(Culture)

Meghan Markle’s Baby Reveal Outfit Was So Different Than Kate Middleton’s — Here's Why

by Olivia Young
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Meghan Markle's first birth has been untraditional in every way. After having Baby Sussex at home — rather than at St. Mary's, where the royal women have historically given birth — she and Prince Harry have just given the world its first glimpse of their son. Unsurprisingly, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's baby debut outfits were wildly different.

It's been two days since Prince Harry and Markle announced via Instagram that there's a new little prince in town and now, after nine months of anticipation, you get to see that baby's face for the very first time. Naturally, you were probably as eager to see what the duchess would wear for the momentous occasion as you were to see the child, himself.

Markle and Prince Harry debuted their new addition in St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle on Weds. Her Royal Highness, glowing as always, stayed true to her personal style.

Markle's opted for a sleeveless white dress by British designer Grace Wales Bonner. The chic midi features double-breasted buttons and a belt that the duchess tied around her waist. She topped it off with suede Monolo Blahnik pumps in nude and a dainty 18-karat-gold necklace with tiny turquoise charms (a Jennifer Meyer piece).

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Markle knew the look would immediately become iconic, so rather than copy what's been done before, she decided to make it very her. This is the sort of sleek, sophisticated dress you'd find her attending any old royal engagement in. As to be expected, it's nothing like what Kate Middleton wore when debuting her three children.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been a staunch devotee of royal tradition from the start. She gave birth to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, where Princess Diana had Prince William and Prince Harry.

Her outfits when stepping out for the customary photo op on the hospital steps (sometimes mere hours after giving birth) were designed after the ones her late mother-in-law wore decades before.

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Considering their vastly different wardrobes, it's no surprise that Middleton took a different, more vintage-inspired approach when she debuted her first child, Prince George, in 2013. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a light-blue, polka-dotted dress, paying tribute to Princess Diana, who wore a similar outfit when she first displayed then-newborn Prince William.

For Princess Charlotte's reveal, Middleton wore a yellow and white floral-print dress, then when debuting Prince Louis just last year, she dressed in a bright-red mini with a lacy white collar.

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All three of her post-baby outfits have been written into history, and Markle's will, too. That super-modern sleeveless button-up dress the Duchess of Sussex just wore is one that people will be talking about for years to come.