Meghan Markle Wears a “Jackie O” Dress for Evening Reception

Josh Duboff
Updated

In her first major engagement on behalf of the royal family, Meghan Markle went full glam Thursday night, as she opted for a Black Halo dress known as . . . the “Jackie O” dress. (Cue a slew of “Meghan Markle: The New Jackie O?!?” headlines coming over the next week.) The dress is “inspired by the iconic First Lady,” and retails for $375 (though we’d move fast if we were you, as it is definitely going to be sold out by the end of the day, if not already). According to the Black Halo Web site, the dress is a “modern classic” and it is intended to “make women feel two inches taller and five pounds thinner.”

Markle matched the dress with a pair of $1,260 18-carat white gold and diamond earrings, from the Canadian brand Birks (which the Daily Mail wants to believe are a nod to her “seven years filming the legal drama Suits”). The Daily Mail also notes that Markle was sporting her “signature messy bun” for the event.

The event in question was a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Women’s Empowerment Reception, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Prince Harry (oh yeah, he was there, too) and Meghan will be meeting with representatives from charities and organizations who are “working to promote global gender equality through girls’ education.”

A Fond Farewell to Prince Harry, Third Wheel

We begin with a shot from the royal wedding in 2011, when Harry—solo, gleeful—rode to the ceremony with some of the young members of the wedding party. (Keep this photo in mind as we progress through our journey!)
One umbrella for him and one for, uh . . . both of them.

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One umbrella for him and one for, uh . . . both of them.
By Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.
“How stupendous.”<br />“Truly, Catherine. It’s stunning.”<br />“Guys, can you—do you mind if—?”

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“How stupendous.”
“Truly, Catherine. It’s stunning.”
“Guys, can you—do you mind if—?”
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
This should really be the cover of some kind of Historic Third Wheels coffee-table book.

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This should really be the cover of some kind of Historic Third Wheels coffee-table book.
By Max Mumby/Indigo.
“Harry, it’s like you’re our son or something!”<br />“Thanks, Kate.”<br />“Do a spell, Harry! C’mon”<br />“A spell, Will? Do I—? . . . . Fine.”

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“Harry, it’s like you’re our son or something!”
“Thanks, Kate.”
“Do a spell, Harry! C’mon”
“A spell, Will? Do I—? . . . . Fine.”
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
A Few Steps Behind is what we feel like this portrait would be called if it were up in a gallery somewhere.

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A Few Steps Behind is what we feel like this portrait would be called if it were up in a gallery somewhere.
By Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
It almost looks like his face was Photoshopped onto this one, doesn’t it?!

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It almost looks like his face was Photoshopped onto this one, doesn’t it?!
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
“Up when they’re down; down when they’re up” is the title of the Tumblr post we imagine Harry wrote after this event.
“Up when they’re down; down when they’re up” is the title of the Tumblr post we imagine Harry wrote after this event.
Both by Karwai Tang/Getty Images.
A rare fifth-wheel moment here!

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A rare fifth-wheel moment here!
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
“Guys, I want to meet Paddington Bear, too! . . . Guys?”

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“Guys, I want to meet Paddington Bear, too! . . . Guys?”
By Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
“Kate, do you mind moving your umbrella?” a photographer shout-whispers, “You’re blocking Harry.” Kate turns around: “Oh goodness, didn’t even realize!”

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“Kate, do you mind moving your umbrella?” a photographer shout-whispers, “You’re blocking Harry.” Kate turns around: “Oh goodness, didn’t even realize!”
by Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty Images.
Harry’s expression here seems to say, “I see what you’re going for here, photographer. Very amusing.”

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Harry’s expression here seems to say, “I see what you’re going for here, photographer. Very amusing.”
By ARTHUR EDWARDS/Getty Images.
This is super sweet; we have nothing pithy to say about it!

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This is super sweet; we have nothing pithy to say about it!
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
Someone get the red-haired prince a cool little red air horn thing!!!!!!!

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Someone get the red-haired prince a cool little red air horn thing!!!!!!!
By Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
Remember that first picture of Harry in the carriage with the bridesmaids at Kate and William’s wedding?? Well soon he will be getting married himself and these third-wheel pictures we’ve been looking at will (with a few exceptions here and there, probably!) be a thing of the past!


Related Video: Meghan Markle Surprises an Inspired Fan