Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Cari Champion
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Psychosis
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Here's How Meghan Markle's First Event with the Queen Compares to Kate Middleton's

    They chose completely different looks.

    Ruby Buddemeyer's avatar
    By Ruby Buddemeyer
    Published 14 June 2018 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Fashion, Yellow, Headgear, Hat, Outerwear, Fashion accessory, Street fashion, Ear, Cap, Neck,
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Meghan Markle—a.k.a the Duchess of Sussex—has officially attended her first solo event with the Queen. And although joining the matriarch for a public appearance is a part of royal protocol, Meghan's day comes less than a month after she tied the knot with Prince Harry.

    For reference, Kate Middleton didn't make her first official outing with the Queen until almost a year after her wedding in 2011—the Duchess of Cambridge tagged along for a day of appearances during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour (a celebration of her 60-year-reign) on March 8, 2012. So, how exactly did Kate and Meghan's solo debuts compare?

    People, Pink, Fashion, Event, Human, Headgear, Hat, Fashion accessory, Child, Recreation,

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Green, Fashion, Hat, Headgear, Fun, Fashion accessory, Uniform, Style, Costume,

    (Image credit: Getty images)

    Unlike Meghan, who opted for a nude hue Givenchy dress with a layered cape, Kate sat alongside the Queen in a blue, peplum suit by L.K. Bennet and a black fascinator by James Lock. Suffice it to say, both looks were a lot more low-key than the Queen's vibrant-as-heck dress suits.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge watched a dance performance in Leicester's De Montfort Square, later followed by a fashion show at De Montfort University. The day was topped off with a visit to Leicester Cathedral, where the two held bouquets of flowers and smiled at each other.

    Clothing, Fashion, Street fashion, Pink, Purple, Event, Dress, Headgear, Costume, Magenta,

    (Image credit: Getty images)

    Green, Clothing, Fashion, Yellow, Street fashion, Event, Fashion design, Dress, Footwear, Headgear,

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Meanwhile, Meghan and the Queen opened the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and Catalyst Science Discovery Centre museum in Cheshire and will later travel to Chester, England about a half hour away to open the Storyhouse Theater. It's safe to say it's a lot more low-key than the Queen and Kate's day together.

    You may like
    • Princess Eleonore in a pink gown and tiara Princess Eleonore Channeled Meghan Markle for Her Tiara Debut
    • Pippa Middleton at Wimbledon 2026 with Carole Middleton Pippa Middleton Breezes Into Wimbledon in a Reformation Dress and Meghan Markle's Clutch
    • Princess Kate wearing a bright yellow dress and a matching hat for Royal Ascot Day 2 in 2026, while Prince William wears a traditional suit with a top hat Princess Kate Makes Royal Ascot Return in Canary Yellow
    RELATED STORIES

    Hat, Lip, Beauty, Eyebrow, Sun hat, Chin, Street fashion, Headgear, Fashion, Fashion accessory,

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Meghan Attends Her First Event as a Duchess

    Meghan Markle

    (Image credit: Getty images)

    Meghan Markle Was "Nervous" at Trooping the Colour

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Meghan Markle Queen Elizabeth II
    Ruby Buddemeyer
    Ruby Buddemeyer
    Social Links Navigation

    Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.

    Read more
    Prince George in his Eton College uniform
    Royals How Prince George's First Day at Eton College Differed From Prince William's
    By Kristin Contino
    Meghan Markle wearing a blue striped shirt
    Royals Meghan Markle Transforms Her Wardrobe from California to Cotswolds
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Meghan Markle wearing butterfly earrings
    Royals Meghan Markle Is Giving Princess Diana's Jewelry a New Life in Britain
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate Middleton has long wavy brown hair and wears a black polo neck sweater with a brown blazer
    Royals One Royal Has Become "Very Close" to Princess Kate
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Princess Anne wearing a coat and paisley scarf
    Royals Princess Anne Gets a "Round of A-Paws" from Sheep Dogs in Timeless Paisley Look
    Meghan Markle wearing a blue striped shirt
    Royals Meghan Markle Transforms Her Wardrobe from California to Cotswolds
     
     
    Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana (1961 - 1997) and Prince Charles at Victoria Station, London, where they will welcome a state delegation from Nigeria, March 1989.
    Royals Why Queen Elizabeth "Was Furious" With Princess Diana
    King Charles wearing a crown at his coronation
    Royals Royal Fans Help "Fix" an "Embarrassing" King Charles Mistake
     
     
    Latest in News
    Katie Holmes wore a white crewneck sweater, black trousers, and leather loafers at the 2026 US Open
    Celebrity Style Katie Holmes Styles This Editor-Endorsed NYFW Uniform at the 2026 US Open
    Princess Anne wearing a coat and paisley scarf
    Royals Princess Anne Gets a "Round of A-Paws" from Sheep Dogs in Timeless Paisley Look
     
     
    Dakota Johnson styled a flannel outfit for fall with jeans and a lace-trimmed camisole at the 2026 US Open
    Celebrity Style Dakota Johnson Brings NYFW's Leading Shirt Trend to the 2026 US Open
    Meghan Markle wearing a blue striped shirt
    Royals Meghan Markle Transforms Her Wardrobe from California to Cotswolds
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.