Meghan Markle brought a touch of royal history to a glamorous night out in Canada, stepping out in diamond and sapphire earrings once owned by Princess Diana.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the David Foster Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Celebration in Victoria, British Columbia, on Friday evening, showing support for their longtime friend, music producer David Foster.
During the event, the couple posed for photos with Foster, 76, and his wife, actress and singer Katherine McPhee, 42.
Prince Harry, 41, chose a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie for the occasion, while Meghan, 45, opted for a sleek black one-shoulder maxi gown by Canadian fashion label Greta Constantine.
With her hair styled in an elegant updo, Meghan’s sapphire blue earrings were especially prominent, serving as a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
The Duchess of Sussex has inherited or been given access to several meaningful pieces from Diana’s private jewellery collection and has worn the late Princess of Wales’s earrings on previous public occasions.
Among the Princess Diana jewellery pieces associated with Meghan are the butterfly earrings and coordinating cuff bracelet, a diamond tennis bracelet, Diana’s Cartier Tank Louis watch, and the famous aquamarine ring often referred to as her “divorce ring.”
Foster, the Canadian-American hitmaker at the centre of the evening, has earned 16 Grammy Awards from 45 nominations over a celebrated career spanning four decades.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared at their music mogul friend’s event on Friday night
The couples have long been friends, with McPhee attending the same school as Meghan
Meghan owns a number of pieces of jewellery from Princess Diana’s personal collection
Meghan posed with Katherine at the 40th Anniversary of the David Foster Foundation
Prince Harry and David Foster pictured together in Victoria, British Columbia on Friday night
Meghan (pictured, left) and McPhee (pictured, right) did theatre together growing up
Meghan and Harry have been long friends of the couple, having previously been pictured on a double date with the couple.
In 2019, Foster arranged for the Duke and Duchess to stay at a close friend’s mansion on Vancouver Island, telling the Daily Mail at the time: ‘I felt honored that I was able to help Meghan there because I’m a Canadian, and we’re a Commonwealth country – we’re the Crown’s.
The music producer hooked up the royal couple with accommodation in a secluded waterfront estate in North Saanich, owned by a close friend of the Canadian songwriter – but declined to identify the owner.
‘It’s important to us, so I grew up with that kind of sentiment. I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off.’
Foster arranged for Meghan and Harry’s Christmas getaway in a $14million mansion on Vancouver Island, Canada, by connecting them to its mystery multi-millionaire owner.
Foster’s wife, Katherine McPhee, has known Meghan since childhood, having gone to the same school as her.
McPhee told Access Hollywood in 2020 of Foster and Harry’s relationship: ‘My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry.
‘They’re like, they’re so cute. They’re like father and son.’
‘We just stay in touch with them. But mostly, Meghan and I knew each other from childhood, but really Harry and my husband are friends. It’s really nice.’
