During her time as a working member of the royal family, Meghan Markle expanded her wardrobe to accommodate the increasing number of public engagements she was undertaking.
One highlight of her wardrobe, apart from the glamorous evening gowns and event-wear, was the duchess’ broad array of warm winter coats, from longline camel models to large wool peacoats.
On Meghan’s style during this period, celebrity stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder previously told Newsweek that while it might have been “innately more relaxed and natural when compared to the more sophisticated and refined polish of [sister-in-law] Kate Middleton,” the duchess “brought her own brand of fabulous” to royal events.
Reflecting on Meghan’s cold weather “fabulous” fashion moments, Newsweek looks at six of the royal’s most stylish winter coats, which won the praise of fashion fans during her royal career.
Setting a Style Precedent
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One of Meghan Markle’s first major royal appearances was in December 2017, just two months after the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry and five months before her May 2018 wedding.
The future duchess attended the Christmas Day church service with Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II and wider members of the royal family, wearing an elegant belted wrap coat with an asymmetric collar designed by the brand Sentaler.
The coat helped Meghan set the precedent for her working royal wardrobe of adopting and adapting neutral color schemes, layering warm tones to create a clean and modern overall aesthetic.
Statement Look
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In January 2018, Meghan undertook one of her first official engagements in London with Prince Harry, visiting the South London area of Brixton.
For the occasion, wrapped up against the cold January weather, Meghan wore a thick longline “Brando” style coat from the brand Smythe. The oatmeal colored coat featured contrasting black buttons and a widened standing lapel.
Tartan Touch
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In a nod to her skill for diplomatic dressing, Meghan opted for a tartan double-breasted coat by Burberry for her first official visit to Scotland as a future member of the royal family with Prince Harry in February 2018.
In a blended color pallet of green, blue and black, Meghan made the coat the feature of her outfit, pairing it with black pants and a black turtleneck, accessorized with a green cross-body handbag with gold chain from the brand Strathberry.
Maternity Chic
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By the winter of 2018, Meghan had announced that she was pregnant with her first child, Prince Archie.
The duchess’ working wardrobe expanded again to accommodate maternity wear and suitably adaptable designs.
For a visit to an entertainment arts charity in Twickenham in December of 2018, the royal wore a Soia and Kyo gray wool coat in their “Adelina” style, featuring a double waist tie, which accentuated her growing baby bump, flaring from the waist.
Festive Monochrome
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For Christmas Day in 2018, Meghan opted for a block monochrome look in a deep shade of midnight blue.
For the occasion, the duchess’ coat and dress were designed by the eponymous fashion brand run by the former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham.
Victoria and her husband, David, had been guests at Harry and Meghan’s wedding earlier that same year.
Tailored Tribute
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In the royal diary, the annual Remembrance Sunday service held each November to pay tribute to fallen veterans is a major event attended by all senior working members of the royal family.
For the event in 2019, Meghan abided by the tradition of royal women wearing mourning black out of respect for the men and women who lost their lives in wars around the world for their country.
Meghan was photographed on the balcony of a government building watching the ceremony wearing an elegant black longline coat with a contrasting gold buckle designed by Stella McCartney.
During her royal career, Meghan wore a number of McCartney’s designs, most famously a white silk halter-neck dress for her wedding reception.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.