Meghan Markle wore a dress with a thigh-high slit to a royal engagement, causing a flurry of controversy from spectators. Some called the dress "disrespectful" to the royal rules, while others called it "inappropriate."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stopped by Australia's Fraser Island on Monday as part of their royal tour. In the morning, the pregnant Meghan stayed back to rest at the resort while Harry met with locals. Later that day, she met up with her husband again, wearing the infamous dress in question.
The breezy Reformation dress is ankle-length but with a thigh-high slit on one side. Meghan paired it with brown strappy sandals.
For any normal woman, it's a regular summery look. But when you're the Duchess of Sussex, every bit of skin is bound to attract attention.
Commenters took to social media to criticize Meghan's dress, worrying that the duchess was flagrantly disrespecting the Queen. Others defended the mom-to-be, noting that she was likely just trying to stay comfy as a pregnant woman in hot weather.
On Monday, Meghan went with Prince Harry to Fraser Island as part of the couple's Commonwealth tour. After Harry met with locals solo in the morning, Meghan joined him later in the day.
She was wearing a Reformation maxi dress with a slit up to her thigh — a summery maternity look.
But some royal watchers were seriously disappointed in that thigh-high slit.
Kensington Palace's official Instagram post about the visit didn't include any photos of Meghan's dress, interestingly enough. But commenters flocked there to leave their opinions anyway, with one calling the outfit "disrespectful."
Another called the dress "inappropriate."
Others jumped in to defend Meghan, however, noting that the duchess is pregnant and needs to dress for comfort rather than modesty.
Meghan's defenders pointed out that the dress was "appropriate" for the weather and setting.
And they pointed to Harry's own casual outfit as further evidence.
Shortly after the initial flurry of controversy, the palace did post a photo of Meghan's dress on its official page — thigh out and all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpO5M9jno-w/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal
This prompted even more messages of support from Meghan's defenders — because if the dress was so disrespectful to the Queen, Kensington Palace likely wouldn't have posted this photo!
In fact, Meghan probably wouldn't have been allowed to wear the dress at all if it weren't permitted by the Queen.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRgwSLnPnt/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal
While there are a lot of royal rules to keep up with, it's ultimately up to the palace to decide what is and isn't appropriate for this day and age.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBzNPXn9m-/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal
Meghan has come under fire before, for everything from baring her shoulders to holding Harry's hand in public.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpMGRi8nDWx/?taken-by=kensingtonroyal
But she's remained graceful through it all.
Meghan, you're doing great, sweetie!
