Meghan Markle's South Africa tour wardrobe was surprisingly affordable

The total price of Meghan Markle’s South Africa tour wardrobe was significantly lower than her previous international visits.

Unlike the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trips abroad to Morocco in 2019 and Australia and New Zealand in 2018, the 38-year-old’s wardrobe was quite clearly more affordable - and missing the royal’s usual array of new and designer labels.

Instead, Meghan, who officially attended six days of the tour, opted to recycle numerous garments from previous engagements.

Meghan also paid homage to South Africa by wearing clothing and accessories from local designers, peppered with items from her favourite high street brands, including J Crew and Madewell.

Yahoo is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page.

Day 1: Outfit cost = £1,828

Meghan kicked off the tour dressed diplomatically in a patterned £69 black and white wrap dress by Mayamiko: a sustainable and ethical African label.

She paired the monochrome number with a pair of espadrilles by Castaner, a brand that is also loved by the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister, Pippa Middleton. The affordable £80 shoes are still available to buy.

She accessorised with a turquoise ring (£200) and earrings (£483) by Jennifer Mayer, as well as a delicate £450 Hamsa necklace by Alemdara, which she continued to wear throughout the tour.

Meghan then changed for the second engagement of the day, rewearing a blue shirt dress by Veronica Beard (£525), which she first wore in Tonga in 2018. She changed her earrings from the morning, choosing a pair of £21 earrings by South African designer, Nina Bosch.

Day 2: Outfit cost = £2,010

Meghan began the second day in Cape Town in a dressed-down denim look: a pair of £157 black skinny jeans by Mother Denim and £111 blue denim jacket by Madewell were coupled with an £78 linen shirt from J.Crew.

The look was accessorised with a £75 khaki tote bag by Madewell, £52 Le Specs sunglasses and tan £156 shoes by Brother Vellies.

Meghan changed for the visit to Auwal Mosque into a $325 (£260) maxi dress by Staud, nude £86 pumps by Sally Flat and a grey cashmere scarf by Cuyana (£155).

In the evening Meghan attended a youth reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence where she re-wore a striped £880 Martin Grant midi dress that she first wore to visit Bondi Beach in 2018.

Day 3: Outfit cost = £2,113

Meghan and Harry took four-month-old Archie to meet human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the third morning of their visit.

The new mum wore a £370 patterned dress by Canadian brand, Club Monaco. The dress was paired with the same Jennifer Meyer jewellery from the first day, plus with a pair of navy £471 Manolo Blahnik heels.

In the afternoon, Meghan attended her first solo engagement of the tour, rewearing her £100 Everlane jumpsuit, which was first seen when the duchess worked on the September issue of British Vogue.

She accessorised the simple all-in-one with statement £172 earrings by Gas Bijoux, £1,000 Zofia bracelet and Manolo Blahnik shoes, all of which she had also worn before.

Day 4: Outfit cost = £211

Meghan hosted a private breakfast for nine female South African activist wearing a minimal £145 striped skirt by J.Crew and £66 tank top by her designer friend, Misha Nonoo.

Day 9: Meghan’s outfit = £1,699

Meghan started her day in Johannesburg wearing a £95 trench dress by Banana Republic, £360 heels by Stuart Weitzman and Didem bracelet by Alemdara (£775).

The 38-year-old then changed into another shirt dress, this time a £371 khaki number by, Room 502, that was worn with £98 earrings from Pichulik.

Day 10: Meghan’s outfit = £754

For the final morning, Meghan stuck to her go-to silhouette: a midi shirt dress.

The minimalist white design, which costs £75, is from local sustainable South African womenswear brand, Hannah Lavery. Meghan finished off the outfit with statement red tassel £18 earrings by Madewell and re-wore her Stuart Weitzman shoes.

For the couple’s final engagement, Meghan changed into her £661 House of Nonie sleeveless trench dress, which she first wore in 2018 to visit the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition. The outfit was paired with previous nude Stuart Weitzman pumps and Jennifer Meyer earrings.

Who foot the bill, you ask? As Meghan rewore many items that were already in her wardrobe, numerous of which she owned prior to being a member of the British family, the former-actress likely bought a number of the garments herself.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also get a wardrobe allowance from Prince Charles. According to The Prince of Wales' Annual Review, Prince Charles estate ‘Duchy of Cornwall’, pays for the clothing costs of himself, the Duchess of Cornwall, his two son’s and their partners. The business, which was founded in 1337, makes money through owning land and through other investments.