Meghan Markle’s high anticipated Oprah interview may be yet to air in Australia, but the Duchess of Sussex’ outfit for the tell-all conversation is already drawing comparisons to another famously controversial American royal—Wallis Simpson.
As seen in photos and snippets ahead of the interview, Meghan is shown wearing a black Armani dress that’s belted at the waist with a contrasting, abstract lotus print adorning the right chest and shoulder.
The Duchess’ makeup is kept simple and natural, while her hair is parted in the centre in her signature messy bun, a look that commentators online are already likening to Wallis, who is widely considered to be one of the biggest royal rebels in the British Monarchy’s history.
Naturally, it didn’t take Twitter long to pick up on the comparison, putting images of Meghan next to a photo of Wallis taken in 1936, with some noting not only the similarities between their ensembles, but their lives, as Wallis Simpson’s husband, the then-King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry his American divorcee lover.
Of course, it should be noted that Wallis’ controversy extended beyond being a divorced American woman who fell in love with a royal, but that she and Edward were thought to have been Nazi sympathisers at the time.
It’s not the first comparison that’s been made in regard to Meghan’s outfit. When initial clips emerged of the interview, royal watchers were quick to note that she was wearing one of Princess Diana’s bracelets for the momentous interview, surmising that her look may be sending two hidden messages.
Per People, the couple wanted Meghan to wear the bracelet during the interview so “Diana could be with them”, with the piece in question also forming the inspiration for Meghan’s engagement ring, as Prince Harry took two stones from the heirloom to create the Duchess’ famous three-stone ring.
Fans have also noted that along with potential references to Wallis Simpson and the honouring of Princess Diana, the lotus on Meghan’s dress holds significant spiritual meaning in symbolism, signifying rebirth and enlightenment.
Per Town & Country, it’s also considered a particularly resilient flower, with the capacity to flourish despite its challenging surroundings: “With such refusal to accept defeat, it’s almost impossible not to associate this flower with unwavering faith. Although cultures have largely dubbed the lotus as a spiritual figurehead, it is most emblematic of the faith within ourselves.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah airs in Australia tonight at 7:30 pm AEDT on Network 10 and 10 Play.
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