Meghan Markle makes rare fashion faux pas by leaving tag hanging off striking red dress as she arrives in Tonga

Hatty Collier25 October 2018

The Duchess of Sussex made a rare fashion faux pas by leaving the tag hanging off her striking red dress as she arrived in Tonga.

The label of her red Self-Portrait garment was still attached and was clearly visible as she made her way along the red carpet to traditional entertainment from Pelehake villagers.

The £345 bright red dress, which is the colour of the Tongan flag, was complemented by a Christian Dior Clutch and Manolo Blahnik BB pumps.

Tonga's Princess Angelika Latufuipeka appeared to notice the label sticking out of the dress as they walked down the red carpet

Tonga's Princess Angelika Latufuipeka appeared to notice the label sticking out of the dress as they walked down the red carpet
REUTERS

Airport staff carried a banner saying "Welcome Harry and Meghan" and schoolchildren who had been given the day off lined the roads between Fua'amotu airport and capital city Nuku'alofa to welcome the royal party.

Meghan had worn a green Jason Wu fitted dress as the couple were welcomed to Nadi in western Fiji when Harry unveiled a statue to fallen SAS soldier Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba.

Meghan Markle had a tag sticking out of her dress
REUTERS

For her third outfit of the day, the duchess wore a white full-length evening dress by Theia Couture as she and Harry attended a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u which was followed by an official reception and dinner.

Tonga is the latest stop on the whirlwind tour for the couple, with the parents-to-be having already visited Australia to open the Invictus Games, and Fiji.

Harry and Meghan arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Tonga
AP

The couple will return to Australia on Friday before finishing their 16-day tour in New Zealand.

Harry unveiled a memorial for a British-Fijian soldier who died at the Battle of Mirbat as one of his final engagements on the islands.

Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, of the Special Air Service (SAS), single-handedly held off 250 insurgents with a 25-pounder field gun after being shot in the jaw during the battle in Oman in 1972.

He was part of a nine-strong SAS team based outside Mirbat when they were attacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG).

Sgt Labalaba was posthumously mentioned in dispatches for his bravery in battle.

After the ceremony, the President of Fiji, Major General Jioji Konrote, gave a short speech thanking the royal couple for their visit and congratulating them on their baby news.

"Thank you for coming to Fiji and gracing us with your much welcome but very short visit," he said. "It's good to know that you promise to come back. May Almighty God be with you now and in the future."

Harry also gave a speech, beginning with the traditional Fijian greeting "Bula", and adding: "Thank you to the people of Fiji for the warm welcome we have received during our visit.

"The duchess and I are leaving with special memories of your beautiful country and look forward to returning in the future."

In Tonga, the couple attended a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u at Consular House before an evening reception and dinner.

Harry and Meghan entered the ceremony as a band played Imagine by John Lennon, and went on to greet other people at the reception.

The duchess was seen touching her baby bump as she spoke to guests.

Kensington Palace announced on the eve of the tour that Meghan was expecting a baby next spring.

The couple have already received a number of gifts during their tour, including a toy kangaroo and joey, a baby lifeguard outfit and a changing mat featuring Australian wildlife.

On Friday, the duke and duchess will meet Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva and his cabinet before heading to the oldest secondary school in the Pacific, where they will dedicate two forest reserves to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy Project.

They will then return to Sydney.

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