Meghan Markle's U-turn days after £27k outfit

Meghan Markle, 45, has made a surprising U-turn by stepping out in a high-street blazer and jeans, just days after she sported a £27,000 outfit.

On Wednesday, the Duchess of Sussex was spotted enjoying a two-hour lunch at The Park restaurant in London, located near her former home at Kensington Palace. Meghan dined with her longtime hairstylist George Northwood and her PR. As well as her glossy locks, her chic outfit got us talking. 

Nailing smart-casual, Meghan teamed a simple black blazer and cropped jeans, both from M&S, with Jennifer Chamandi nude heels. Rocking head-to-toe British brands is certainly a clear message that she's back on UK soil and she's supporting British fashion. While the total of her outfit hasn't been totted up, the high street prices of her clothes will be worlds away from the estimated £27,000 outfit she wore to meet Malala at Claridge's. 

Meghan Markle's history with M&S

When Meghan was a senior royal in Britain she wore M&S a few times, creating sell outs. In 2018, Meghan caused a rush to the tills when she wore a £35 bell sleeve navy jumper by the brand. Later that year, she had chosen the brand's Double Crepe Bodycon Dress for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. At just £49.50, it was a hit.

The brand also collaborated with Smart works, which is a charity Meghan worked with for years, supporting women trying to get back into work by giving them clothes for interviews. 

Hidden messages in royal clothing 

Members of the royal family often use their clothing to send messages or support different causes. For example, the Princess of Wales is keen to support heritage brands from Britain. Her go-to labels may be Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen, but she's also careful to mix high-end with high-street, supporting the likes of LK Bennett, Reiss and Boden regularly. 

Meghan's next outing 

This outing comes on the eve of Meghan's first work engagement. Meghan and her husband Prince Harry have a planned visit to Nottingham in the diary for Thursday, for a series of charitable engagements. The trip marks their first official joint appearance since relocating back to the UK, returning to the city where Meghan completed her very first royal engagement alongside Harry in 2017.

Their itinerary includes visits to the Community Recording Studio, the Himmah Hub food bank, and the Epic Partners youth charity. While the couple are no longer senior royals, they are keen to keep up their philanthropic efforts here in the UK