She’s known for impeccable sense of style, but Meghan Markle today proved that there’s more thought that goes into her wardrobe choices than merely looking good.
The royal bride-to-be arrived in Cardiff with Prince Harry for their third official engagement together, dressed in head-to-toe in carefully chosen items supporting both British fashion and charitable endeavours.
Meghan, 36, wrapped up against the winter chill in a £1,350 tie detail coat by Stella McCartney whose staunch stance against using fur and leather sits well with the animal lover’s principles.
She chose a pair of black skinny jeans from Welsh brand Hiut Denim, which provided the perfect touch of diplomatic dressing.
And she carried a £295 Mini Venice handbag by DeMellier London, a brand founded by Mireia Llusia-Lindh with the goal of being ‘functional and attainable, as well as socially conscious’.
The brand funds a set of lifesaving vaccines and treatments aimed to save the life of a child in need through its charity A Bag, A Life for every bag sold.
The royal bride-to-be arrived in Cardiff with Prince Harry for their third official engagement together, dressed in head-to-toe in carefully chosen items supporting both British fashion and charitable endeavours
Meghan got a taste of British train travel today – as they were late for an engagement in Cardiff.
The couple left Paddington Station on time at 11.15am on route for Cardiff.
But delays to the GWR train mean they will not arrive into the Welsh capital until well after 2pm – making them at least half an hour late for their third public engagement as a couple.
Besotted Harry, 33, has made a promise to his bride-to-be to undertake visits across the U.K. before their wedding, to give the US-born actress a chance to see the country she will come to call home and meet its people.
The former Suits star, 36, wrapped up in a coat by Stella McCartney, who is known for her cruelty free ethics, and jeans from Welsh brand Hiut
The couple start their day at historic Cardiff Castle, one of the country’s most important and popular historical sites.
Dating back some 2,000 years, the castle is on the site of what was once a Roman fort.
It passed through the hands of many noble families until 1766, when it was given by marriage to the Bute family, responsible for turning Cardiff into the world’s greatest coal exporting port.
John, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, was by the 1860s reputed to be the richest man in the world.
The castle was eventually given as a gift to the city of Cardiff by the Bute family in 1947.
The former Suits star, 36, carried a bag from DeMellier London who fund life-saving vaccines for children for every bag sold
The first fan waiting to meet them was Jenna Quilter, 18, from, Cregiau, who arrived at 6.30am.
She told the BBC: ‘It’s fascinating that she’s not the typical person you’d expect to become a future duchess and it’s just really interesting to see the public reaction to her,’ she told the BBC.
She added: ‘I’m a big fan of the royals. Mainly the Duchess of Cambridge but I adore Prince Harry.
‘I think Harry and Meghan represent a more modern society and it keeps some of the British traditions alive. I’ve got some roses for Meghan too.’
Abbie Smith, visiting from Louisiana, added: ‘In America this is like a fairytale. I think it’s really cool that she’s from the States and gets to experience the Royal lifestyle as well.’
After their walkabout Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, will go inside the castle to hear performances from musicians and poets taking part in a Welsh Cultural Festival.
They will also meet leading sportsmen and women and learn more about organisations working to promote the Welsh language and cultural identity.
Later they will travel to the economically-deprived area of Tremorfa, where they will visit Star Hub, a community and leisure centre which uses sport to engage young people and aid social development.
Harry and Meghan will see how StreetGames, which the prince has worked with previously, works to make sport accessible to all young people, regardless of their social circumstances.
Doorstep sports session operate in dozens of disadvantaged communities and the royal couple will meet young people taking part in sessions including street dance and table tennis.
They are also keen to meet young women from UsGirls project, set up to encourage women to take part in sport.