Meghan Markle embraced a more relaxed style at the Sundance screening of her film focusing on the Girl Scouts, opting for a friendship bracelet instead of her typical, lavish £236,000 jewelry collection.

The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex appeared fresh and casual, sporting a white sweater and skinny jeans for the movie event, which she co-executive produced alongside Prince Harry.

She wore her hair in a simple ponytail as she addressed the audience at the Eccles Center Theater in Utah, where the premiere of ‘Cookie Queens’ took place.

Braving the cold weather, Meghan donned a classic navy trench coat. The only hint of her usual glamour was her beloved 18-carat gold Cartier Love bangle, valued at approximately £7,050 ($9,513).

Meghan fully embraced the spirit of friendship by joining in on the bracelet exchange, delighting in comparing bracelets with a young attendee at the event.

Her young fan wore a woven purple bracelet, while Meghan’s was composed of square beads strung on a neon green cord.

It’s not the first time Meghan has shown her appreciation of friendship bracelets – an accessory that has also been worn by other royals, including Princess Charlotte and King Charles.

Last March, while greeting a group of fans ahead of the launch of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, she gave some out to loyal supporters who have been by her side since her now defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.

Meghan Markle showed off a laid-back new look – as she swapped out her usual impressive £236,000 jewellery stack with a friendship bracelet to attend the screening of her movie

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, was fresh-faced and casual in a white jumper and skinny jeans for the film – of which she served as executive producer – but without the usual glitzy additions of her accessories

And two years prior, she had made a heartwarming gesture with a beaded friendship bracelet with the initials of someone who was unable to make the Invictus Games in Germany.

Making an emotional address to 1,600 competitors, friends and family at a glittering party held in Dusseldorf hotel, the mother of two said she had been sent some gifts; and wearing the piece she had received, Meghan held up her arm to loud cheers and said the initials of someone who was unable to make the game had been etched on them.

‘So many people at home are rooting for you. Thank you, and look forward to a fantastic week. I can’t wait until one day to bring our kids so they can experience how fantastic it is,’ said Meghan. 

Her bracelet read ‘I am Invictus’, a nod to the motto of the competition for wounded and disabled military veterans.

Elsewhere at the event this week, she was asked whether her daughter would become a Girl Scout, while promoting her documentary about cookie selling – an American tradition she knows all too well after her stint in the Scouts. 

And two years prior, she had made a heartwarming gesture with a beaded friendship bracelet with the initials of someone who was unable to make the Invictus Games in Germany 

Meghan also explained that she has a ‘personal affinity’ with the 91-minute film at Sundance (pictured) because she was a Girl Scout while growing up in California, with her mother Doria Ragland serving as her troop leader

Pictured left to right: Prince Harry, Kim Yutani, Alysa Nahmias and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex

The duchess gave a vague answer, saying they would ‘continue to explore whatever feels right’. 

Meghan also explained that she has a ‘personal affinity’ with the 91-minute film because she was a Girl Scout while growing up in California, with her mother Doria Ragland serving as her troop leader.

Speaking at the festival, Meghan recalled her time in the Girl Scouts and revealed what the experience meant to her.

She told a reporter: ‘It really embeds such great values from the get-go. I was a Girl Scout, my mom was my troop leader and I think the value of friendship, of being dedicated to a goal, as you see that in Cookie Queens, is so reflective of how these girls stick to something that is important to them and don’t give up. 

‘And self-belief I think is a really integral value that comes as being a girl scout.’

Speaking alongside Cookie Queens director Alysa Nahamias, Meghan added: ‘Alysa is also the mom of a daughter and I think for both of us working on this project has been incredibly special as parents, as mothers, to be able to see something that our girls would be able to watch and enjoy as well.’

Asked about the film, Alysa then shared: ‘In fact the film began with my kids asking me to make a film that they would really want to share with their friends and then understanding that Girl Scout cookies was a way into looking at girlhood and coming of age, in a way that kids and adults will really relate to.’

In an Instagram post from last April promoting her Lemonada Media podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan wrote, ‘being an entrepreneur can start young’ alongside never-before-seen childhood photos of her selling cookies in a Girl Scouts uniform.

She previously said: ‘As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film and am proud that all our conversations and collaboration have led to Archewell Productions partnering with this award-winning team to executive produce this incredibly captivating documentary.

‘When we first viewed the early footage of this documentary, it was immediately something we wanted to be involved in.

‘The creative point of view, the edgy yet humanising tone and tenor of the directing, and the glimpse behind-the-scenes into such a nostalgic and also modern tradition of Girl Scout Cookie season are absolutely irresistible.’ 

Harry, 41, and Meghan are executive producers on the documentary directed by Alysa Nahmias and produced in partnership with Archewell Productions, Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films.