Meghan Markle walked the red carpet for a charity bash in Los Angeles in her first appearance since ending her lifestyle partnership with Netflix.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, picked an understated yet chic $3,890 (£2,906) strapless Ralph Lauren gown that Meghan paired with vintage Chanel earrings and black heels from Stuart Weitzman.

The sleek navy dress might have been a considered fashion choice to ‘feel confident and in control’ after Variety published a brutal takedown of the Sussexes, according to fashion expert Lisa Talbot.

‘Meghan’s choice of a strapless Ralph Lauren gown feels intentional rather than incidental,’ she told The Daily Mail. ‘Strapless silhouettes naturally draw the eye to the shoulders and décolletage, areas often associated with openness, strength, and femininity.

‘By highlighting one of her strongest features, she’s leaning into a style formula that clearly makes her feel confident and in control.’

Noting the ‘public scrutiny’ triggered by Variety’s piece about the Sussexes’ alleged fallout with Netflix, Ms Talbot added the ‘quiet messaging’ of the dress signalled ‘clarity and composure’.

‘In moments of public scrutiny, clothing can also act as a form of quiet messaging. Choosing a clean, minimal, beautifully tailored gown like this suggests clarity and composure. There’s no distraction, just strong lines, a confident silhouette, and a clear understanding of what works for her,’ she explained.

Celebrity fashion stylist Rochelle White added that Meghan may want to ‘show the world that self assured and confident in herself’, adding: ‘The strapless tailoring requires you to be comfortable in your own skin and she is showing that.

+8
View gallery

Meghan Markle was all smiles as she arrived at the glitzy charity event in Los Angeles alongside her best friend Kelly Zajfen last night

+8
View gallery

The Duchess of Sussex , 44, paired an understated yet chic $3,890 (£2,906) strapless Ralph Lauren gown with vintage Chanel earrings and black heels from Stuart Weitzman

‘I think it does say, she is in control, confident and quietly powerful. It’s not about making noise or demanding a presence, but more communicating it through simplicity rather than statement,’ Ms White added.

Kelly Caira, stylist at House of Colour, previously told The Daily Mail that Meghan has ‘hit upon a fabulous formula with the strapless style’.

‘There is cohesion with her latest choices that show inner confidence while revealing her soft femininity,’ she said. ‘There is something wonderful about seeing someone in the public eye who has been much criticised, really honing her style and taking control of her public image.’

Meghan’s fondness for strapless styles dates back to her high school prom in 1998, where she wore a pastel blue gown as she was crowned ‘Homecoming Queen’.

In the years that followed, Meghan continued to flaunt her shoulders in an array of strapless outfits, particularly while attending red carpet events as an actress during her time on the legal drama Suits.

However, as a working royal, the Duchess adhered to strict protocol that prohibited such silhouettes, instead favouring modest clothing.

This even saw her modify the glamorous black and white Safiyaa co-ord worn to the 2018 Royal Variety Performance by adding a halterneck strap for a more demure look.

Since relocating to California with Prince Harry in 2020, Meghan’s wardrobe has undergone a noticeable transformation.

Adopting a more relaxed and contemporary aesthetic, she has shifted away from formal attire and returned to the bold, décolletage-baring dresses and jumpsuits she once loved.

Ms Talbot noted Meghan has frequently worn shoulder-baring styles since quitting the Royal Family, adding: ‘Since stepping away from royal duties, there’s been a noticeable shift towards softer silhouettes, off-the-shoulder dresses, halternecks, and strapless gowns, all of which subtly communicate ease and self-assurance.’

The Duchess was all smiles as she arrived at the glitzy charity event in Los Angeles alongside her best friend Kelly Zajfen last night.

The two women were at the Alliance for Children’s Rights’ 34th Annual Champions for Children event at the Beverly Wilshire – a Four Seasons luxury hotel in Beverly Hills.

The gala marked Meghan’s first public appearance since she took personal control of her lifestyle brand As Ever after ending her partnership with Netflix earlier this month.

Meghan was supporting Kelly, 44, who has been friends with the Duchess for more than 20 years and lives close to her in California.

+8
View gallery

In one of Meghan’s most show-stopping looks ever, she stunned in a gold, shimmering tube dress costing £1,850 in April as she was honoured at the Women of Vision awards

+8
View gallery

Since relocating to California with Prince Harry in 2020, Meghan’s wardrobe has undergone a noticeable transformation

+8
View gallery

Adopting a more relaxed and contemporary aesthetic, she has shifted away from formal attire and returned to the bold, décolletage-baring dresses and jumpsuits she once loved

Kelly’s son George tragically died at the age of nine after contracting a viral illness more than four years ago.

