Why designers refused to dress Meghan Markle

While Meghan Markle had her pick of any designer in the world for her wedding dress, it wasn't always the case. Photo / Getty Images

A stylist has revealed how Meghan Markle struggled to find designers to dress her when she visited the UK as a little-known actress before meeting Prince Harry.

Juliet Angus, who starred in the reality show Ladies of London posted a snap of Meghan in her Stella McCartney evening dress on Instagram and commented how things had changed for the former Suits actress.

"I remember five years ago trying to help my friend, who at the time was her stylist and no big designers wanted to loan to Meghan Markle for her London press trip," the London-based fashionista commented.

Quoting the iconic scene from Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts gets the last laugh with a shop assistant who refused to serve her, she concluded: "Well done, you won't have that problem anymore. Big mistake, HUGE!"

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Hollywood glamour ✨ I remember five years ago trying to help my friend, who at the time was her stylist and no big designers wanted to loan to a #meghanmarkle for her London press trip. Well done, you won’t have that problem anymore. Big mistake, HUGE! #royalwedding #harryandmeghan #stellamccartney

A post shared by Jᴜʟɪᴇᴛ Aɴɢᴜs (@juliet) on May 19, 2018 at 12:40pm PDT

It's not clear exactly which press tour Chicago-born Angus was referring to, but Markle did visit London in November 2013 and was pictured on the red carpet for the premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the Global Gift Gala.

Meghan Markle at the London premier of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Photo / Getty Images

The actress was mid-way between filming the third and fourth series of US legal drama Suits, but was not a major household name in the UK at the time.

However, she's now one of the most famous women in the world following her wedding to Prince Harry, and will have designers clamouring for her to wear their creations as she begins a new life on the world stage.

Meghan in 2015 and 2017 as an upcoming actress. Photo / Getty Images

For her wedding on Saturday, the bride enlisted the service of two of the most sought after designer's in the fashion world - Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy and Stella McCartney to create her bridal and evening gowns.

Her bespoke wedding dress is estimated to have cost £200,000 (NZD $386,000), including £78,000 ($150,000) for custom-made fabric and £4000 ($7700) for fittings.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel after their wedding ceremony Photo / AP