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Duchess of Sussex wears sleeveless trench dress and trademark messy bun for Nelson Mandela exhibition in London

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in London [Photo: PA]
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in London [Photo: PA]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in London for a tour of the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition.

Suitably clad for the great British heatwave, the Duchess eschewed royal tradition in a powder pink trench dress by under-the-radar label, House of Nonie.

But it’s a surprising sartorial move from the 36-year-old who has championed French fashion house Givenchy on recent engagements.

Click below for Meghan’s entire style file:

It’s interesting to note that this is the first time that Meghan has worn an independent Canadian brand since before the royal wedding – a nod to her ‘Suits’ career perhaps?

FYI, fashion followers hoping to imitate the look can bag the dress for CA$1,085 (approximately £625) online.

In a less-than-surprising statement, she teamed the protocol-breaking look with a co-ordinating £600 clutch by Mulberry and £520 Dior shoes.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a protocol-breaking trench dress by an under-the-radar label for the London engagement [Photo: PA]
The Duchess of Sussex wore a protocol-breaking trench dress by an under-the-radar label for the London engagement [Photo: PA]

To finish the daytime aesthetic, royal fans will also be pleased to learn that she brought back her now-trademark messy bun – after weeks of donning Duchess of Cambridge-inspired curls.

Her latest get-up marks the return of her love of neutral hues – a colour palette she’s relied upon since gaining her Duchess title.

And due to the fact that Meghan does not have a personal stylist (unlike the Duchess of Cambridge), her look was thought up by close friend and personal stylist, Jessica Mulroney.

Designer for House of Nonie, Nina Kharey, confirmed the news via Instagram.

Though it’s not the first time the Duchess of Sussex has called up her best pal for last-minute fashion advice, as Mulroney was responsible for her series of knock-out looks during the Dublin tour.

The history-making Nelson Mandela exhibit is in collaboration with the Apartheid Museum and the British Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives.

During their debut trip to the London landmark, the newlyweds will tour the exhibition with guests including South Africa’s High Commissioner to the UK, Thembi Tambo and Nelson Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel.

On the decision to stage the exhibition in the capital, the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, said: “London was both South Africa’s colonial metropole and the headquarters of the international anti-apartheid struggle.”

“It was also the venue for some of Nelson Mandela’s most inspiring speeches. May his life, work and ideas inspire the kind of global movement for change humankind desperately needs.”

Prince Harry visited the archives at the Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory in Johannesburg during an overseas royal tour of South Africa back in 2015.


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