Meghan steps out in white shirt dress in Johannesburg

The Duchess of Sussex continued her effortlessly chic royal tour wardrobe of shirt dresses and trenches as she reunited with Prince Harry to visit a Johannesburg township today.

Meghan Markle, 38, opted for a sleeveless trench coat dress from Canadian label House of Nonie to meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela, swapping her loose waves for a chic bun. 

The Duchess previously wore the stylish blush pink outfit as she attended the Nelson Mandela Centenary Launch at the Southbank Centre in London in July 2018.

The outfit change came after she kicked off the final day of the 10-day tour in a white shirt dress by Hannah Lavery teamed with nude heels as she visited the British High Commission and Yes chief executive Tashmia Ismail-Saville alongside Prince Harry, 35, this morning. 

The royal looked radiant, wearing hear hair in a sleek tousled blow dry and accessorising with red earrings, a black and white beaded bracelet and her wedding band.

The frock is the fourth in a succession of shirt dress she has opted for, after a fashion expert explained that the Duchess has aimed to look polished yet relaxed on her tour, following reports she was keen to keep the attention off her wardrobe and go for a low-key look.

Yesterday the Duchess opted for a £371.13 khaki shirt dress by new ethical brand Room 502, as she arrived at Action Aid to take part in a discussion about violence. 

It comes after she donned a $148 (£120) button-front midi shirt dress in indigo by designer, Aritzia, as she visited a Johannesburg art studio on Monday. 

On September 24, the mother-of-one also wore a floor-length olive shirt dress during a visit to Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day, and a loose-fitting £525 Veronica Beard ‘Cary’ shirt dress when she arrived at District 6 museum in Cape Town on 23 September. 

Speaking to Femail, fashion experts explained shirt dresses are perfect for achieving a polished yet relaxed look that fits Meghan’s ‘low key’ approach to the royal tour, with her choice of neutral colours and light and breezy fabrics adding to the effect.

‘Meghan’s tour style is to favour an office look – her clothes never seem to be fussy or frilly, whereas for Kate, it’s a lot of pussy-bow blouses and patterned dresses,’ said Susie Hasler, who runs Styled By Susie.

She continued: ‘She’s dressing well for her shape, showing off her waist to assert her power and authority, while keeping things very clean, crisp and simple.

‘Her style is very Parisian – and she’s not a girly girl, and that is coming across with the outfits she’s choosing for this tour.’   

‘The shirt dress is versatile, comfortable and chic, so it’s no surprise that the Duchess has one in almost every shade,’ added Anthony McGrath, celebrity stylist and lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy in London.

‘It’s a look that she can always fall back on and it can easily be changed up with accessories and footwear. It’s also a perfect transition item, making it ideal for this time of year.’

Today Meghan will learn about how the Youth Employment Services (Yes) group is creating one million new work opportunities in the next three years, after it was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April 2018. 

The couple – who were reunited last night after six days apart on solo parts of the tour – were welcomed at the hub today by Melony Campbell from the British High Commission and Yes chief executive Tashmia Ismail-Saville. 

Ms Ismail-Saville will tell Harry and Meghan about the work and background of the group while Mish, a local Masterchef winner and entrepreneur with a community catering business, will make them refreshments.