Royal fans have issued a major complaint about Meghan Markle's latest appearance in London. The Duchess of Sussex was pictured in the centre of the capital on Wednesday heading to lunch with one of her old pals from her short tenure as a working royal.
Meghan arrived at The Park restaurant near Kensington Palace. She was joined by one person from her security team and her former hairstylist George Northwood. Mr Northwood worked with Meghan while she was a working royal and was responsible for her hair on her wedding day to the Duke in 2018.
Outfit details and fan reactions
Prince Harry's wife looked chic in a smart casual outfit, consisting of cropped baggy jeans, a black top, a black tailored blazer and a black bag. She finished the look with a pair of pointed beige high heels.
In pictures taken by Backgrid and published by Hello! magazine, the duchess can be seen having styled her hair in loose waves, while her make-up was fresh and glowy. According to the magazine, the smart lunch lasted for about two hours.
While most fans liked Meghan's outfit, several were not fond of the beige shoes. One user said on X: "She actually isn't dressed too horribly for once-of course the jeans are too short, the shoes are the wrong colour (black blazer, black top, black purse but cream heels?) and she's got the sleeves pushed up in that god awful way she insists on-but the jeans are a baggy fit which looks better on her, and the blazer is a good length.
"If she had kept the jeans the same length and worn flats OR had a longer hem with black shoes?"
Another one opined: "She probably wore cream colored shoes to match her skin tone and lengthen her appearance." A third one added: "I'm sorry but her shoes are just too light-colored for this time of year."
A fourth one commented: "I really hate to say this but have to be honest. This is the best she has looked in a long time. She should have worn black shoes. God knows why she chose cream." A fifth one said: "Those shoes look ridiculous."
Upcoming engagements in Nottingham
It comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to carry out their first joint engagements today since their return to the UK. Harry and Meghan are heading to Nottingham for a run of three quasi-royal appearances.
They will visit the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS), food poverty community action group Himmah Hub, and Epic Partners, which supports young people through sports programmes and mentoring. Although the high-profile events are not official royal engagements – with a letter to Government stakeholders authorised by the King last month clarifying the Sussexes remain "private citizens" – they are likely to bear all the hallmarks of such.
The duke and duchess are said to consider themselves "public figures" and were caught off-guard by the letter outlining their position. It will be the first time in four years that Meghan has appeared publicly at events in the UK – the last time being the late Queen's funeral in 2022.
