SHE may have married into the most famous Royal Family in the world – but Meghan Markle is still an ordinary girl at heart.
Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have come under fire this year for their lavish spending (including a £2.4m taxpayer-funded makeover of their Frogmore Cottage home), there are some things the former Suits actress likes to save her pennies on.
Here Fabulous Digital delves into Meghan Markle’s thrifty shopping habits, including her ultimate high street staples and affordable beauty basics.
1. Pub Grub: A classic English pub lunch
Earlier this month, Prince Harry and Meghan faced criticism when it emerged that they’d flown on four private jets in 11 days.
However, the pair offset any criticism of their jet-setting lifestyle yesterday when The Sun exclusively revealed that they’d tucked into a £15 roast dinner with three-month-old Archie in a cot beside them.
Harry, 34, washed his down with a couple of pints of beer while Meghan, 38, appeared to stick to water during their two-hour stay at The Rose & Crown pub in Berkshire on Sunday.
The Sussexes — watched by two protection officers — were spotted by a businessman, 53, and his girlfriend who noted how the staff “kept the service low-key” for their famous regulars.
He added: “They just chatted away like any normal couple and were laughing a lot.
“After the controversy they have been attracting they were getting their feet back on the ground with pub grub like millions of ordinary folk – and it was nice to see.”
2. Markle Sparkle: Obsessed with M&S clothes
She may have only made the move across the pond in 2017 but Meghan quickly realised how great M&S clothing is.
Shortly after she announced her engagement to Prince Harry, the Duchess sent fashion fans wild when she wore a £45 M&S knit for her first royal outing.
The affordable knit was from the brand’s Autograph line, featured trendy bell sleeves and was available in sizes 6 to 22.
In other words, it’s no wonder the purse-friendly jumper flew off shelves – leading the brand to launch it in yellow a few months later.
The Duchess also gave the high street giant her royal stamp of approval when she wore a £30 M&S fascinator for Princess Diana’s niece’s wedding in June 2018.
A fuss-free alternative to a full-blown fascinator, Meghan paired this white netted headband with an Oscar de la Renta gown.
After fans flocked to social media to track down Meghan’s outfit details, the brand confirmed on Twitter: “Meghan Markle attended the wedding of Princess Diana’s niece over the wedding, wearing an M&S fascinator.”
- 2 Pack Pair 10 Denier Secret Slimming Matt Body Shaper Tights, £6 from M&S – buy now
Just two months before she gave birth to baby Archie in May, The Sun exclusively revealed that Meghan had been loving M&S’ £6 body shaping tights throughout her pregnancy.
A spokesperson for The Palace confirmed that the Duchess was a fan of the brand and tights which promise to “give a chic silhouette” thanks to its stretchy design.
Like her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, Meghan also loves high street store & Other Stories and paired their £69 silk shirt with a glam leather skirt for a royal visit to Brighton last October.
3. Fit for a Princess: Meghan’s affordable beauty staples
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara, £4.40 from Amazon – buy now
Like a woman after our own hearts, Meghan combines some of her more expensive beauty products with a few affordable additions – and previously revealed that Maybelline’s £5 Lash Sensational mascara was one of her all-time favourites.
In an interview with Hello!, Meghan’s former Suits make-up artist Lydia Sellers revealed that the Duchess is “in the know” when it comes to beauty products and recommended she add the affordable product to her stash.
Following Meghan’s advice, Lydia says that she “keeps it stocked in my kit now at all times thanks to her!”
She added that this high street mascara “really helps to amplify your lashes and polish off the entire look”.
It’s also great for “full volume and lengthening” while the formula is “super hydrating” on lashes.
- Biore Daily Deep Pore Cleansing Cloths, £10 for 60 – buy now
What’s more, the Duchess previously gushed about buying her favourite Biore £10 face wipes in bulk.
When she was still starring in Suits, Meghan raved about the exfoliating, hypoallergenic skincare in an interview with Beauty Banter.
She said: “They’re great to keep in the car and on your nightstand when you have those horribly lazy nights that the thought of getting up to actually wash your face seems unbearable.”
- NIVEA SUN Kids Suncream Spray SPF 50+, £4.50 from Amazon – buy now
Proving that she’s just like any other normal new mum, Meghan also used a £4.50 Nivea sun cream on baby Archie while the royals watched Prince Harry and William compete in a charity polo match.
A bottle of Nivea’s Sun Kids SPF 50+ suncream spray was pictured balancing on the back of the Duchess’ car and she took extra care watch from the sidelines in the shade as she cradled her newborn in her arms.
4. Mark it down: Meghan’s quirky (and affordable!) travel hack
- Lenor Tumble Dryer Sheets Spring Awakening, £3, Waitrose – buy now
Considering how she was world-famous actress who had travelled the world before she married into the Royal Family, it’s hardly surprising that the Duchess has picked up some pretty genius packing tips and tricks along the way.
But rather than relying on posh hotels’ laundry services, Meghan would always make sure to pack tumble dryer sheets in her bag to keep her clothes smelling fresh and reduce static and creasing.
In a now-deleted blog post on The Tig, Meghan advised layering the scented sheets between your clothes and gushed: “Your clothes will smell fresh when you arrive—and especially when you return home!”
Better still, you can buy 34 Lenor sheets for just £3 (that’s less than 9p a pop) – so you can really spread the love with your holiday wardrobe. Genius.
5. Sustainable Sussex: shops local to save pennies
Before she married Royalty, self-confessed “foodie” Meghan Markle documented her love of cooking on her blog The Tig.
In a 2015 video in partnership with Canadian department store Holt Renfrew, Meghan gave a tour of her favourite places in Toronto – where she lived when filming Suits.
Although Meghan has now swapped her local Kensington Market for Kensington Palace, the former actress raved about the local produce in the short clip.
Pointing out her favourite fishmonger and butchers, Meghan said: “I really love it here. They have pedestrian Sundays.
“You can bring your dogs too – Bogart loves it.”
The Duchess – who sadly left her beloved pooch Bogart behind when she moved to London – later joked that one of the local shopkeepers recognised her for asking for niche ingredients.
She added: “Supporting local farmers and artisans, you have to do that – it’s just the best. And the quality is so much better.”
6. Common duch: swaps designer accessories for purse-friendly options
- Les Specs Air Heart Eye Sunglasses, £45 from Net-A-Porter – buy now
Although the Duchess faced a wave of criticism for her lavish £300k New York baby shower in February, the new mum was spotted in a pair of super affordable sunglasses as she left The Mark Hotel in Manhattan.
Out of her all her enviable designer frames, Meghan wore a £45 pair of black sunglasses by French designer Les Specs to cover her face from photographers.
Now that they’re finally back in stock, we’ll be honest – we’re VERY tempted to pick some up for ourselves.
Keeping up the affordable accessories front, Meghan also wore this £44 rattan clutch last summer to support Prince Harry at the Sentebale polo match.
The J Crew bag become a must-have summer accessory when Pippa Middleton was also pictured sporting it at Wimbledon.
Better still, it appears the Duchess of Sussex bagged herself a bargain (no pun intended) as the stylish clutch was slashed to half price in the sale.
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In more Royal Family news, Meghan Markle’s favourite cocktail is her own version of Pimm’s as she “loves all things British”.
And Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have hired a £30,000-a-year digital communications expert to boost their social media presence.
Plus Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton always have their hands clasped in front of them as it acts as a “barrier” and “comfort”, a body language expert has revealed.