Meghan Markle's 2018 Trooping The Colour Outfit Was Labeled Inappropriate By Royal Standards

It's no secret that the British royal family has some strict style rules. While unwritten, women in the Windsor family are expected to keep their hemlines and necklines conservative, stay away from bright nail polish colors, and always wear pantyhose with skirts and dresses. Meghan Markle's stunning transformation from actor to Duchess of Sussex saw her eschewing some of these stuffy traditions in favor of a more modern take on royal elegance. But, given the dress code requirements for royals, Meghan Markle's most inappropriate outfits were often the subject of criticism. One such outfit was the pink off-the-shoulder number she wore to her first Trooping the Colour as a member of the royal family in 2018.

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Markle's controversial outfit consisted of a light pink Carolina Herrera two-piece ensemble that bared her shoulders and collarbones, which she paired with a matching disc-shaped Philip Treacy hat. However, many took issue with the outfit Markle chose to wear at Queen Elizabeth's birthday celebration. While fashion magazines in the U.S. gushed over the sophisticated look, Markle's exposed shoulders caused a stir in the British media. Despite the fact that her sister-in-law Kate Middleton had worn outfits that exposed her shoulders before, many believed that Markle should have been more conservative for the royal event.

Despite the constant flow of hate sent her way from English tabloids and social media users, Meghan Markle has continued to hold her head high. Her quiet dignity harkens back to her husband's late mother, Princess Diana, who similarly struggled with internal royal pressure and media criticism. Markle has also evoked the image of her mother-in-law on multiple occasions through her fashion. Her 2018 Trooping the Colour pink outfit is one of Meghan Markle's most iconic Princess Diana-inspired looks. During a visit to Argentina in 1995, Princess Diana wore a light pink button-up suit designed by Versace. The prominent fabric-covered buttons on Markle's dress, combined with the color, connected both iconic royal looks over two decades apart.

Since her and Prince Harry's exit from active duties in 2020, Meghan Markle's post-royal fashion era has seen her embrace a more relaxed, even sultry, style. At the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023, Markle stunned in a gold strapless midi dress with cutouts and a slit that rose to her mid-thigh — a choice she'd never have gotten away with as an active royal. But, in 2025, the Duchess of Sussex maintained an effortlessly-chic casual vibe while promoting her lifestyle and food brand, As ever. In November 2025, Markle posted a clip of herself on Instagram in baggy pants and a black tank top as she worked on a table setting for SoHo House in Los Angeles — unapologetically baring her shoulders all the while.