It can’t have been an easy week for the Duchess of Sussex. First, there was the publication of a new book by Tom Bower, in which she is described as “toxic” and “tone-deaf” (her spokesman, in turn, calls the allegations “deranged conspiracy and melodrama”). Then there was Variety’s interview with anonymous Netflix staff who detailed $10m of unsold As Ever products and painted an unflattering portrait of the Duchess’s conduct while working with the streaming giant.
Meghan appeared to be putting that bad press behind her at an event in Beverly Hills on Thursday night, at the Alliance for Children’s Rights’ 34th Annual Champions for Children event.
The Duchess wore a sleek, navy strapless Ralph Lauren gown for the occasion, in keeping with her signature, understated aesthetic. To be fair, she doesn’t need to use fashion to harness attention; she’s usually the most famous person in any room regardless.
The Duchess of Sussex with long-time friend Kelly McKee Zajfen – Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Her hair was styled in a glossy low bun, and the outfit was completed by Stuart Weitzman sandals, vintage Chanel button earrings and her usual Cartier bangle and watch.
In fashion terms, it was an A-plus, says personal stylist Bella Hignett. “This dress is stunning on her,” she says. “She has the perfect shape for this. Meghan often favours US designers and this is old school Ralph Lauren.
“I can’t help but think she has taken a leaf out of the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy book – minimal jewellery and the strapless bandeau look worn with a casual bun with strands framing her face. Low-key make up, too.”
From left: Jennifer L Braun, Kelly McKee Zajfen, the Duchess of Sussex, Katherine Pope and Leslie Gilbert-Lurie – Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
The appearance was a show of support to her friend of 20 years, Kelly McKee Zajfen, the co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a charity supporting pregnant and parenting teens in foster care. It’s an offshoot of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, which provides free legal services and advocacy for those in the Los Angeles foster care system.
The two women became close through Meghan’s ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, who is friends with Zajfen’s husband Julian. The Zajfens’ son George died at the age of nine in 2022 of Covid and viral meningitis, and McKee Zajfen has spoken openly about her grief, and the support of the Duchess in the years since.
In November, McKee Zajfen revealed that she is expecting another child – a boy – in the spring, so it was her baby bump that took centre stage on the red carpet. Meghan, posing alongside her friend, rightly seemed happy to cede focus, cradling McKee Zajfen’s bump as she posed for photographers.
The guest list included a number of high-powered LA names, including actresses Rhea Seehorn and Lindsay Price, president of Sony Pictures Television Katherine Pope, and comedian Kumail Nanjiani with his producer-writer wife Emily V Gordon.
Next month, the Sussexes will return to Australia for the first time since 2018, when, on an official royal tour, they announced that Meghan was pregnant for the first time. If this is her current style direction of travel, we can expect a very chic tourdrobe indeed.