Meghan Markle maintains longstanding tour tradition with one crucial hidden detail

With Day 2 of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Colombia tour now in full swing, we take a closer look at the subtle but heartwarming way the Duchess has paid tribute to the South American nation on her trip

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s four day tour of Colombia now officially underway, royal fans have been excitedly following the couple’s itinerary as they visit the South American nation to meet with locals and officials ahead of the country’s participation in next year’s Invictus Games.

After first setting foot on Colombian soil on Thursday, the couple got off to a brilliant start, as they were warmly welcomed by the country’s Vice President, Francia Márquez and kicked off their whistle stop tour that will see both Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle visit several key locations across Columbia.

With every detail of the trip mapped out in meticulous detail to assure adequate security for the couple and to maximise their short time in the country, it’s safe to say the preparations for the trip have been a labour of love for the Sussexes – with a great deal of thought and care put into what they hoped to achieve on the trip. One detail that many fans may not have realised however, is the subtle way that Duchess Meghan kept alive a long standing tour tradition, by opting to wear an outfit designed by a fashion house from the country itself in order to honour its cultural – and fashionable – heritage.

Meghan and Harry arrive for a musical performance in Bogota
Meghan wore a dress by a Colombian designer
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For her trip to Colombia, Meghan opted to wear a stunning metallic red, pink and gold Navajo Weaver dress by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz as one of her day outfits on the tour. Teaming the dress with a pair of strappy brown Jimmy Choo mules, Meghan also went on to accessorise her look with a Cartier watch and bracelet.

Born in Cali, Colombia, designer Johanna has been pioneering Colombian couture since 2009, when she became a fashion ambassador for Colombia and was even invited to show her collections in the White House in Washington and the United Nations in New York.

Meghan’s Columbia nod also follows a similar pattern seen in Nigeria earlier this year, when she wore a dress by a Lagos based designer
Counting herself among Meghan’s favourite designers, the Duchess has been spotted wearing her garments on multiple occasions over the past few years, but it’s her inclusion in Meghan’s tour wardrobe that pays a special tribute to the Colombian fashionista.

It also follows a similar trend seen by Meghan on previous tours, such as her trip to Nigeria earlier this year, when she wowed crowds while wearing an Oríré Aleshinloye dress, that was designed by the rising Lagos based brand.

Meghan wore a dress by a local designer when visiting New Zealand in 2018

Another prime example is her trip to Australia back in 2018, when Meghan opted to don a coat by Aussie designer Martin Grant for her trip across Sydney Harbour, or her trip to New Zealand the same year, when she stunned fans in a white tuxedo dress by Wellington based Maggie Marilyn.

The unexpected homage to the nations she’s visiting through her sartorial choices may be subtle, but it’s clear that the Duchess has no intention of breaking with tradition, and intends to continue honouring local talent whenever on an international tour.