Meghan Markle Visits Children's Hospital Los Angles in Two Spring Trends

Meghan Markle at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in a spring dress

(Image credit: Children's Hospital Los Angeles)

last updated 3 April 2024

Meghan Markle started spring on an uplifting note with a special surprise appearance.

Earlier this spring, the Duchess of Sussex visited patients at Children's Hospital Los Angeles as part of the medical center's annual "Make March Matter" drive. Markle, author of the children's book The Bench, hosted a story time where she read aloud from picture books including Pete the Cat and Rosie Revere, Engineer. She also led children and staff in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities connected to the themes of each book. (Photos from the March 21 event were released Tuesday, April 2.)

Meghan Markle meets patients at Children's Hospital Los Angeles — Meghan Markle greeted patients and read stories at a special visit to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Markle's look for the surprise visit embraced spring's pastel color trends and semi-sheer fabrics. She wore a silk Oscar de la Renta button-up dress from the designer's Pre-Spring 2022 collection, paired with pointed-toe flats by Aquazzura. The minty blue shirt dress featured semi-sheer sleeves and a pleated skirt covered in watercolor florals.

Meghan Markle reads to children at Children's Hospital Los Angeles — During the visit, Markle read several books and led children in a series of games and educational activities.

Both pieces have previously appeared in Markle's wardrobe. In her 2022 Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex wore her Oscar de la Renta dress in scenes shot at her former Frogmore Cottage residence. Her flats, meanwhile, appeared in her 2023 Invictus Games wardrobe. (Even with a new stylist, the Duchess of Sussex appears to still embrace re-wearing her favorite pieces from event to event.)

Markle has made a number of quiet appearances at charitable events this spring. In March, she and Prince Harry spoke at the Kinsey Collection, an African American art museum located in Los Angeles's Sofi Stadium. She wore a floral Carolina Herrera cape for the occasion.

The mother of two was highly engaged at her Children's Hospital storytime appearance, People reports. A statement from the hospital notes that she "turned into character with every page" while reading out loud.

Pieces inspired by Markle's dress and shoes are available below.

Zimmermann Matchmaker Belted Floral-Print Linen Midi Dress

Aquazzura Love Affair Flat

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Meghan Markle

Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders including stylist Alison Bornstein and J.Crew womenswear creative director Olympia Gayot, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what trends—like the rise of doll-like Mary Janes or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. Halie has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self-Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she was awarded the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.

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