The pressure of dressing for one’s first Royal Christmas with the Firm at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate appeared to have gone to Meghan Markle’s head yesterday – in the shape of a Christmas pudding-inspired hat, complete with curved chocolate tuile on the side.
While the Queen’s floral-decorated tangerine-brimmed hat and matching coat had just the right amount of citrus zing, Meghan’s – according to royal watchers – was the one very brown fashion faux pas in what was otherwise a triumph of understated, polished elegance for the 36-year-old American actress, who stuck to her signature neutral-palette style for the first official outing with her future in-laws.
Meghan chose a £986 long, wide collar wrap coat by her one of her favourite Canadian designers, Sentaler.
Meghan Markle’s hat was a fashon faux pas in what was otherwise a triumph of understated, polished elegance for the 36-year-old American actress, writes Helen Weathers
The chocolate truffle of a hat – designer as yet unknown – perched on Meghan’s glossy hair which divided opinion and sent social media into overdrive
Its belt was tied with what has become Meghan’s trademark bow, the coat’s asymmetric neckline and cinched-in waist gave her petite frame the illusion of curves.
Occasionally removing her gloves to show off her engagement ring to the crowds, Meghan’s sparkle was matched by the £5,250 Birks Snowflake large round jacket earrings from Mappin and Webb.
While other female royals favoured the safe clutch bag, Meghan’s £1,055 red and tan Pixie circle bag from Chloe struck a youthful, trendy and fun note, as did her thigh-high £695 Stuart Weitzman Highland boots in tan suede.
Stylish, chic, glamorous and sophisticated – if a bit metropolitan for the Norfolk countryside – it was almost full fashion marks for Meghan, who managed to resist morphing overnight into an overblown Hollywood version of English royalty.
It was just that chocolate truffle of a hat – designer as yet unknown – perched on Meghan’s glossy hair which divided opinion and sent social media into overdrive.
Kate, five months pregnant, wore an on-trend, very festive but formal £2,655 Miu Miu green and red checked double-breasted coat with gilt buttons, teamed with black fake fur hat, gloves, clutch bag and £335 Tod’s suede block heel courts
But, as usual, it was the Queen who stole the show in a bright tangerine coat dress with epaulettes, worn over a green floral dress
‘Why are none of the royal reporters mentioning Meghan Markle’s nutty hat?’ asked one.
‘Is Meghan Markle’s hat sponsored by Thornton’s chocs?’ asked another.
A third remarked: ‘Possibility the ugliest hat I’ve ever seen.’ However, there were some fans.
One observer remarked, ‘I especially love Meghan Markle’s hat,’ while another proclaimed ‘Meghan Markle’s Christmas hat is the only Christmas speech we need’.
Kate, five months pregnant, wore an on-trend, very festive but formal £2,655 Miu Miu green and red checked double-breasted coat with gilt buttons, teamed with black fake fur hat, gloves, clutch bag and £335 Tod’s suede block heel courts.
Eden flower drop earrings from Kiki McDonough, costing around £4,500, more than matched Meghan’s sparkle.
But, as usual, it was the Queen who stole the show in a bright tangerine coat dress with epaulettes, worn over a green floral dress, and that matching hat with flower detail, believed to be by Queen’s milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan.