Meghan Markle wears dress by feminist designer during New Zealand speech on women's suffrage

The ensemble was created by New York-based designer Gabriela Hearst

The Duchess of Sussex wore a dress by a feminist designer during a “powerful” speech on women’s suffrage this weekend.

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal tour continued in New Zealand, the couple attended a reception at Government House, which was hosted by the Governor General of New Zealand.

To mark the 125th anniversary of women achieving the right to vote in the country, Markle made her third speech of the royal tour so far, addressing female empowerment and the importance of feminism.

To do so, Markle chose an outfit that was especially significant: a navy cocktail dress by New York-based designer Gabriela Hearst.

Known as a feminist and political activist, Hearst has previously launched collections inspired by famous feminists such as American political activist Angela Davis and Senator Kamala Harris.

She also created a line of handbags as a tribute to the working women of the 1940s.

The navy dress, which was worn by Markle, is a variation of the designer’s Herve gown, swapping the original piece’s spaghetti straps for delicate cap sleeves.

The Herve dress costs £1,900, but it is expected that the Duchess of Sussex’s bespoke version will have come at a higher price.

The cap-sleeved gown was designed by Gabriela Hearst (Getty Images)

The mother-to-be’s ensemble was also accessorised with a necklace designed by Zealand-born Jessica McCormack.

The Tattoo Pendant features a spiral made out of diamonds that represents “the humble fern frond or koru and the ancient Maori tradition of 'Ta Moko'”, which is the art of permanently marking one's skin.

This isn’t the first time that Markle has chosen to wear Gabriela Hearst this month. Ahead of the royal tour, the Duchess also carried a bag by the designer during a trip to Sussex.

The forest green satin tote bag, which costs £1,695, sold out almost immediately and, just like many of the brand’s pieces, was made primarily from sustainable materials.

During her powerful speech at Government House, Markle began with a Maori greeting, tēnā koutou katoa meaning “hello to you all”, which received a round of applause from the crowd.

She then went on to speak about her admiration for the country, which became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote in 1893.

“The achievements of the women in New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired,” she told the crowd while standing in front of a portrait of her grandmother-in-law the Queen.

Meghan Markle wore a green satin bag by the same designer during a recent trip to Sussex (AFP/Getty Images)

“Women’s suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness.

“Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote, but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community.”

Markle then went on to explain how the fight for women’s vote is symbolic of all “members of society who have been marginalised”, whether on account of their “race, gender, ethnicity or orientation".

The Duchess ended the speech by quoting the words of Kate Sheppard, who was one of the most eminent figures of the women’s suffrage movement in New Zealand.

“‘All that separates, whether of race, class, creed or sex, is inhuman and must be overcome,” she said.