When American actress Meghan Markle traded the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for the strict traditions of the British Royal Family, all eyes were on her. The world eagerly awaited her first overseas tour with her newlywed Prince Harry, anticipating a perfect blend of celebrity charm and royal elegance. But during their 16-day tour across New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Tonga in October 2018, the Duchess of Sussex made a fashion misstep that quickly caught public attention.
As Meghan disembarked a private jet at Fua’amotu Airport in Tonga, she wore a striking £380 Self Portrait dress paired with a Christian Dior clutch and Manolo Blahnik BB pumps. The vibrant red floral dress, matching the Tongan flag, was otherwise impeccable—but eagle-eyed onlookers noticed the dress label remained visible for at least five minutes as the couple walked along the runway. The wardrobe slip stunned social media, with some jokingly speculating that perhaps Meghan had deliberately left the tag on, hoping to return the dress later. Others questioned why her team hadn’t noticed and removed the glaring label before she stepped onto the tarmac.
Charlotte Hawkins of Good Morning Britain defended the Duchess, saying the mistake was “easily done.” She explained that labels are often hidden in various parts of women’s clothing and not always obvious. “You put it on and you forget. Sometimes it’s in the back, sometimes the bottom, sometimes the sleeve,” Hawkins said, emphasizing that even a minor detail could escape attention in a busy royal schedule.
This was not Meghan’s first brush with fashion faux pas. Earlier that year in Birmingham, just weeks before her fairytale wedding, Meghan had left the loose criss-cross stitching, known as a tailor’s tack, visible on the back of her $298 navy Italian stadium-cloth wool coat by J. Crew. Designed to maintain the garment’s shape during shipping or display, the tack is supposed to be removed before wearing—but Meghan’s oversight reminded the public that even royals are human.
Despite such missteps, Meghan’s approach to fashion has often challenged royal conventions. Known for her off-the-shoulder dresses, bold nail colors, and contemporary style choices, she frequently defied the traditional, conservative dress codes long followed by the Royal Family. While some royal watchers criticized these choices, others admired her modern take on elegance, blending Hollywood flair with royal dignity.
Royal etiquette expert Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette previously commented on Meghan’s style, noting, “The bottom line is that the outfit always has to fit the occasion. It has to be modest, elegant, and appropriate, and it should never distract from the role.” Meghan’s bold experiments, however, often drew attention precisely because they balanced innovation with the expectations of royalty, keeping the public and media talking.
From visible labels on designer dresses to exposed tailor’s tacks on wool coats, Meghan Markle’s royal fashion journey has been full of memorable moments—some admired, others chuckled over. Each outfit reveals a delicate balance between personal style and royal protocol, and while minor errors sometimes slip through, they humanize a figure otherwise viewed as distant and untouchable.
What makes Meghan’s fashion story particularly fascinating is not just the occasional misstep, but the deliberate choices that push boundaries. Every off-shoulder gown, bold color, or quirky detail invites conversation and keeps her in the spotlight. In doing so, Meghan continues to redefine what it means to be a modern royal—where glamour, individuality, and occasional faux pas coexist, leaving a lasting impression on the world.
Even in a life meticulously documented and scrutinized by the media, Meghan Markle’s fashion adventures remind us that elegance is never flawless, and sometimes, a visible label or a tailor’s tack is all it takes to make a royal moment unforgettable.
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