Well, that’s all, folks. At least for this chapter of her life as Duchess of Sussex, Meghan has completed her last duty. I know she’s not dying and I know it’s definitely not the end, but still, it feels weird.
Meghan (and Harry) had a whirlwind weekend – and three majorrr fashion moments that I will be dreaming about for a long time. See my last post about Meghan for looks at the Victoria Beckham dress she wore to the Endeavour Fund Awards on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, she took my breath away in red Safiyaa at the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall. (I always love Meg in Safiyaa. It usually always involves a cape and a solid, bold color.) Then, yesterday, she stunned in green Emilia Wickstead at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. I love fashion and believe clothes tell more than meets the eye – did you notice that for each of her looks, the blue, the red, and the green, Harry was matching her, a subtle nod to solidarity? The Sussexes are sending the message loud and clear through their fashion. (Just in case you missed Harry’s matching of his wife yesterday, the lining of his jacket was green, just like her outfit.)
It really has been a whirlwind weekend for Meghan as she was back in the U.K. for this final round of engagements in the now closed chapter of HRH Duchess of Sussex. I’m trying not to get all weirdly emotional, because the post-HRH Duchess of Sussex chapter will be, I believe, not only equally as compelling, but more so, with the added freedom. But can we just say that Harry and Meghan looked so damn happy, and now that they are free from Royal rules about PDA, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other!
After Thursday’s Endeavour Fund Awards, Meghan gave a speech at Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham on Friday, where she spoke about gender equality and touched on the importance young men play in the quest for women’s rights. This was in honor of International Women’s Day, a day obviously very important to Meghan that took place over the weekend.
“When we thought about what I wanted to do for International Women's Day this year, for me it was incredibly important to be with the women of our future. And that is all of you young women here as well as you young men who play a very large part in this,” she said. “Let's all just rally together to make International Women’s Day something that's not just on Sunday but frankly feels like every day of the year.”
Also over the weekend Meghan visited her patronage, the National Theatre, where she explored its Immersive Storytelling Studio, a space that “works with artists and emerging technologies to develop new dramatic work and experiences.” At the event, Meg wore a lovely necklace with an engraving that loosely translates to “Every day I love you more, more than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”
Saturday night, she and Harry attended the Mountbatten Music Festival, where they wore coordinated red looks and were given a standing ovation when they walked into Royal Albert Hall. The event brings together military musicians to raise money for the Royal Marines Association.
Then, in an unexpected but wonderful twist, the Queen invited Harry and Meghan to join her and the Family for church on Sunday in Windsor.
On Monday it was the big event – the Commonwealth Day Service, the apex of Harry and Meghan’s final round of engagements. The service, held at Westminster Abbey, celebrates the 54 Commonwealth countries that the British monarchy serves. This year, in a changeup from tradition, the Cambridges and the Sussexes did not process in with the Queen as she arrived; instead, they were already seated. The Cambridges sat in the row directly in front of the Sussexes – they briefly exchanged hellos before sitting. It wasn’t awkward, but it wasn’t right, either. It was as stiff as a board, and definitely not what you’d expect between brothers. For what it’s worth, everyone turned up to the service, and everyone looked fantastic. (Read my next post to hear about what Kate wore, and her even more formal second look of the day at a reception she hosted later that night.)
Meghan (and Harry) also snuck in a number of other engagements while they were there, including a surprise visit to another of their patronages, the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Though Archie is back home in Canada – how weird is that to say, still – he wasn’t far from his mum’s mind. Meg said this weekend that Archie, who is 10 months old now, is into everything and is juuust about ready to start walking!
Though their official duties don’t end until March 31, that’s it for Meghan and the U.K. – at least for now. With this hurdle completed – and with the message sent very clearly that Meghan is happy, fashion-forward, and good, thank you very much – I am getting really excited to see how the rest of 2020 will unfold for her. I know she has been keeping her next steps close to the vest as she waits for March 31 to pass – I can only imagine how thrilled she is to finally be able to let loose her passions on the world.
The best, I truly believe, is yet to come! Here’s to the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next. Onward!