The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were on hand to accept the Humanitarians of the Year award at the annual event, which was held on Thursday night in New York City. The couple are making a number of appearances in the Big Apple after making the journey from their home in California.
It has already been a busy month for jet-set Meghan, who last week made international headlines when she made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Heading over from her sunny Montecito abode where she’s been making a name for herself as the royal hostess with the most-ess thanks to her hit Netflix show With Love, Meghan, the Duchess made sure to show her support at Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga premiere.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were honoured with the Humanitarians of the Year Award at the event
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Donning an all-white ensemble, Meghan Markle looked the picture of regal glamour in an icy silk caped shirt and tailored trouser combo – a look thought to be a reference to house founder, Cristobàl Balenciaga’s 1967 ‘Wedding dress and hat’ which featured a clean-cut gown and matching headpiece that cemented the couturier as a master of design, owing to its expertly-cut, layered silhouette.
Markle, who has donned many of Piccioli’s creations during his Valentino tenure is certainly a big win for his inaugural Balenciaga spectacle which also saw FKA Twigs and Tracee Ellis Ross in attendance, and she follows in the footsteps of many a glorious society figure who have called upon the house for their most rousing regalia. Princess Grace of Monaco was an avid fan, famously donning a black velvet number at Bal des Scorpions in honour of her 40th birthday. As was the inimitable Countess Jacqueline de Ribes during the 1950s, and – perhaps most poignantly – Mona Von Bismarck, who refused to leave her house for days in mourning when its founder passed away in 1972.