The Inspiring Story Behind Meghan Markle's Charlotte Elizabeth Handbag
Meghan Markle's every move gets a lot of attention. For fashion brands, simply the act of her wearing something—and it being identified by one of many royal fan accounts—can mean a sudden spike in inquiries and even sales, even if the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex doesn't talk about it. Recently, Markle has been favoring British designers (not super surprising, given that the date of her wedding to Prince Harry is rapidly approaching). And on her most recent official outing, she wore an accessory that has a pretty inspiring backstory—and one that ties back to her future in-laws.
While on a trip to Northern Ireland with Prince Harry, Markle carried an elegant top-handle leather handbag by Charlotte Elizabeth. Charlotte Jones, the young British designer behind the label, is a recipient of the Prince's Trust, an organization founded by Prince Charles in 1976 to support disadvantaged youth in the U.K.—specifically, 11- to 30-year-olds who struggled with homelessness, health, or legal issues.
Royal visit to Northern Ireland
In a blog post on the organization's website, Jones explained that, after having to drop out of school at 16 because of a variety of surgeries and diagnoses, including PoTs and ME, she started the eponymous leather goods brand with the help of the Prince's Trust and resources its Enterprise workshop offered her, in order to create a product she felt was "simple, classic yet modern... [that] my mother and grandmother could all wear, something universally acceptable for all generations." In an interview with Telegraph from 2016, she explained that the idea served as a motivation through her health struggles: "I thought if I can create something through all of this I can do anything... That's why my business is so special to me as it started at the absolute rock bottom. It has been with me through my worst moments."
Markle was photographed with Charlotte Elizabeth's New Edition Bloomsbury, an updated version of the brand's signature silhouette that's currently available for pre-order, in Chestnut. A non-personalized style will set you back around $247, while a personalized one will cost you a little over $261.. (There's also a backpack!)
As for the rest of her outfit, Markle wore a breezy cream coat by Mackage, a sweater by her apparent royal fashion advisor Victoria Beckham, a forrest green skirt by Greta Constantine, and heels by Jimmy Choo.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Visit Northern Ireland
Jones hasn't released an official statement about the sighting (Glamour has reached out to the designer for comment), but she has posted a series of photos on the Charlotte Elizabeth Instagram of Markle carrying her Bloomsbury, so one can presume that she's psyched.
More on the Royal Family:
