Meghan Markle is known for her love of expensive and flashy jewellery, often donning the most eye-catching pieces and this was no different during the first day of her trip to Colombia on Thursday.
And the Duchess certainly made an impression on her first day in South America, wearing £38,000 worth of jewels. .
The couple were met in the capital Bogota yesterday by Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez, who invited the couple after watching their Netflix docuseries, and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.
Eager to look her best for the politician, Meghan donned her Lorraine Schwartz ‘Against Evil Eye’ bracelet, which cost around £15,000.
She then added a further touch of glamour with her Pippa Small Kyanite Classic Stud Earrings, which retail for around £495.
The former working royal was also snapped sporting Princess Diana‘s £17,800 ($22,950) Cartier Tank Française watch.
It was worn by the late royal on a number of occasions before it was gifted to Meghan after her death.
According to former royal butler Paul Burrell, Prince William initially picked the Cartier watch from his mother’s collection.
He told British Vogue Harry chose her famous sapphire engagement ring, but then swapped it with his brother before he proposed to the Princess of Wales.
The Duchess then matched this with her £5,000 ($6,446) gold Cartier Love Bracelet that she’s owned since at least 2017.
The oval Cartier band is made of two C-shaped halves screwed together. The only way to remove it is with a screwdriver, like the 18-carat one supplied – a feature said to be inspired by medieval chastity belts.
Her outfit consisted of a £596 collared vest from New York-based brand Veronica Beard and matching navy, ankle-grazing trousers from the designer, priced at £349.
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The Duchess of Sussex with Colombia Vice President Francia Marquez
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The Duchess of Sussex with Colombia Vice President Francia Marquez
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Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Bogota yesterday
Colombia’s VP Marquez welcomes Prince Harry and Meghan
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Cinched at the waist to flatter the Duchess’ slender figure, the smart ensemble was paired with black Manolo Blahnik high heels and a cream £3,647 handbag from Italian company Loro Piana.
Later on in the day, Meghan looked in high spirits as she watched folk dancers in the South American nation at Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, alongside Harry.
She looked stylish as she changed into her second look of the tour – a colourful maxi dress by Johanna Ortiz, who has Colombian heritage. The Duchess opted for the £1,668 burgundy Navajo Weaver Metallic Tweed Maxi Dress.
Though the dress itself appeared to be new, Meghan wore a very similar look on her ‘quasi-royal’ tour of Africa back in May, wearing a £2,275 striped sundress also by Johanna Ortiz.
The Duchess paired this ensemble with her £12,800 ($16,503) Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace in yellow gold, which sat elegantly on her collarbone.
She was seen wearing this stand-out piece during her interview with CBS’s Jane Pauley earlier this month, where both she and the Duke spoke about suicide as they announced The Parents’ Network, a campaign aimed at tackling child safety online.
The Duchess also donned a Vintage High Tea yellow gold coral bead flower ring which costs around £970 ($1,250), thought to be a new piece in her jewellery collection.
Meghan opted to wear her £150 ($193.39) gold Lanvin Arpège Sleeper Earrings, which were made in Italy and described as handcrafted hoop earrings in gold-tone brass.
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She styled her hair into loose waves after her earlier up-do – for her second look of the day
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Meghan was seen wearing her £5,000 Cartier love bracelet along with Princess Diana’s Cartier watch at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday
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Earlier, Meghan proved her fashion prowess once again today as she stepped out in Colombia alongside Prince Harry to begin their four-day tour of the South American nation
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Meghan was pictured wearing her £12,800 Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace in yellow gold with her £150 gold Lanvin Arpège Sleeper Earrings
She has worn the fashion house a number of times in the past, including to attend the ballet in New York in 2013 and for her cover of the fashion magazine The Cut last year.
Meghan was still pictured wearing her Cartier love bracelet and Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank Française watch, which are staple pieces in her wardrobe.
During the day, Meghan and Harry also attended a summit on digital responsibility at EAN University after being invited by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez.
She swapped her outfit a third time and sported her Victoria Beckham brown silk shirt, a modest by classy number that costs a designer price of £597, along with her La Ligne Colby Pants.
She continued wearing her Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace but instead donned her £1,964 ($2,532) Birks Muse Citrine And Diamond Drop Earrings.
The Sussexes are being given a full security detail throughout their visit alongside Ms Marquez, who invited the couple for what has been dubbed a DIY royal tour, following a similar trip to Nigeria.
Across the next four days, the Sussexes will take in the city of Bogotá before heading off to Cartagena and Cali as part of a ‘cultural and social’ visit.
Officials have kept the itinerary a closely guarded secret as parts of the country are described as ‘best avoided’ due to ongoing internal conflicts.
Colombia, like Nigeria, is seen as a high risk destination in parts by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
‘FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia,’ the government agency says, adding that many armed groups remain active in the country despite a 2016 peace deal between the government and revolutionary outfit FARC.
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In her third outfit change of the day, Meghan continued to don her Cartier necklace but swapped her earrings for her £1,964 Birks Muse Citrine And Diamond Drop Earrings
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the Responsible Digital Future Forum at EAN University after being invited by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez
Besides several police cars and vans, armed soldiers were also deployed to protect Harry and Megan in a massive ring of steel.
Roads were blocked off and residents forced on lengthy detours to reach their homes or wait at checkpoints for events to finish so they could carry on.
Answering questions from journalists at a press conference ahead of their arrival, Ms Marquez said she was inspired to ask Harry and Meghan to visit the country after being moved by their Netflix documentary.
‘I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me and motivated me to say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world,’ Ms Marquez said.
Ms Marquez described the Sussexes’ trip as a ‘very special visit’ aimed at building bridges and joining forces against cyber-bullying and online digital violence and discrimination, as well as promoting women’s leadership in Colombia.
The Sussexes’ team has not confirmed how the trip is being funded, whether privately, through Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation, by the Colombian government or other means.
The quasi-royal tour, which has many similarities to the programme of an official royal overseas visit, is the Sussexes’ second this year, after their three-day visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the West African nation’s chief of defence staff.
Harper’s Bazaar magazine, covering the trip as the only words pool, said Ms Marquez shared her personal admiration for Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
Meghan and Ms Marquez were pictured embracing as they greeted each other warmly, with Ms Marquez clasping Harry’s hands in her own as they were introduced.
