Where is the sparkle in Markle? Duchess of Sussex underwhelms at Harry's cousin Celia McCorquodale's wedding in a maxi dress
Meghan Markle, the new Duchess of Sussex, tends to stun with her sense of style when it comes to her royal outings. Her outfits have weighed heavily on the sophisticated chic side ever since the two announced their engagement. A former fashion blogger herself, she's no stranger to dressing to the nines - which is why her latest outfit choice comes as big surprise...and not the pleasant kind.
This weekend, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to attend Harry's cousin Celia's wedding. Celia McCorquodale is the niece of the late Princess Diana. A sweet little royal affair, the guests were all impeccably dressed, except for Markle. She showed up in a blue and white floral maxi that had no business being seen at a wedding, let alone a royal one.
Royal cousin Celia tied the knot with George Woodhouse at St. Andrew and St. Mary's Church in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, on Saturday. The couple decided to twin - Meghan wore an Oscar de la Renta summer gown that featured little blue flowers, long billowy sleeves, and a wrap style front. She accessorized this dress with a white titled fascinator, matching clutch and a pair of nude pumps. Harry wore a pair of dark grey pinstriped pants, a beige waistcoat on top of a crisp white shirt and a black overcoat. To match his newlywed bride's look, he wore a sky blue tie.
While this Renta creation is beautiful by itself, it is a strange outfit choice for a wedding. Is there a royal protocol for misplaced taste? If not, there should be. This maxi dress has nothing royal about it, even though it is elegant. It's more appropriate to be worn at a non-royal cocktail party. Adding a fascinator to things doesn't make it royal Brit now, does it? Her hair too is getting kinda boring. How many times will Meghan go with a messy bun and a natural no-makeup makeup look?
This isn't the first time she's decided to go with a similar look. the most classic example of it is her wedding day. Although she looked like she had fallen straight out of heaven into the chapel, there are only so many times you can decide to just roll it up and go. Perhaps it is about time Meghan hired a talented stylist, it would surely help. Maybe this was a move to avoid stealing the bride's thunder - if it was, it was pretty effective.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex share a kiss after their wedding at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The bride, however, stunned us all. Celia is Harry's first cousin, the daughter of Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Princess Diana's oldest sister. She looked no less than a real princess - her dress was a lacy creation with longish sleeves and a flared skirt. What really topped off Celia's look was the special tiara - she wore her aunty Diana's wedding tiara, the one she wore when she married Prince Charles 1981.
Meghan and Harry looked totally loved up at the occasion, much like their last outing together - hand in hand and smiles intact, they were seen greeting the guests in the beautiful setting. Meghan is also said to have slightly tripped, but Harry, her loving husband and support system, caught her hand before she could fall.
The last time the couple stepped out together was at Meghan's first ever Trooping the Colour, just last week. She has been going with a lot of light, neutral shades. Meghan arrived in a pale pink, off-the-shoulder knee length dress.
This was a gentle reminder of how much we loved and coveted her collar bones, especially on the day of her wedding, when she stunned us all in her demure Givenchy gown. The dress had no frills, no embroidery — the boat-necked, sculpted white dress was a simple pristine white. The gown is designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, the powerhouse French fashion house. Her Trooping the Color dress was created by Carolina Herrera and she added a Philip Treacy hat to the outfit.
Meghan's toned down looks have been a topic of conversation, especially when she's around the Queen. It is speculated to be a sign of respect. Fashion consultant Lucas Armitage told Daily Mail that it was a way to let the Queen take center stage. "The use of neutral color on Meghan's part is also a show of respect to the Queen so she never looks like she is trying to outshine her. I would be shocked if Meghan ever opted for a bold color, although it's interesting to note in her previous life she was a fan of bright hues," he said.
Meghan has definitely come a very long way in terms of her style. "I think the Queen and Meghan's relationship at this point is one built on respect, and Meghan has shifted her own personal style to adopt a more demure regal look—something I think the Queen will be thankful for," he said.
The Queen is known for her wardrobe choices and it is no secret that she does love her bright colors especially the neon palette. It is a way for her to stand out in a crowd, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, had revealed in the documentary 'The Queen at 90'. Perhaps, Meghan is trying to build her own royal style...but if she keeps wearing frilly maxis to weddings, it wouldn't be naive to say that it may not gonna build up to much.