Whether you’re a loyal follower of the royal family or not, most people have an opinion when it comes to some members of the institution. Although younger generations appear to sympathize with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the duo make headlines wherever they go and whatever they do – or what they don’t end up doing. The past two weeks have been centered around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘unofficial tour’ in Nigeria, with the Duchess’ outfits sparking a strong reaction online – but does she deserve this?
They’re no longer working members of The Firm, but they’re still Meghan Markle and the person who is fifth in line to the British throne. Prince Harry and Meghan spent three busy days in the African country last week, attending events, speaking to people, raising awareness for important charities and visiting schools. The Duchess revealed she found out her Nigerian heritage through a DNA test and opened up on what it meant to visit the beautiful country, and lead a talk about Women in Leadership. But one takeaway that has left a sour taste in the ‘tour’s’ mouth, is how the First Lady of Nigeria’s speech after they returned to LA, has dampened the high spirits from the last week.
The former Suits actress has now had her wardrobe analyzed and scrutinized, despite her wearing thousands of dollars’ worth of chic fashion, in the aftermath.
But looking at how other royals have dressed in the past, is this justified, or simply another witch hunt?
Meghan Markle’s outfits in Nigeria labelled as ‘provocative’
One royal author, Angela Levin, called her outfits ‘provocative’ for showing a bit of shoulder as well as wearing a long backless nude-colored dress. The writer of Harry: Conversations with a Prince is a vocal Meghan critic, and hasn’t been the biggest advocate since the Sussexes flew across the pond to find their home in their Montecito mansion.
She told GB News her clothing choice wasn’t appropriate as around half of the Nigerian population identify as Muslim.
But when questioned on Meghan Markle’s outfit was different from a teacher she was speaking to on the visit to Nigeria, she didn’t have an answer. Although, she should have.
It didn’t help that the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, slammed American celebrities and their ‘nakedness’ days after Meghan’s visit. However, she didn’t directly aim her comments at the Duchess, but instead, asked ‘why she came there’ as she begged women to embrace their natural beauty. Her remarks came during an event titled ‘Celebrating the Woman’, but she didn’t say much else of the trip with Harry and Meg.
If we take a look at other members of The Firm who have ventured overseas, they haven’t received the same treatment.
Kate Middleton on tour
The Princess of Wales, who is currently taking a leave of absence away from royal duties following her cancer diagnosis, usually makes headlines for her fashion choices. Whenever the 42-year-old embarks on an official trip, her outfits are laid out on the front cover of magazines and usually sell out within hours.
But she has worn similar looks to Meghan as well, showing her arms and shoulders in designer clothing in Poland and Canada in 2017.
In 2022, Kate Middleton wore a beautiful and colorful sundress, with thin straps, as she visited the Caribbean with her husband by her side. Although, it ended up becoming quite a scandal, as the Jamaican prime minister then declared his country would ‘move on’ from the British Monarchy. It seems the Wales’ haven’t been able to escape awkwardness overseas, much like Prince William‘s younger brother.
On another visit, she opted for a bright blue tropical dress while in Belize on the same tour, not so much different to the red gown Meghan Markle changed into when she was told she needed to ‘fit in’.
Reversing the clock even further to 2012, Kate wore a navy dress, that finished above the knee, again her shoulders on show, as she and William headed to Tavanipupu, part of the Guadacanal region.
But she was praised for looking ‘fabulous’, not for putting ‘too much on show’.
See a pattern here, yet?
Princess Diana was loved for her fashion – why not Meghan?
The People’s Princess, the late Diana, was a fashion icon. And still is.
But coverage at the time and now, looking back, still presents the royal in the brightest of lights, and was expertly recreated for the Netflix show The Crown. We all remember that ‘revenge dress’, which could have been on the Red Carpet at a hot new movie premiere, not typically associated with someone linked to the royal family.
Diana announced she was splitting from the then Prince Charles at the time, so wasn’t going to be a ‘working’ member of The Firm anymore. It’s a similar story to Harry and Meghan, who decided to step down four long years ago, so why are they still held up to the same rules?
Princess Diana visited Nigeria in 1989, and wore a breezy top and color-block knee-length skirt, and can see her smiling with women around her – and photos of Meghan Markle in her gorgeous outfits are almost eerily identical decades later.
However, Maryam Babangida, the wife of the former president General, didn’t make a speech about ‘nakedness’ when she went home.
The problem isn’t with her closet
It’s pretty clear Meghan Markle’s biggest problem isn’t her outfits, or how she dressed while on ‘tour’ in Nigeria – it was how she’s perceived.
Popularity ratings continue to drop, and have done so over the past few years, according to repeated polls. There is a big divide between different countries, with the UK reportedly liking her ‘less’ than Americans, as well as Gen Z and Millennials.
If someone has a strong opinion about a celebrity or TV star, no matter what they do, they’ll already be fighting a losing game.
It doesn’t help that, as non-working royals, it looked from the outside the duo were on an unofficial ‘tour’, considering The Firm is left with a skeleton team with King Charles and Kate Middleton battling cancer. The Sussexes sent their wishes to the pair after the news came out, with Harry jumping on a plane to see his father for 30 minutes, however, they haven’t flown back to see their sister-in-law Kate.
This is likely the sour taste in critics’ mouths, not Meghan Markle’s outfits in Nigeria under the microscope.
To me, it seems no matter what the couple do, even if it’s for a good cause overseas, if they don’t fix the royal rift at ‘home’, they’re never going to win.
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