Kelly, who has long praised the support she received from Meghan during her bereavement, has previously opened up about her loss, describing it in a personal essay as ‘traumatic, painful, and very vivid’.

Writing about George’s death in 2024, Kelly told People magazine: ‘It happened very quickly.

‘We had no idea when we took him into the hospital that 12 hours later, he would not make it. My 9-year-old son George died. Died of Covid and viral meningitis.

‘A healthy and vibrant boy could not fight it. We lost him. I kissed him.

‘But it was to say goodbye. It is impossible to know how to survive this type of grief. Even more impossible is the ability to find all the right tools that will help you manage each day. I definitely do not have all the answers’.

At the time of George’s death, Meghan and Prince Harry showed their support by donating $5,000 to a GoFundMe set up in George’s honour, attributing the donation to their two children, Lilibet, four, and Archie, six.

Meghan appeared delighted to be reunited with Kelly, who also made a cameo in the Duchess’s since-axed Netflix show, last night.

Photos showed Meghan hugging Kelly and putting an arm around the charity’s co-founder on the red carpet.

Meghan also cradled Kelly’s baby bump for the cameras, thrilled because her friend is expecting a baby boy – four years after George’s tragic death.

Heaping praise on Meghan last night, Kelly said the Duchess’s commitment to The Alliance for Children’s Rights – a charity supporting children in foster care – was ‘truly inspiring’, adding: ‘I’m so grateful to have you by my side.’

After a brief chat with photographers, the Duchess waved enthusiastically before heading inside for the gala.

Earlier this week, Meghan unveiled As Ever’s first launch since the brand parted ways with Netflix as the Duchess promoted a $255 box of flowers, herbs and tea on Instagram.

Meghan teased the launch with a photo of her four-year-old daughter Lilibet holding a white flower before revealing As Ever had tied up with High Camp Supply – a luxury floral delivery and gifting brand.

Announcing the launch of the ‘Garden Tea Bloom Box’, Meghan later gave her followers a glimpse of her son, Prince Archie, and Lilibet in a behind-the-scenes style video.

In the footage, Lilibet, with her long red hair in a beautiful sundress, runs up to her ‘mama’ as she is making flower arrangements and whispers something in her ear.

Her mother then replies: ‘Yes I think you can. Let’s go!’ as they both dash off camera.

+8
View gallery

Meghan in a white strapless dress during her and Prince Harry’s quasi royal tour of Nigeria in 2024

+8
View gallery

As she and Prince Harry were honoured at the Kennedy Ripple of Hope Awards in 2022, Meghan sported an elegant, white, off-shoulder gown, custom made by Louis Vuitton

Meghan also shared two pictures of herself with her daughter: one where she helps pour water into a vase and another of her hiding under the table.

Although Archie is off camera, Meghan can be heard asking the six-year-old ‘are you having fun, my love?’

High Camp, the brand Meghan is partnering with, is a luxury retailer that specialises in custom floral arrangements. It was founded by Susan Hanson back in 2014.

The company, which ships California-grown gardenias to customers’ doorsteps, is popular with celebrities and has featured in publications such as Vanity Fair.

Floral arrangements advertised on its website are priced at up to $1,150, with the cheapest options starting at around $200.

The new Garden Bloom Tea Box is Meghan’s first launch after she announced the company would be splitting from Netflix – just months after the streaming giant dropped her lifestyle show amid savage reviews from critics.

Meghan announced a partnership with the streaming giant a year ago when it commissioned a new season of her show, With Love, Meghan.

And as part of that deal, Netflix had a stake in her As Ever brand, which includes her jam, rosé wine and flower sprinkles.

But now following the split, it has been claimed that Netflix has been left with a huge $10million surplus of her unsold products, including tea and baking mixes.

Netflix was also said to be ‘done’ with Harry and Meghan, in a brutal takedown of the couple in Hollywood’s entertainment bible Variety.

‘The Sussexes’ perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix,’ the magazine says.

The article, which claims to be sourced from half a dozen well-placed insiders, goes on to claim: ‘Their partnership may continue to taper off, and with it will Meghan and Harry’s remaining showbusiness lifeline.’

It also quotes a source as saying: ‘The mood in the building is “We’re done”.’

Variety alleged that the couple’s ‘bedside manner has ruffled feathers in meetings’ – even as ratings for shows from their company Archewell Productions remained ‘lacklustre’.

According to Variety, Netflix paid around £45million for a five-year deal with the Sussexes but was ‘annoyed’ by the couple’s decision to give a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey after quitting the Royal Family.

The company was also said to have been ‘blindsided again’ by Harry’s decision to publish his memoir Spare, details of which were ‘downplayed’ by Meghan.

The magazine suggested executives felt both projects impacted Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary.

However, a spokesman for the Sussexes insists they co-operated with Netflix throughout.