Dressing for a royal tour, we imagine, can be tricky. Past visits to other countries have seen royals like Kate Middleton perfectly turned out in a dress and heels. But while travelling through South Africa with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has (quite practically) discarded the stiff collars and floaty skirts for something a little comfier, and dare we say cooler, too.

Last week Markle visited the place where student Uyinene Mrwetyana was killed in late August of this year, making a secret pilgrimage to the post office where people have been tying yellow ribbons in tribute. The Duchess of Sussex made visiting the site a priority during her time in Cape Town and left a handwritten note that read: “We stand together in this situation” in response to the devastating treatment Mrwetyana experienced.

In a thoughtful move, Markle opted for a low-key look for the day, wearing a sleeveless cream top and a pair of slim-fitting, mid-blue jeans from sustainable brand DL1961.

Clearly not wanting to draw too much attention to herself or upstage the moment where the focus was the tragedy of what happened to Mrwetyana, Markle still chose to represent a brand which is doing its best to reduce the huge carbon footprint created from making denim, one of the most popular materials used in the fashion industry. 

DL1961 is a New York-based brand (but ships to the UK) that specialises in denim made with the environment in mind. The brand uses ethically sourced premium cotton and water-efficient botanic fibers to make its designs, with a mission to change the way denim is created. For example, the brand states that the average pair of jeans uses approximately 1500 gallons of water, while DL jeans use just eight gallons.

DL also takes eco-friendly measures like having its own onsite self-power generation that uses a heat recovery system, being partially solar powered and using laser machines to create character on garments as a waterless process to eliminate the use of chemical abrasives for a safe and fair environment for employees.

In South Africa, Markle wore the Emma jean which has a low rise and full length, super skinny leg. She opted for the vivid dark Albany wash with contrast stitching. We imagine this style would be ideal for pairing with a cosy jumper and a pair of this season’s most coveted autumnal boots. 

Shop our edit of our the best eco-friendly jeans.  

Images: Getty / Instagram / bmrands