Meghan Markle Wears Prince Harry's Iconic Accessory for Lunch Date | Vanity Fair

Article by Kase Wickman

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, was seen having lunch with Clare Waight Keller, a long-time friend who designed her wedding dress, at Cipriani Beverly Hills on Thursday. Markle wore a camel-colored overcoat, black wide-leg pants, and a straightforward black turtleneck. She paired her outfit with aviator sunglasses, an accessory her husband, Prince Harry, often wears. The same pair he humorously suggested purchasing for her during a 2023 Tokyo trip.

Markle and Waight Keller had a lot to discuss given their shared history. Waight Keller was the artistic director for Givenchy and the first woman to hold the position. Together, they worked secretly for about five months towards the 2018 royal wedding to design Markle's beautiful bateau-neck gown, down to choosing the right shade of pure white silk.

Waight Keller shared her experience collaborating with Markle in a Vanity Fair interview in August 2023. She described their sessions as "quite relaxed" and centered on Markle's personal style. Waight Keller emphasized the importance of the wedding dress signifying Markle's personality, freshness, and modernity.

Likewise, the Duchess wore another Waight Keller creation in 2018 for her initial formal engagement with Queen Elizabeth II. She wore a cream-colored sheath dress with a caped neckline. Further signifying their bond, Markle awarded Waight Keller the British Designer of the Year Award in December 2018.

Since their 2018 collaboration, both women's lives have undergone significant changes. Markle and Prince Harry have grown their family with two children and moved to California after renouncing their official roles within the British royal family in 2020. On the other hand, Waight Keller has left Givenchy and recently announced her second collaboration with Uniqlo.