The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in ‘royal’ tour mode, but this time on their own terms. The couple landed in Nigeria this week for a 72-hour visit, and their clothing choices so far have spoken volumes. Exhibit A: Meghan’s virtually backless dress for a trip to the Jewels Leading Lights Academy in Abuja on Friday, which felt a lot more American Riviera Orchard than House of Windsor; the blush silk design is actually 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 summer dress at the Miami polo.) Paired with vintage Lanvin earrings and her other jewelry signatures (namely Cartier’s Tank watch and Love bracelet), the look felt polished and relaxed at the same time.
However, for their second engagement on Friday, Harry and Meghan made it clear that while they may no longer be senior ‘working’ royals, they have not forgotten the etiquette that was drilled into them when they were sent to Australia, Fiji. , Tonga and New Zealand by the late Queen in the wake of their 2018 wedding. While it is traditionally left to female members of the royal family to pay tribute to their host country, the Sussexes delivered a fashionable double act: the Duchess donned a snow-white Altuzarra suit (first worn in Sydney during her pregnancy with Archie ), while the Duke appeared in teal tailoring, with a joint nod to the colors of the Nigerian flag.
