Meghan Markle Surprisingly Spent Only $5,000 For Wardrobe In Africa Tour

Meghan Markle only spent a modest amount for her outfits in her recent tour with Prince Harry.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have just returned from their tour to South Africa. Markle had been criticized for overspending on her wardrobe. However, the duchess proved everyone that she has already changed.

According to Daily Mail, Prince Harry’s wife only spent over $5,000 on her new wardrobe for their 10-day visit to South Africa. The amount is only a fraction of the estimated $146,000 she spent on her outfits when she joined Prince Harry last year for their Commonwealth tour.

Prince Harry and Markle decided not to include any formal evening engagements in their schedule, rendering any expensive black tie attire unnecessary. Markle’s Oscar de la Renta gown alone that she wore at the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards in Tonga already cost her an estimated $6,000.

Also, the Duchess of Sussex recycled several dresses during the tour. This is something she might have learned from her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who is the popular royal to wear outfits again.

Markle recycled the blue dress she wore at Tonga’s Tupou College when she arrived at Cape Town. That evening, the duchess wore another recycled outfit when she attended a reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence.

According to etiquette expert William Hanson, there’s a reason why Markle opted to recycle outfits during the tour. He believes that the couple wanted the press to focus more on the more pressing issues because it’s undeniable that whatever Markle wears becomes a favorite topic.

“It is understandable that Their Royal Highnesses want the press attention to focus on the issues and causes that they are there to champion rather than the more superficial aspects of royal life - as often happens on royal tours,” Hanson said.

“There is also a larger amount of poverty in South Africa and so to arrive wearing expensive designers and high fashion may be somewhat jarring.”

Aside from recycling her dresses, Markle decided to ditch her $312,000 engagement ring and opted to wear a simpler version. An insider said that the duchess did it to be “low-key” during the tour.