How Meghan subtly toned down the racy blue Veronica Beard dress she wore in Tonga

Meghan Markle’s fashion sense has drawn attention at every turn of the royal couple’s tour of the Asia Pacific.

From sporting a New Zealand designer’s dress worn while paying respect to the ANZACs to her brand of Australian jeans, the Duchess of Sussex has dressed impeccably for every occasion.

But a dramatic wardrobe alteration made during her and Prince Harry’s brief stay in Tonga on Friday may have been her cleverest clothing move of the tour to date.

The Duchess donned a perfectly fitted blue dress for her second day in Tonga with Prince Harry.

Designed by American Veronica Beard, the original shirtdress features two thigh-high slits, a feature which Meghan appears to have had altered out.

And while there’s no rule against royals wearing dresses with thigh slits, it’s possible the Duchess was just following the tradition of opting for a lower cut.

The dress flowed below Meghan’s knees and was tied at the waist by a matching fabric belt.

The original dress has thigh-high splits, which aren’t forbidden but are generally unusual

She paired the shirtdress with a pair of blue pump heels, purchased from Banana Republic.

The Veronica Beard ‘Cary’ Dress retails for $595 (£326/US$418) and immediately sold out on the designer’s website, continuing a trend of the royals’ fashion choices turning profits for designers.

The Tonga alteration isn’t a first for the royal family.

During Prince William and Kate Middleton’s tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2014, the Duchess of Cambridge worse a green Catherine Walker dress. 

The typically low-cut dress was sewn up at the neck during the Duchess’ visit. 

The Duchess of Sussex has made one low-key fashion alteration in a sign of humility