Meghan Markle’s Days as a Royal Are Almost Over: A Look Back at Her 25 Best Looks

At the end of March, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will officially end their tenure as Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Back in January, the couple made a surprise announcement that they were stepping back as senior members of the royal family. Choosing to be financially independent, they will now be based between the U.K. and North America and focus on charitable work and raising their son, Archie.

During Markle’s time as a duchess, which began on her and Prince Harry’s wedding day back in May of 2018, she has consistently taken a classic and polished approach to dressing befitting her title. She also always found ways to bring a sense of personality to a royal dress code.

Consider the very day Markle walked down the aisle in a Givenchy wedding dress designed by creative director Clare Waight Keller. The custom gown included Markle’s preferred bateau neckline and a 16-and-a-half-foot silk veil. “It was a very discreet communication between us—literally just us. There was no one else involved,” said Keller of the design experience. It was clear from the get-go that Markle had her own style identity; her second wedding day look, a high-neck reception dress by Stella McCartney, only further highlighted her sleek, minimal sensibility, one that would eventually become her signature in the months to follow.

In Givenchy Haute Couture
May 2018
Photo: Getty Images

Markle’s winning sartorial smarts were only amplified when the couple announced they were expecting their son Archie. The Duchess’ maternity style was both elegant and modern. The Safiyaa sequinned top and floor-grazing fishtail skirt she wore to the Royal Variety performance in London back in November 2018 was one of many dazzling examples.

As a new mom, Markle made equally show-stopping fashion choices. Earlier this month, she once again chose Safiyaa—this time a fire-engine red cape gown—to wear to the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall in London. As she nears the end of her tenure, it’s almost as if the duchess has been saving her best frocks for last: equally as stunning was the form-fitting Victoria Beckham number she wore to the Endeavor Fund Awards in London this month as well.

With only a handful of days left as an official royal, only time will tell if Markle will deliver one final surprise fashion moment. As it stands, she already leaves with an impressive number of memorable ensembles. It’s arguably her unfussy yet sophisticated aesthetic that has cemented her place on the list of best-dressed royals in recent history.