Meghan sported three striking looks during a busy 24-hours. Photos / Getty and Kensington Palace
Meghan sported three striking looks during a busy 24-hours. Photos / Getty and Kensington Palace
She's had a hectic day, commencing with RAF centenary celebrations in London before jetting to Dublin for her first official overseas visit, but the Duchess of Sussex managed to keep the style stakes high with three outfit changes.
Meghan, 36, was wearing a green Givenchy top and pencil skirt for her arrival in the Irish capital but changed into a chic black midi dress by Emilia Wickstead with a square neckline for a garden party at the residence of the British Ambassador to Ireland.
She accessorised with a simple black Givenchy clutch and Morganite Drop Earrings with Pavé Diamonds by her favourite jewellery brand Birks.
Earlier in the day, she wore an achingly stylish black fit-and-flare Dior dress to a thanksgiving ceremony for the RAF at Westminster Abbey, reports the Daily Mail.
This evening, Prince Harry made a warm speech to guests at the British Ambassador's residence at Glencairn House and even tried out a few words in the Irish language.
"Standing here with you on this beautiful evening, it is easy to see why Ireland has such a special place in the hearts of my family and indeed all those who come here," he said.
"We're so pleased to be here, for our first official international visit together as a married couple, and we hope it will be the first of many!"
Meghan wearing a dress by Kiwi born Emilia Wickstead. Photo / Kensington Palace
Earlier this evening, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar rolled out the red carpet for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as the royal newlyweds made their first official overseas visit as a married couple to the Republic of Ireland.
The pair were greeted by the Taoiseach at Dublin's Government Buildings - the Irish equivalent of 10 Downing Street - where they were shown a plaque laid by Harry's great, great, great grandfather King Edward VII in 1904.
Then known as King of Great Britain and Ireland, he laid the foundation stone for what was originally The Royal College of Science before the impressive building became occupied by the new Irish Free State government from 1922.
Despite the febrile political atmosphere reaching fever pitch at home, Brexit chat appeared off the menu - in public at least - as ministers were reportedly told not to mention the referendum, according to the Irish press.
Mr Varadkar had vowed to "roll out the red carpet" to welcome Harry and Meghan and greeted them with warmly with a handshake after they pulled up to the historic building in the capital's Merrion Street just after 6pm in a chauffeur-driven blue Range Rover.
The unseasonably warm weather appeared to be an immediate topic of conversation as Mr Varadkar pointed out the parched brown grass around the fountain at the front of the parliament. Ireland is officially 'in drought' having not had any rain for three weeks - the longest heatwave since the famously scorching summer of 1976.
The couple were then shown an inside to view a stained glassed window representing the four provinces of Ireland - Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster - which prompted a quick chat about the rugby. Former sports minister Mr Varadkar asked rugby fan Harry if he had watched the England versus Ireland game to which he replied: "Which one?"
The couple turned to wave at iPhone wielding well wishers who gathered behind a rope in a sealed off the corridor to catch a coveted glimpse.
They were then taken to Mr Varadkar's private offices where they were introduced to a number of employees including 18-year-old intern Tabitha Owen, from London, who is on a short summer secondment before starting a PPE degree at Oxford in September.
"You're really busy?" asked Harry. "What time do you normally knock off? Not until very late? Ah!"
Referencing the student's connection to the UK, Mr Varadkar told the couple his 'big sister' worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Dressed in an emerald green Givenchy dress, Meghan seemed more au fait with the agenda than her husband, reminding him that now it was: "Time to sign the visitor's book." After briefly discussing who should sign first Harry picked up the fountain pen.
Signing simply "Harry", the Duke joked: "I never sign big enough." Then when Meghan - a former calligrapher - signed her name with a flourish, he added: "Yours is much nicer than mine."
Meghan looked elegant in a Givenchy top and pencil skirt for her first official visit to Ireland. Photo / Getty Images
Sitting down for private talks with Mr Varadkar, the Taoiseach asked whether the couple would have any private time during their whistle-stop tour of Dublin.
"It's just business really," Harry replied.
According to sources, the Taoiseach and Prince Harry discussed the possibility of the Irish Defence Forces participating in the Invictus Games during their private meeting.
The Games, which were created by the Prince, offer an opportunity for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel to take part in sports including wheelchair basketball and indoor rowing. It was noted that other countries which limit their military activities to peacekeeping have taken part in past.
The Duchess told the Taoiseach that she is an honoured member of the Philosophical Society in Trinity College.
And it was noted that she studied at NWU Chicago where Mr Varadkar's partner Dr Matt Barrett works at the University Hospital.
Prince Harry mentioned on several occasions how much his father, Charles, enjoys visiting Ireland.
He also asked about the housing and homelessness crisis facing the country.
"The Duke was also very interested in our tech industry and the Duchess has an interest in encouraging women taking up STEM subjects," the source said.
Around 10 minutes later they re-emerged into the Dublin sun with Prince Harry repeatedly saying "thank you, thank you", as he made his way to a waiting car.
Earlier Mr Varadkar said the Royal visit - the first official overseas trip undertaken by the couple since their Windsor wedding last May - was very significant and underlined the importance of Anglo-Irish relations.
"I am really looking forward to Prince Harry and Meghan (Markle) coming to Dublin and I think they are going to be made very welcome," the Taoiseach said.
"It is the first visit they will have made overseas since they got married and even though they haven't officially visited Ireland before, I think they are going to be extremely welcome and I look forward to welcoming them."
One a previous visit to Ireland in 2013, former actress Meghan visited the Guinness Storehouse where she learned to pour a pint of Guinness in front of the press.
The royal visit follows on from Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's trip to Cork and Kerry last month.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in Dublin on their first foreign tour as a married couple as the government looks to use the royals' "soft power" to bolster a post-Brexit relationship.
The newly-weds flew in from London by private jet after attending events to mark the centenary of the RAF at Buckingham Palace.
Prince Harry and Meghan wearing Dior during the RAF 100 ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Photo / Getty Images
Aides said the couple had been officially approved to charter a plane rather than take a regularly scheduled flight. The couple had an entourage of eleven with them including a hairdresser and a personal assistant, which are being paid for privately according to Kensington Palace.
A smiling Harry was the first to step off the jet followed by Meghan in an appropriately forest green outfit by Givenchy, the same designer behind her wedding dress.
Waiting to greet them at the bottom of the plane's steps was Britain's Ambassador to Ireland Robin Barnett, his partner Agnieszka Kepka and senior officials from the British embassy.
The duke and duchess looked relaxed as they made their way down the steps and shook the hands of the waiting officials in turn, before being led to their car at the head of a motorcade.
Nearby nine Garda motorbike outriders were waiting to escort the couple to a meeting with Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
As their car pulled away, Harry, looking smart in a suit, shirt and tie, smiled at the ranks of journalists, photographers and cameramen capturing the moment and waved at them.
Harry and Meghan's first visit abroad on behalf of the UK Government will see them take in a Gaelic sports festival at Croke Park, attend a summer garden party at the British ambassador's Residence and visit Trinity College during ten engagements over 24 hours in the Irish capital.
