The Duchess of Sussex offered followers a rare peek at her family’s European summer escape on Instagram yesterday evening, complete with a closer look at the relaxed holiday wardrobe she packed for the trip.
Meghan, 44, who is based in Montecito, told her 4.7 million Instagram followers that she travelled with Prince Harry, 41, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, spending time in Portugal as well as at Althorp, Princess Diana’s ancestral stately home.
The itinerary appeared to strike a sentimental note with royal watchers, some of whom suggested the Duchess’s outfits channelled her late mother-in-law’s signature style. Among the looks drawing attention was a backless black swimsuit, worn with £67 Saucony Women’s Cohesion 18 Sneakers as she watched her family enjoy Portugal’s sandy coastline — a silhouette long associated with Diana’s own beachside elegance.
Another standout came in the form of Meghan’s Heidi Merrick Finny Cardigan, an Eighties-inspired design currently on sale for £98, which fans interpreted as another quiet reference to Diana, who was frequently photographed in similar knitted V-neck styles.
In the image, Meghan also wore her familiar layered jewellery, including Princess Diana’s £17,800 Cartier Tank Française watch and a Cartier Love bracelet valued at £7,050.
The Duchess completed the look with her Virgo Diamond Constellation Ring, priced at £2,171, alongside the Leo Constellation Ring, worth £1,685 — pieces understood to represent her star sign and Harry’s.
The As Ever founder also posted a photograph of herself browsing a homeware shop in Portugal, opting for a crisp white shirt styled with rattan accessories, including the £153 Sarah Bray Wildflower Sun Hat and a coordinating bag.
Lilibet, meanwhile, had a fashionable moment of her own, appearing in a Little ‘Julie’ floral-print mini dress by female-founded label DÔEN while carrying a plush unicorn bag from Aurora World.
Princess Diana (pictured at 1983) was known for her love of swimsuits – and it appears that the Duchess of Sussex is equally as fond
The Duchess of Sussex sported the backless swimsuit while watching her husband, Prince Harry, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at the beach
While dining with Prince Harry, the Duchess wore the Heidi Merrick 80s-inspired Finny Cardigan, which is currently on sale for £98
Archie, meanwhile, cut a more casual figure, strolling through the British countryside barefoot and in khaki shorts, while also making sure to sport his £12.99 England FIFA World Cup 2026 T-shirt from Zara when receiving a pilot lesson on board a plane.
In another image taken by Meghan, Lilibet is seen walking through the Northamptonshire estate’s famous avenue of trees, close to the private island where Diana is buried.
Harry, Archie and Lilibet, all carrying large bouquets of flowers to lay at Princess Diana’s grave and the nearby memorial, walked ahead.
Sources have confirmed to the Daily Mail that Meghan’s pictures were taken at Althorp.
People, widely considered the Sussexes’ preferred publication in the US, reports: ‘The trip gave Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to spend time at a place so closely tied to their late grandmother, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when Harry was 12.’
The Instagram set named ‘Summer Holidays’ also confirmed that Meghan and Harry spent time in Portugal before Harry’s chaotic trip to Britain, with images of them on pristine beaches, frolicking in a pool and a trip to a rustic local fish restaurant.
She also shared a landscape that appears to be Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands, suggesting they may have visited Scotland.
There were no photos of their reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove a fortnight ago, however.
Princess Diana sported a V-neck cardigan while visiting a school in London with then-Prince Charles in 1989
Prince Archie wore his £12.99 England FIFA World Cup 2026 T-shirt from Zara while receiving a pilot lesson
Princess Lilibet donned the Little ‘Julie’ floral-print mini dress from female-founded DÔEN while in England
While browsing a homeware shop, the Duchess sported the £153 Sarah Bray Wildflower Sun Hat
Meghan delayed her arrival and entered the country secretly with Archie and Lilibet amid ongoing security concerns.
The family had been visiting Europe in recent weeks ahead of Prince Harry’s return to the UK this month to attend the Invictus Games in Birmingham, where he had intended to bring Meghan and their two children with him for the entirety of the five-day trip.
Following their trip, Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet enjoyed a private cup of tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove.
The visit – which would have been the first time Charles had seen his daughter-in-law and grandchildren since 2022 – was confirmed by Buckingham Palace after the family had left.
Harry and his family are believed to have met the King and Queen for more than an hour.
Highgrove, the King’s private Gloucestershire estate, is where Harry spent much of his childhood, complete with the treehouse and swimming pool he knew as a boy.
The visit to Highgrove came after a chaotic back-and-forth about where Prince Harry would stay during his trip.
The King is said to have lost patience when Harry dithered over an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace at the start of his trip.
The Duke initially rejected the accommodation before changing his mind and attempting to accept after the deadline had passed.
Harry’s spokesman subsequently briefed the BBC that he would be staying at the Palace, only for the King’s aides to indicate he had left it too late.
