Meghan Markle goes undercover for a solo shopping trip in Montecito

EXCLUSIVE: Duchess’s day out! Masked up Meghan goes undercover with oversized LeSpecs shades for a pre-Christmas shopping trip to her favourite stores in Montecito

  • DailyMail.com spotted Meghan Markle on a shopping trip in Montecito, California on Wednesday afternoon
  • She wore a brown Massimo Dutti wool coat, Tamara Mellon boots, LeSpecs Air Heart sunglasses, along with a brown beanie and blue face mask
  • She shopped at Pierre LaFond and emerged about a half hour later carrying two bags, and her bodyguard carried a folded up blanket in a plastic bag
  • ‘It’s looked like she was just itching to get out and be somewhat normal,’ says an onlooker, ‘Even if it was for just an hour’ 
  • Meghan was accompanied by a bodyguard who took her back home to Harry and their two children  

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Old habits die hard.

Meghan Markle was spotted shopping at some of her favorite stores near her $14.7 million estate in Montecito, California.

Many wealthy residents of the ritzy seaside community have assistants or personal shoppers out scouring the local shops for gifts at the holidays, but it’s obvious in these exclusive DailyMail.com photos that – on Wednesday afternoon at least – the Duchess of Sussex preferred to do it herself.

While her children Archie, two, Lilibet, seven months, were likely having naptime, Meghan, 40, made a bee line to nearby Pierre LaFond & Co., a pint-size grocery  with upstairs rooms selling everything from Mini Rodini onesies to Il Bisonte wallets and Paul Smith socks, according to GOOP.

Meghan was certainly the best-dressed shopper that day in Montecito. Locals are known to dress down in sweats and flip flops despite their wealth.  

She wore a brown Massimo Dutti wool coat, Tamara Mellon boots, Bottega Veneta clutch, LeSpecs Air Heart sunglasses, along with a brown beanie and blue face mask.

DailyMail.com spotted Meghan Markle on a shopping trip in Montecito, California on Wednesday afternoon

She shopped at Pierre LaFond and emerged about a half hour later carrying two bags, and the bodyguard carried a folded up blanket in a plastic bag

She shopped at Pierre LaFond and emerged about a half hour later carrying two bags, and the bodyguard carried a folded up blanket in a plastic bag

She wore a brown Massimo Dutti wool coat, Tamara Mellon boots, LeSpecs Air Heart sunglasses, along with a brown beanie and blue face mask

She wore a brown Massimo Dutti wool coat, Tamara Mellon boots, LeSpecs Air Heart sunglasses, along with a brown beanie and blue face mask

She wore a brown Massimo Dutti wool coat, Tamara Mellon boots, LeSpecs Air Heart sunglasses, along with a brown beanie and blue face mask 

Meghan got out of the car she was driven around in and walked inside Pierre LaFond and upstairs to the gift and home furnishings department and was followed by a bodyguard.

She emerged shortly afterwards carrying two bags, and the bodyguard carried a folded up blanket in a plastic bag.

They quickly put the shopping haul in the back and got Meghan back in the car.

The trio then headed to two nearby stores to continue their bargain-hunting  

Her bodyguard left her to shop at the kids’ clothing boutique Poppy, where she browsed both the boys and girls sections before checking out the sale items.  

She spent about five minutes there before heading over to Hudson Grace, a home furnishings store, eventually emerging with her head down, looking at her phone.  

The bodyguard quickly whisked Meghan into a waiting car and back home as she failed to find something she liked at the last two stores. 

Meghan shopped at the kids' clothing boutique Poppy, where she browsed both the boys and girls sections before checking out the sale items

Meghan shopped at the kids’ clothing boutique Poppy, where she browsed both the boys and girls sections before checking out the sale items

Meghan shopped at Hudson Grace, a home furnishings store. Onlookers say she made no eye contact and was not asked if she needed assistance. She emerged with her head down, looking at her phone

Meghan shopped at Hudson Grace, a home furnishings store. Onlookers say she made no eye contact and was not asked if she needed assistance. She emerged with her head down, looking at her phone

Meghan was certainly the best-dressed shopper that day in Montecito. Locals are known to dress down in sweats and flip flops despite their wealth

Meghan was certainly the best-dressed shopper that day in Montecito. Locals are known to dress down in sweats and flip flops despite their wealth

Meghan was accompanied by a bodyguard who quickly whisked Meghan into an Audi and back home to Harry and their two children

Meghan was accompanied by a bodyguard who quickly whisked Meghan into an Audi and back home to Harry and their two children 

It was a crisp 55 degrees and clear with no clouds in the sky. Meghan was wearing items that we’ve seen before in photos. 

‘It’s smart of Meghan to recycle her wardrobe,’ retail strategist and Kitson owner Fraser Ross tells DailyMail.com, ‘It makes her more relatable to her fans out there who may be having a tough time because of the pandemic.’

There was no sign of her husband Harry, 37, on this outing.

‘There was a franticness to her shopping, like she was just itching to get out and be somewhat normal,’ says an onlooker, ‘Even if it was for just an hour.’ 

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