Meghan Markle opted for a designer outfit with a dazzling array of jewellery as she served up lunch to homeless women at a shelter in Melbourne on Tuesday, during the first day of her quasi-royal tour of Australia.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, looked typically stylish in a $1,250 navy dress from local designer Karen Gee, which she paired with Dior’s $1,000 ‘Dioressence’ pointed-toe pumps. She debuted the chic heels in 2023.

Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble while at McAuley homeless centre in the city’s inner-west, Meghan sported a yellow gold Puffy Heart earrings by Australian Real Fine Studio, costing $1,118 and a Tiffany gold bracelet.

She completed her dazzling look with a gold Cartier Tank Française watch, thought to have belonged to Prince Harry‘s mother, the late Princess Diana. The timepiece sells for $48,000 new, though Meghan’s would likely be priceless.

Meghan – who wore a smattering of glamorous makeup and kept her locks in a slicked ponytail – protected her designer outfit with a striped apron as she was photographed serving food to residents during her solo outing to the shelter.

Earlier, Harry and his wife had touched down at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport shortly after 6.30am. They flew in from Los Angeles on a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner and sat together in business class (the aircraft didn’t offer first class).

According to other passengers, the couple breezed through arrivals looking relaxed and refreshed despite the 15-hour flight.

After a brief stop at their city centre hotel, they arrived on schedule at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne on the stroke of midday, where they were greeted by a large crowd of well-wishers.

Meghan Markle opted for a designer outfit with a dazzling array of jewellery as she served up lunch to homeless women at a shelter in Melbourne on Tuesday, during the first day of her quasi-royal tour of Australia
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Meghan Markle opted for a designer outfit with a dazzling array of jewellery as she served up lunch to homeless women at a shelter in Melbourne on Tuesday, during the first day of her quasi-royal tour of Australia

The Duchess' outfit for the first day of her tour was worth about $52,000
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The Duchess’ outfit for the first day of her tour was worth about $52,000

Her 'puffy heart' earrings are worth more than $1,000 and were among the cheapest items worn as the pair visited a hospital and veterans' charity
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Her ‘puffy heart’ earrings are worth more than $1,000 and were among the cheapest items worn as the pair visited a hospital and veterans’ charity

Are Meghan’s accessory choices …

Harry wore a navy blue suit with an open-necked white shirt for the occasion, while Meghan showcased her designer look.

For her outfit today, the Duchess also wore her wedding ring and another unidentified bejewelled ring on her right hand for a look worth around $50,000 in total.

Once at the shelter, Meghan warmly greeted the residents and served up zucchini slice for lunch.

The Duchess has previously attended women’s homeless facilities in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Bristol, and Dusseldorf during the 2023 Invictus Games.

It’s understood that Meghan handpicked the McAuley facility for a visit.

‘It’s very lovely to have attention on the whole issue of homelessness and family violence and she will bring that attention to this this facility, so that’s good,’ McAuley CEO Jocelyn Bignold told reporters.

‘The women are excited to see and meet her. They’re also a little bit nervous.’

She added that some residents were aware of Meghan’s lifestyle show As Ever and looked forward to cooking with her in the centre’s kitchen.

Her watch appeared to be a gold Cartier Tank Française, understood to have belonged to the late Princess Diana, Meghan's mother-in-law
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Her watch appeared to be a gold Cartier Tank Française, understood to have belonged to the late Princess Diana, Meghan’s mother-in-law

The Karen Gee dress in ink navy retails at $1,250
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The Karen Gee dress in ink navy retails at $1,250

Harry and Meghan tour Australia

For her final appearance of the day, Meghan had a late afternoon wardrobe change.

She paired a long skirt with a beige top and toffee suede jacket – matching her husband’s khaki shirt – paired with simple diamond studs to meet the families of veterans at the Australian National Veterans Art Museum.

The couple stepped out of a grey Range Rover at 3.30pm on the dot, punctual as they had been through every planned event and waving to gathered onlookers.

The crowds have been small during the first day of the Sussexes’ visit, in comparison to the rapturous response in 2018 during their royal tour.

However, people waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple have been friendly, displaying genuine affection for Harry who they say is more like Aussies than the other royals and a ‘great bloke’.

Asked if the couple had anything to say to the Australian public while entering the museum, Harry could be heard telling a reporter: ‘Thanks for having us back.’

People waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple have been friendly
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People waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple have been friendly

Meghan (pictured at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne) sported Aussie designers in Karen Gee's Priscilla dress and 14k yellow gold Puffy Heart earrings by Real Fine Studio
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Meghan (pictured at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne) sported Aussie designers in Karen Gee’s Priscilla dress and 14k yellow gold Puffy Heart earrings by Real Fine Studio

Crowds have displayed genuine affection for Harry, who they say is more like Aussies than the other royals and a 'great bloke'
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Crowds have displayed genuine affection for Harry, who they say is more like Aussies than the other royals and a ‘great bloke’

The couple changed outfits and stepped out in matching khaki and beige ensembles before meeting the families of veterans at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Melbourne
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The couple changed outfits and stepped out in matching khaki and beige ensembles before meeting the families of veterans at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Melbourne

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What message do you think Meghan’s designer outfits send when meeting women facing homelessness?

What’s your view?

Harry and Meghan’s four-day Australian tour is much more low-key than in 2018, when the then-newlyweds embarked on a 16-day tour of the Pacific.

Seven years on, the couple have retained their titles but are no longer working members of the royal family.

The couple will use the privately-funded tour to visit groups that share their values or that they have long supported with a focus on mental health, community resilience and support for veterans and their families.

On Wednesday, Prince Harry will head to Whitten Oval, the headquarters of AFL club the Western Bulldogs, for a Movember event.

He will then travel to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial, meet Indigenous veterans, attend an Invictus Australia reception and participate in the daily Last Post Ceremony.

Harry will return to Melbourne to join Meghan for a guided cultural walk and visit a mental health charity, before he gives the keynote speech at the InterEdge Summit.

After arriving in Sydney, the Duke and Duchess are set to sail around the city’s famous harbour with Invictus Australia and attend the Super Rugby Pacific clash between NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika.

Meghan is the special guest of a three-day luxury women’s retreat in Sydney, where tickets start from $2699.