Meghan Markle's Inappropriate Outfit For A 2018 Memorial Will Always Haunt Her

From the moment Meghan Markle stepped into the international spotlight, the world had an opinion on not only her but also her look. While some found her style refreshing and a much-needed departure from the royal family's typical fashion, others were less impressed. Since Meghan was never one to bow down to strict sartorial rules that didn't feel right to her, critics particularly found fault in her straying too far from tradition. One of the appearances that landed the Duchess of Sussex in trouble online was Stephen Lawrence's memorial service, which took place in London, England, in 2018. Lawrence had been murdered in a racially motivated crime more than two decades prior, and the ceremony was held in remembrance of his death.

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Perhaps social media should have been focusing on the importance of the service rather than Meghan's outfit, but folks had notes on her sleeveless belted Hugo Boss dress. Though it was appropriately long for a senior member of the royal family to wear to a church service, critics took issue with the fact that the dress was sleeveless and that it had a lower neckline. In addition to the dress itself, commenters noted that Meghan's signature messy bun made the ensemble seem too casual given the gravity of the situation. As such, it was rendered one of Meghan Markle's most inappropriate outfits. "Well, I was hoping her navy cape dress would be a sartorial turning point, but apparently not," one disgruntled X user posted. "Sorry (not sorry) but this isn't appropriate for a memorial service. Messy hair, deep v-neck, no sleeves ... just, no." Not everyone felt so strongly about Meghan's memorial service look, but those who did left comments online that still exist today, echoing their criticism even after Meghan has stepped back from the royal family.

After Stephen Lawrence's memorial service, X, then Twitter, hosted several discussions around whether or not Meghan Markle's sleeveless dress and messy bun were appropriate for the setting. Critics were unanimous in their opinion that the look wasn't church-friendly, but some argued that Meghan herself wasn't to blame for the faux pas. Rather, it was the fact that she hadn't grown up understanding British customs, and the powers that be had failed to properly educate her. "In hotter climates in the US this would be a perfectly appropriate look for a memorial service or any church service," one X user noted. "She may not know that the English don't consider this covered enough." While one supporter added that Meghan was "still learning, AND she's still an American," another comment "lay the blame" on The Firm for not preparing Meghan properly. This seems consistent with what Meghan herself said in her bombshell 2022 interview with Oprah Winfrey: "There was no guidance as well, right? ... Unlike what you see in the movies, there's no class on how to speak, how to cross your legs, how to be royal. There's none of that training." 

On the other side of the debate, there were those who simply thought it was appropriate. "Princess Diana [went to] an actual funeral in a sleeveless dress," a fan tweeted. Another added, "I think she looks wonderful . Not flashing and no short dress . Very classic look . Not a bright color as some Royals have worn to certain events or engagements which I thought was inappropriate." Princess Diana indeed wore a sleeveless dress to Gianni Versace's funeral in 1997, but Meghan has probably learned by now that criticism rings louder than praise. 

The sleeveless dress that the Duchess of Sussex wore to Stephen Lawrence's memorial service in 2018 was just one of many 'fits that had critics wagging their fingers at her, even if it was one of Meghan Markle's Princess Diana-inspired looks. As the years went on and Meghan moved from Prince Harry's fiance (as she was at the memorial) to his wife, she continued rocking looks that pushed boundaries. Notably, she often broke royal protocol, whether knowingly or unknowingly. A repeated defiance of the rules was in her bare legs.

While royal women are generally required to wear tights or stockings, Meghan turned up to her engagement announcement with Prince Harry in 2017 without either. She received backlash for this, but made the same move again the following year while meeting Lin-Manuel Miranda at a "Hamilton" performance in London, England. Along with her go-to messy bun that was far less formal than hairstyles worn by other senior members of the royal family, she frequently opted for non-British designers, wearing French labels like Givenchy to her wedding and Dior to her son Archie's christening. During her days in the royal family, Meghan also occasionally reached for all-black looks — a no-no for royal women, unless, ironically, they're attending a funeral. 

Now, to get the full picture of how her fashion has evolved over the years, check out Meghan Markle's stunning style transformation.