A New Era of Royal Fashion: Kate and Meghan Embrac...

The Duchess of Sussex walked the red carpet in Los Angeles in a gown which had been tweaked to perfection. She isn’t the first royal to transform a look for a second outing

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex at the 2024 CHLA Gala held at the L.A. Live Event Deck

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Meghan Markle, known for her love of designer outfits and personalised jewellery, dazzled on the red carpet in Los Angeles last night as she stepped out in an upcycled gown.

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The Duchess of Sussex was stunning in the vibrant red dress, which she paired with matching accessories, for the LA Children’s Hospital gala. The royal mother-of-two swept her hair into loose waves for the outing, beaming as she posed for cameras. The Duchess previously wore the dress for a 2021 gala in New York City to celebrate the military on the eve of Veterans Day in the US and Armistice Day in Britain.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a 2021 gala in New York

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The Duchess of Sussex removed the train from the original gown for its second outing

 Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

For the outing last night, Meghan chose to remove the excess train from the dress, transforming the look into a slinky formfitting gown for its second appearance on a red carpet. It’s a move which a number of royals regularly make, including the Duchess’ sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales. Most recently, Kate opted to upcycle a Jenny Packham ensemble for Trooping the Colour. The outfit, which she last wore in 2023, boasted the addition of a monochrome bow at the neck and an updated belt.

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1989: Diana, Princess of Wales attends a dinner hosted by the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah in Al Shaab Palace, Kuwait City, Kuwait. She is wearing an evening gown by Catherine Walker

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1992: Charles and Diana attend a state banquet hosted by the South Korean President at the Blue House in Seoul. The Princess rewore the gown, altering the skirt for a more slim-fitting silhouette

 Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

The Princess of Wales has oft updated her outfits with new accessories, necklines and hem tweaks. In 2019, Kate opted to rewear a black floral Alexander McQueen gown which she was first seen in 2017, changing the top’s cap sleeves to alter the off-the-shoulder shape. She made a similar alteration for the 2023 Baftas, when she re-wore a gown which she originally wore for the 2019 ceremony. The gown had been altered, with Kate removing the floral corsage and placing a modern pleated bow in its place.

2017: Catherine, the Princess of Wales, attends the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall

 Karwai Tang

2019: The Princess rewore the gown to attend the Portrait Gala

 Samir Hussein

Perhaps both the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex are looking to their late mother-in-law Diana for inspiration with the alterations. When making public appearances, Princess Diana often remade dresses, removing detailing, tweaking necklines and altering skirts.

Here, Tatler brings you the very best moments a royal reworked a look for a second outing…

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1986: Diana, Princess of Wales wearing a dress by Victor Edelstein and hat by Frederick Fox, as the Royal group arrives for Derby Day at Epsom racecourse in Surrey

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1987: Diana during a polo match at Windsor

 Tim Graham/Getty Images

1986: The Princess with the Amir of Qatar

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1990: Princess Diana And Prince Charles Arriving For A Banquet During Their Royal Tour Of Cameroon. The Princess Is Wearing A Dress Designed By Fashion Designer Catherine Walker. It Was Originally Designed With Sleeves And Later Adapted

 Tim Graham/Getty Images

2011: Prince William and Kate Middleton visit the University of St Andrews as part of it’s 600th anniversary celebrations at University of St Andrews

 Max Mumby/Indigo

2017: Catherine, the-then Duchess of Cambridge, wore the altered outfit, which had been tweaked to create a longer hemline, for the Place2Be Big Assembly with Heads Together for Children’s Mental Health Week at Mitchell Brook Primary School

 Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

2012: Prince William and Catherine attend an official dinner hosted by Malaysia’s Head of State Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah of Kedah

 Samir Hussein

2020: The Princess rewore the gown, which had undergone slight alterations, to attend the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020

 Samir Hussein

2019: Catherine, the-then Duchess of Cambridge, wore a Jenny Packham outfit to attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan at the iconic Pakistan National Monument during their Royal Tour of Pakistan

 Karwai Tang

2021: Catherine made slight alterations to the dress, including removing the cape detail, as she attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall

 Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

2019: Catherine, the-then Duchess of Cambridge, attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall

 Samir Hussein

2023: The Princess of Wales changed the detailing on the gown for a second outing, as she wore the dress to attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2023

 Chris Jackson/Getty Images

2023: Kate, the Princess of Wales, meets well-wishers during a walkabout on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles and Camilla, Queen

 Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

2024: Catherine attends Trooping the Colour in the same gown, which had undergone a number of tweaks, including the belt detailing and addition of a bow

 JUSTIN TALLIS/Getty Images