said, "Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven't gotten the attention that they should be getting. That's one of the most powerful things that I'm able to do, and that's simply wearing, like, an earring."
Since leaving the royal family, Meghan has been able to speak more candidly about her personal experiences with fashion and beauty. During a makeup-free podcast interview with IT Cosmetics founder Jamie Kern Lima in 2025, the former Suits actress said, "I remember [I could not be submitted] for beauty or skincare ads because I had freckles … They're like, ‘No, no, no, no. It's just never gonna work because freckles aren't a sign of beauty.'"
Meghan recalled "hearing no all the time" at auditions. "I wasn't cookie-cutter for a specific type," she explained. "And at the start of my auditioning career, you were either the Black girl or the white girl or the Latina girl or the like, everything was typecast."
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 7:56 AM.