Nine years after her first official outing with Prince Harry, Meghan returned to the same city and quietly recreated the look. The Duchess of Sussex visited Nottingham with Harry on Thursday, October 15. It was the couple's first official joint public appearance in the UK since they moved to the Cotswolds in August, after six years in California, Hello! reported. Every piece she wore came from a British label.

Here's the full breakdown, the 2017 outfit it echoes, and how to borrow the formula this autumn.

The look: burgundy, plum and espresso, all British

Meghan built the outfit around a burgundy coat from London label Joseph. Hello! describes it as wool and cashmere, Harper's Bazaar identifies it as the brand's Dona oversized double-face cashmere coat, and The Telegraph puts the price at £1,495. Underneath, she wore Joseph's Yara high-neck jumper in a matching mahogany tone.

For contrast, she added a plum crepe midi pencil skirt from The Fold London, which Harper's Bazaar names as the Clever Crepe Oliena skirt. She cinched the waist with a tan leather belt from Marks & Spencer and wore Jennifer Chamandi's Lorenzo 105 pumps in burgundy. Her bag was Joseph's Mini Loaf in Espresso, a woven-leather style.

Her jewellery was all gold and all familiar: a Logan Hollowell ring, a Cartier Love bracelet and a Cartier Tank watch, Harper's Bazaar reported. The gold picked up the hardware on the M&S belt.

The 2017 outfit it echoes

The couple's last visit to Nottingham was on December 1, 2017, days after they announced their engagement. It was Meghan's first official royal engagement, and her outfit became a sensation.

That day she wore a navy coat by Canadian label Mackage, a camel midi skirt by Joseph and a fitted black Wolford top, with Kurt Geiger boots, according to Hello!. Her burgundy Strathberry tote sold out in 11 minutes, which Hello! calls the start of the "Meghan Effect."

The 2026 version uses the same formula: an oversized coat, a high-neck knit and a slim midi skirt. Only the colour story has changed, from navy and camel to burgundy and plum. Even the shade of the 2017 tote shows up again in this year's coat.

What happened during the visit

The couple visited the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's, where children develop creative skills such as music. Meghan told the crowd, "It's great to be back," Hello! reported.

One 90-year-old well-wisher brought along a photograph of herself with Meghan from the 2017 visit. Meghan's response: "That's so special."

The British-label strategy

This wasn't a one-off. Since the move, Meghan has leaned heavily on British brands. Hello! reports she wore a Marks & Spencer blazer and jeans on Wednesday and Boden trousers for a dinner with Malala Yousafzai the week before.

Harper's Bazaar called the Nottingham look a "subtle salute" to the couple's new home country, and noted that the purple family has moved from last year's runway hit into deeper eggplant and burgundy shades this season. A dressed-down version of the trend will be everywhere this winter.

The monochrome approach also echoes another strong London moment we covered recently: "Scarlett Johansson's Red Hermès at the Ray Gunn Premiere Is the London Film Festival's Monochrome Masterclass."

How to copy Meghan's Nottingham look

Pick one colour family and stay in it. Burgundy, mahogany, plum and espresso all sit close together, so they look intentional rather than matched.

Go long on the coat. An oversized, below-the-knee coat over a fitted knit and a slim skirt gives you the same long, clean line.

Use a belt as the only contrast. Meghan's tan M&S belt breaks up the dark tones and defines the waist without adding a new colour.

Keep jewellery warm and minimal. A gold watch, one bracelet and one ring are enough.

Finish with tonal heels. Burgundy pumps make the legs look longer than black would.

FAQ

What did Meghan Markle wear in Nottingham?

A burgundy Joseph coat, a Joseph Yara high-neck jumper, a plum skirt from The Fold, an M&S belt, Jennifer Chamandi pumps and a Joseph Mini Loaf bag.

How much was Meghan's coat?

The Telegraph reports the Joseph coat costs £1,495.

Why did Meghan and Harry visit Nottingham?

They visited the Community Recording Studio in St Ann's, their first official joint UK appearance since moving to the Cotswolds.

When did Meghan first visit Nottingham with Harry?

On December 1, 2017, days after their engagement was announced. It was her first official royal engagement.

Cover photo: Andrew Lih (Fuzheado) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0