Meghan Markle wears £2,000 dress and £7,000 worth of accessories at NAACP awards

Meghan Markle wore a bespoke Christopher John Rogers dress worth an estimated £2,000 and £7,000 worth of accessories as she joined Prince Harry to accepted the President’s Award at the NAACP Image Awards.

The Duchess of Sussex, 40, also sported Princess Diana’s yellow gold omega chain cuff bracelet –  which she first sported during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry, 36, in 2018 – and her £260,000 engagement ring. 

The royal couple, who live in a $14m mansion in Montecito, California, attended the NAACP awards on Saturday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

They accepted an award in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service for their work helping a Texas women’s shelter, promoting vaccine equity and creating community relief centres. 

 The royal couple, who live in a $14m mansion in Montecito, California, attended the NAACP awards on Saturday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium

Meghan sported a custom blue-ombre dress with a flowing cape from New York based black designer Christopher John Rogers with a four-ply silk custom creation, and a chiffon bust overlay.

The designer is known for his bold styles and bright styles, with the likes of Adele, Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama previously sporting his designs. 

Speaking to Vogue, Christopher revealed he was approached by Meghan a month ago to work together and then had a video call to meet.    

‘I was immediately struck by her warmth and just her overall demeanour—her sense of ease and confidence within herself. We quickly touched on this idea of a reveal. She hadn’t really stepped out like this in a while.’ 

The royal also sported more than £7,000 worth of accessories as well as her £260,000 engagement ring.

Meghan opted for a £930 ‘Celeste’ shoe from Aquazzura. The gold slingbacks are leather and embellished with 105 crystals. A long term fan of the footwear brand, the Duchess has worn designs from the Italian fashion house of dozens of occasions, most notably for her engagement announcement. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 40, also sported Princess Diana’s yellow gold omega chain cuff bracelet  (left) – which she first sported during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry, 36, in 2018 – and her £260,000 engagement ring (left). Meghan also wore a £5,900 Cartier Love bracelet (right)

She added a further touch of glam with £200 14-carat gold plated Alexis Bittar earrings. 

Keeping her wrists well accessorised, Meghan also wore a £5,900 Cartier Love bracelet.

It’s a design that she has worn many times in the past, and which is also thought to have been a gift from Prince Harry in the early days of their romance.

The oval Cartier band is made of two C-shaped halves screwed together and the only way to remove it is with a screwdriver, like the 18-carat one supplied – a feature said to be inspired by medieval chastity belts. 

In a touching tribute to Princess Diana, Meghan sported her late mother in law’s bracelet on the other wrist.

​The Duchess of Sussex wore Princess Diana’s yellow gold omega chain cuff bracelet for the official start of the Australian royal tour following the news that the Duke and Duchess were expecting their first baby. 

The bracelet featuring blue cabochon stones was reportedly a gift from Prince Harry to Meghan to mark her pregnancy.

Meghan has worn the beautiful gold bracelet with blue stones on a number of occasions, including on her first tour as a royal to Australia and New Zealand. 

Meghan also sported her £271,000 engagement ring, which was originally designed by Prince Harry and court jewellers Cleave and Company using one stone from Botswana and two smaller stones from Diana’s collection.

Meghan Markle, Tamika Johnson and Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show

Meghan also sported her £271,000 engagement ring, which was originally designed by Prince Harry and court jewellers Cleave and Company using one stone from Botswana and two smaller stones from Diana’s collection

Harry proposed to Meghan in November 2017 with the glittering ring comprising a solid yellow gold band – however in 2019, images revealed that the design had been changed in order to incorporate a thinner band that was set with several pave diamonds all around it.

Shortly after their engagement, Prince Harry spoke out about the design process behind the ring, explaining that he had chosen each element in order to ensure that it fit his future bride’s tastes perfectly.

‘The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s [Meghan’s] favourite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,’ he said.

Meghan called it ‘incredible’, explaining: ‘Everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness and the inclusion of [Princess Diana’s stones] and obviously not being able to meet his mum, it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us.’

‘It’s incredibly special to be able to have this [ring], which sort of links where you come from and Botswana, which is important to us. It’s perfect.’

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, recognizes Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with the President’s Award

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show is pictured presenting the award

The pair accepted the award for their work helping a Texas women’s shelter, promoting vaccine equity and creating community relief centres, Harry first wanted to address the conflict in Ukraine following Russia ‘s invasion this week.

‘We would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community,’ he told a room filled with glammed-up Hollywood stars and dignitaries.

His speech in front of Hollywood A-listers, such as Daniel Kaluuya and Jennifer Hudson, took place as Ukrainians in Kyiv came under siege for a third successive night and Russian troops rolled into the second city of Kharkiv.

The Duke also said he was grateful for being honoured by the NAACP and that he and his wife were meant to be together to help others despite their supposed differences.

‘I think it’s safe to say that I come from a very different background from my incredible wife, yet our lives were brought together for a reason.

Meghan opted for a £930 ‘Celeste’ shoe from Aquazzura. The gold slingbacks are leather and embellished with 105 crystals (left) She added a further touch of glam with £200 14-carat gold plated Alexis Bittar earrings (right)

‘We share a commitment to a life of service, a responsibility to combat injustice and a belief that the most often overlooked are the most important to listen to.’

The Duke and Duchess have often flaunted their union as that of a wealthy prince meeting a woman from humble beginnings, despite the fact that Meghan often enjoyed luxuries as a kid with her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

Saturday’s ceremony is their first major Hollywood event since leaving the royal family as they rubbed shoulders with host Anthony Anderson and dozens of A-listers.

When receiving their award, Megan said: ‘I couldn’t be prouder that we’re doing this work together.’

‘We moved to California, my home state, shortly before the murder of George Floyd.

‘For black America, those nine minutes and 29 seconds transcended time, invoking centuries of our unhealed wounds.

‘In the months that followed, as my husband and I spoke with the civil rights community, we committed ourselves and our organization, Archewell, to illuminating those who are advancing racial justice and progress.’