Meghan Markle turned heads on the 2018 royal tour when fans spotted a dress label still attached to her £380 Self Portrait gown as she and Prince Harry arrived in Tonga. The Duchess of Sussex, who wed into the Royal Family in 2018, was no stranger to red carpets and public engagements due to her years as an actress. However, just months after her fairytale wedding, she encountered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during an overseas royal tour.
The 2018 Royal Tour
In October 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on a 16-day international royal tour spanning Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and other Pacific Islands. As they arrived in Tonga, Meghan stepped off the aircraft at Fua'amotu Airport wearing a vibrant red £380 Self Portrait dress with long sleeves and a flowing skirt. The brightly hued frock drew the attention of many royal watchers, but not for the right reasons.
Wardrobe Malfunction
The garment still had a label dangling from inside the skirt, visible just below the hemline. The tag remained on display for at least five minutes while the couple strolled along the tarmac. This style blunder left several followers online gobsmacked. Some jokingly suggested that Meghan might have kept the tag attached to return the pristine dress after the occasion. Others questioned why her entourage had not flagged the issue before she descended from the plane, given the assumption that she had a team of stylists and aides aboard.
Defense from Good Morning Britain Presenter
Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins came to Meghan's defense, insisting it was 'easily done' and could have gone unnoticed. She noted that labels are often tucked away in different spots in women's clothing and are not always simple to locate. 'It's easily done, you put it on and you forget. They put labels in all different places; sometimes it's in the back, sometimes it's in the bottom, sometimes it's in the sleeve,' she said.
Previous Wardrobe Mishap
Just two months prior to the Tonga incident, Meghan endured another wardrobe mishap. She and Prince Harry attended the wedding of Harry's close friend Charlie van Straubenzee in Frensham, Surrey. Dressed in a £400 Club Monaco navy blue short-sleeved dress, Meghan accidentally missed a button and inadvertently flashed her bra while waving to well-wishers. She kept her composure, swiftly covering up before flashing a cheeky grin at waiting photographers. The wedding fell on Meghan's 37th birthday, adding to the memorable occasion.
