Meghan Markle fans think Stella McCartney dress has special meaning at Queen’s funeral

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is being held at Westminster Abbey

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Monday (19 September).

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined members of the royal family and some 2,000 mourners, who gathered in the 1,269-year-old church to pay their respects to the late Queen.

Meghan arrived wearing a black, knee-length cape dress by Stella McCartney. She accessorised with a large black hat and pointed court shoes but opted to forgo the traditional black veil worn by other royal women.

The Duchess previously wore a navy blue version of the dress to a concert in celebration of the Queen’s 92nd birthday at Royal Albert Hall in April 2018.

She also wore a pair of pearl and diamond earrings gifted to her by the Queen following her wedding to Prince Harry.

Meghan wore her hair swept back into a bun, while soft smokey eyeshadow and nude-toned makeup completed the look.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry looked smart in a morning suit. The Duke of Sussex was prohibited from wearing his military uniform to his grandmother’s funeral because he is no longer a working member of the royal family.

In a statement last week, the Duke confirmed he would not wear the uniform and asked that the “focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”.

“[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” a spokesperson for Prince Harry told The Independent.

Duchess of Sussex arrives at Westminster Abbey (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Only the Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort wore mourning veils for the ceremony, while Sophie, Countess of Wessex did not.

The tradition of wearing mourning veils dates back to Queen Victoria’s reign. Following her husband Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Queen Victoria wore a black mourning dress and veil up until her death in 1901.

The Duchess of Sussex arrives at Westminster Abbey (REUTERS)

King Charles III and the Queen Consort walked immediately behind the Queen’s coffin on Monday, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte walked alongside their parents, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following closely behind.

The service follows the Queen’s lying-in state period at Westminster Hall, which ended at 6.30am on Monday.

Harry was permitted to wear his military uniform during a vigil for the Queen, held by her eight grandchildren on Sunday (18 September).

The Duke was prohibited from saluting the coffin like his brother and father, and instead simply bowed his head.

Follow the latest updates following the death of Queen Elizabeth II here.