Duchess Meghan stuns in $3500 gown
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan received a warm welcome as they touched down in New Zealand to mark the final leg of their 16-day royal tour.
During their first night of their stay, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to attend a reception to mark the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
For the engagement, Meghan looked exquisite in a $3517 Gabriela Hearst gown, which had reportedly been modified to show less skin.
The 37-year-old paired her capped-sleeve gown with black heels and a clutch.
During the night, which was hosted by the Governor-General Patsy Reddy, Meghan addressed the audience to give a passionate speech about women’s suffrage.
Meghan started the third speech of her tour so far with the formal Maori greeting: “tēnā koutou katoa.”
Meghan praised New Zealand for being the first country in the world to give women the vote, saying it was an achievement that made them “universally admired”.
Duchess Meghan has given her third (impressive) speech of the tour this evening at a Government House reception hosted by @GovGeneralNZ: “We are proud to be able to join you tonight in celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in your country.” pic.twitter.com/1SLM8jP8Ly
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 28, 2018
“Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community; the involvement and voice that allows you to be a part of the very world that you are a part of,” she said.
“And women’s suffrage is not simply about the right to vote for women, but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of all people including those members of society who have been marginalised whether for reasons of race, gender, ethnicity or orientation to be able to participate in the choices for their future and their community. So bravo New Zealand, for championing this right a hundred and twenty-five years ago for the women who well deserve to have an active voice and acknowledged vote and for all the people that this effort has paved the way for globally, we all deeply thank you.
“In the words of your suffragette, Kate Sheppard, ‘all that separates, whether of race, class, creed or sex, is inhuman and must be overcome’.”
Harry and Meghan will leave New Zealand on Thursday and are expected to fly home to the UK.
The couple flew out of Sydney Airport just after 10am Sunday, following the Invictus Games closing ceremony the night before.