Meghan Markle, 37, embarked on her first solo engagement as a royal this evening.
The event is a milestone in Meghan’s life as a member of the monarchy, as she will be venturing out without the support of Harry or other royals.
Attending the Royal Academy of Arts, the stunning Duchess wore a slinky black Givenchy dress.
The event was the opening of an exhibition of works from the Oceania region, at the Royal Academy of Arts in central London.
For the occasion, Meghan wore a slinky black Givenchy gown which retails at a staggering £2,200.
The dress featured a high neck and velvet panelling, cut into a deep v-shape around her bust.
Protecting her from the evening chill, the dress had long sleeves made in a sheer material, clasped in at the wrist.
Cinching her in at the waist and showing off her enviable figure, the dress had a black belt with a classic gold clasp.
Adding a sexier feel to the otherwise demure frock, the dress featured a slit running up the middle, showing off Meghan’s slender legs.
On her feet, the Duchess stuck to one of her favourite shoe brands, wearing a £490 pair of Aquazurra black heels.
The elegant shoes had dainty ribbon detailing behind the heel and an open, sling-back.
Hiking up the staggering cost of the outfit, the 37-year-old held a £1390 Givenchy clutch bag.
Understated and elegant, the clutch was in black and gold, perfectly matching Meghan’s evening wear.
She wore her long brunette hair straightened and down, hanging loosely around her shoulders.
A fan of more natural makeup, the Duchess wore a rose pink lip, some pink shimmery highlighter and a brown smokey eye.
No doubt taking the outfit’s cost into the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands, Meghan also wore a sparkling pair of drop-down diamond earrings.
The former actress has developed a bit of a colour theme recently, wearing black or dark colours to most of her royal engagements.
Yesterday she wore a deep purple trouser and blouse combination for a visit to Loughborough University.
This time with Prince Harry by her side, she wore a navy Oscar de la Renta Blouse, costing £1,636 from the AW19 collection,
She matched the blouse with her Altuzarra trousers, costing £295 which she has been spotted in before.
Who is Meghan Markle? Quick profile
Meghan Markle was born Rachel Meghan Markle, on August 4, 1981 to parents Doria Ragland and father Thomas Markle.
Her father was previously married to Roslyn Loveless and Meghan has two elder half sibling – sister Samantha Markle and brother Thomas Markle Junior.
Actress
Meghan’s first television appearance in the USA was in an episode of the medical drama General Hospital in 2002.
She later moved on to roles in CSI, Without a Trace and Castle along with bit parts in Hollywood films including Get Him to the Greek, Remember Me and Horrible Bosses.
Meghan was also a “briefcase girl” on Deal or No Deal – but her most famous role was as Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits, which launched in 2011.
She was written out in the finale of the seventh series when her character got married, which aired in April 2018 – just before she got married herself.
Charity and humanitarian work
Meghan Markle’s career in television has gone hand-in-hand with her support for causes close to her heart.
She wrote about the stigma around menstrual health in an article for Time magazine and was a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada – with whom she travelled to Rwanda for the charity’s Clean Water Campaign.
And her commitment to gender equality has seen her work with the United Nations – receiving a standing ovation in 2015 for her speech to mark International Women’s Day.
Relationships
In September 2011, she wed film producer Trevor Engelson, who she began dating in 2004.
But the pair divorced two years later in August 2013, citing irreconcilable difference.
She was in a relationship with celebrity chef Cory Vitiello for almost two years, before they broke it off in 2016 but the two remain good friends.
And in June 2016, she met Prince Harry on a blind date set up by a mutual friend.
Their relationship began in October that year and just over one year later, on November 27, 2017, the pair announced their engagement.
They married on May 19, 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Meghan’s heritage
Some have claimed Meghan Markle is the first mixed-race member of the Royal Family.
Historians are still arguing about Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.
But Meghan will be the first royal to openly embrace a mixed-race heritage.
She has written about the difficulties of being a biracial actress in Hollywood as she claims she is not black enough for some roles and not white enough for others.