Here come… the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex. Both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out for a formal evening occasion on Thursday, October 25, wearing wedding-worthy looks during an audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u at the Consular House in Nuku’alofa.
The well-dressed, expectant pair looked regal and ready to wed Thursday evening with Markle in a form-fitting, white gown by Theia. The cap-sleeved piece with shoulder embellishments was sourced by Markle’s stylist, and the creative director of the brand, Don O’Neill, was more than happy to customize the gown for the pregnant royal’s needs.
Interestingly enough, O’Neill was grappling with the looming presence of Bridal Fashion Week when the request was first submitted. “When her stylist reached out to inquire if I could make a dress for her Australian press tour, I stopped everything we were doing (my bridal show was just a week away) and immediately went to work on Her Royal Highness’ gown,” O’Neill revealed in the press release.
Markle, though a fan of the piece, had one big tweak to the gown before her scheduled appearance. “We needed to remake it with extra seam allowance,” O’Neill added. “We knew immediately why this extra allowance was required, but mum’s the word, and with less than one week to my bridal show, all hands were on deck once more. We re-made the gown and I literally had to run down Broadway that Friday night to catch the UPS truck, making it with just two minutes to spare!”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the Consular House in NukuÕalofa for a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen NanasipauÕu on October 25, 2018 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Markle’s gown will soon be available for the world to purchase at a cool $995.
The former Suits actress has served as inspiration for Theia since her engagement to Prince Harry was announced last fall. “Her classic, effortless and chic style coupled with all the excitement leading up to her wedding earlier this year inspired my Spring 2019 bridal collection, which I showed in April,” O’Neill added.
Indeed, his fall collection was also inspired by Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry with about three designs mimicking the looks worn by the Duchess of Sussex on that special day.
Theia, of course, wasn’t the only brand to leverage the Meghan Markle effect with their designs at Bridal Fashion Week in early October. Both Naeem Khan and Lela Rose also revealed pieces that emulated Markle’s wedding dress in their latest collections.
(Photos by Kurt Wilberding)
Theia Fall 2019 Collection. (Photos by Kurt Wilberding)
(Photos by Kurt Wilberding)
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