Visits: 78
Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex commenced their 10-day royal tour of Africa, arriving in South Africa with baby Archie—who made his first official appearance this morning via the @SussexRoyal Instagram Stories account, being carried by his mother in an ikat-print monochrome dress and giggling and laughing away at his father, who he resembles so greatly at this point. Even his H&M dungarees appeared to match the minimalistic wardrobe the Duchess has assembled for the trip, and we are certain that the “Archie effect” will undoubtedly kick in soon as mothers of newborns across the globe clamour to get their hands on a pair.
Meghan and Harry went straight from the flight to their first official engagement, visiting a children’s centre in the Nyagna township in Cape Town. Royal tours always require months of careful planning, and this isn’t just regarding the itinerary—what the royals pack for official visits always requires real consideration and attention to detail. Typically, a royal tour wardrobe has to strike the balance between promoting British designers and celebrating talent and businesses from the host nations.
Meghan knows that her clothes can deliver powerful messages and will be instantly interpreted by royal commentators around the world, so it’s not surprising that she decided to champion a brand with an ethical standpoint on her first day. Meghan wore a black-and-white printed wrap dress by Mayamiko “Dalitso,” which is £69 and is sourced and made in Malawi by artisans. The brand is sustainable, as it is has a zero-waste policy, is careful to never overproduce, creates its garment in a solar-panelled warehouse and sources all fabric from a nearby fabric market in Lilongwe. Meghan paired her dress with some classic black Castañer wedges, tied at the ankles.
It seems like sustainability will be high on Meghan’s fashion agenda this tour, as for her first outfit change, she repeated a look from her previous royal tour. She wore the same espadrilles with a blue shirtdress by Veronica Beard which she wore in Tonga. Keep scrolling to see Meghan’s first royal tour looks.
