After this morning’s ANZAC Memorial service the Duke and Duchess changed clothes and headed to Cockatoo Island for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge.
They were welcomed to the island by Jaguar Landrover CEO Dr. Ralf Speth and Director Lorraine Rogers, as well as Invictus Games Foundation Chairman Sir Keith Mills, and CEO Dominic Reid, seen below.
Located in Sydney Harbour, the island “…was once one of Australia’s biggest shipyards, operating between 1857 and 1991” according to Forces Net. The driving competition is one of the few events that are not being held at Olympic Park.
Before the main event got underway there was time for driving on a different scale.
Carolyn Durand tweeted a video of the Duke and others playing with remote-controlled vehicles.
What an amazing day for all the @WeAreInvictus @InvictusSydney competitors and the kids with #PrinceHarry and #MeghanMarkle at Jaguar Landrover Driving Challenge. They are going to be amazing parents pic.twitter.com/nBj1uLo0DS
— Carolyn Durand (@CarolynDurand) October 20, 2018
The Daily Mail has more in this story.
The royal couple also took time out to play with remote control cars alongside children from different countries who travelled to the event with the athletes.
Harry appeared to have a barrel of fun driving the cars across the uneven grass off to one side of the course, laughing, smiling, and sometimes gesturing his arms in frustration.
Meghan and Harry spent time chatting with competitors, family members and others at today’s competition.
People were excited to see the royals and they were clearly happy to be there.
Then it was time for the main event.
Quoting from our post previewing tour highlights: “The challenge involves driving through a slalom challenge course of ’Jaguar Smart Cones’ and other maneuvers. More on how it works from the Invictus 2017 site:
Each driver has a teammate and cameras to help navigate the course, while some vehicles are equipped with hand controls to enable competitors with physical disabilities to take part.
From The Daily Telegraph:
Three courses put both drivers through their paces, requiring them to park in a series of marked squares the exact dimensions of the car, drive through two feet of water while squeezing through tight slalom gates, and speed through a randomly generated course indicated by flashing lights.
Embed from Getty Images
More from the Illawarra Mercury:
Australian Craig McGrath, who competed in the driving challenge, was overwhelmed with emotion describing his journey with the support of his family and friends.
For the first event of the 2018 Invictus Games, McGrath competed with teammate Scott Reynolds.
“I was just so happy they could come in and see, just to come and watch,” Craig told AAP.
Prince Harry awarding medals. From a Forces Network story:
Team UK are off to a flying start at the Invictus games as team Captain Dot Perkins and Daniel Bingley have won bronze medals.
The pair competed in the Jaguar Landrover Driving Challenge, which test the drivers navigational skills.
The French team won gold and team Australia came in second.
The Duke and Duchess applauding today’s medalists. There are more than 500 wounded servicemen and women competing in this year’s Games.
The opening ceremony is just hours away; it is being held at the Sydney Opera House. Below, Prince Harry practicing his speech for tonight.
Now for our look at what Meghan wore this afternoon.
Her jeans are by Mother Denim. They appear to be the “Looker” style in ‘Not Guilty’ black, the brand’s classic black denim wash ($196). The denim is a cotton blend described as super stretchy.
Her jacket is by Altuzarra, the brand’s “Acacia” style. The Acacia is an Altuzarra mainstay, offered in different fabrics and with different design elements. We have not been able to find the garment in the white Meghan wore today, and are showing it above in a stretch wool so you can see the details, especially the flared pleat at the back.
We believe Meghan wore the style in black at the Well Child Awards in September.
That style is still available in limited sizes at Neiman Marcus, but it does not have the hi-low hem we see with the jacket worn today.
We haven’t been able to locate Meghan’s shirt. It is a woven piece, not a knit, and it isn’t available at the online source for Invictus merchandise, Rebel Sport.
We’re guessing its is a style for team members or Foundation staff. If we do discover a place to purchase the shirt we will update the post with information and links.
The sunglasses appear to be the Illesteva ‘Palm Beach’ style in tortoise with grey lenses ($240). Many thanks to Heaven for her speedy sunglasses ID!
The Duchess had on the Tabitha Simmons Millie Slingbacks ($695) we first saw at this morning’s service.
Meghan had on new rings that we have not yet identified. They are similar to several Pippa Small styles, as well as Monica Vinader pieces, but we haven’t found an exact match.
Kensington Palace posted a video of the medals being awarded.
Congratulations to all the medalists in the @InvictusSydney Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge! ?#IG2018 #GameOnDownUnder #RoyalVisitAustralia pic.twitter.com/P8wDRrmTei
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 20, 2018
Here is our graphic look at what Meghan wore for today’s event on Cockatoo Island.
We’ll leave you with a photo of Prince Harry practicing his speech for tonight’s opening ceremony.
LINKAGE:
- Invictus Games Main
- Invictus Games Sydney:
MaryKate says
She looks polished but comfortable, and very happy! However, I can’t help but feel that those shoes were not what was originally planned for this outfit.. something about the bow with the extra fabric at the ankles seems off. I’m also curious about the protocol for wearing pieces (in this case, the shoes) from a memorial service to a car race later the same day. I would think the memorial outfit in total should have been put away after the morning’s event.
Amelie Milet says
Love the white blazer! Not so sure about the heels? They don’t look bad with the outfit but I think she could have worn flat shoes instead since it’s a sporting event.
Jessica says
I thought this was a pretty great look, but she should have worn the Rothys. The stilettos just looked off-message for the event. And she has those wonderful slim legs–she never needs to worry about looking stumpy in slim pants and flats.
The slim black jeans themselves are just about perfect, and so is the blazer. Gosh, I love that generous vent in the back–very sharp and very feminine. And yes, the loose hair, the shades–like someone else said, rock star.
ElizaMo says
This is one combination of black and white monochrome which proves it can be used to snappy effect. The Altuzarra jacket is beautiful with its long flattering line and the distinctive flared pleat at the back.
The jeans are great with the stilettos, it makes for a fun combination. I love how the tortoiseshell on the glasses acts as a gentle accessory contrast rounding off the outfit nicely. When an outfit works as well as this it’s possible forget that we are still in monochrome territory. Meghan’s options maybe ruled by the black Invictus shirt but she hasn’t let that hold her back.
Bonnie says
As a few others have said, the shoes are all wrong. To wear a polo, logo shirt for the Invictus Games on top and suede sling back stilettos on the bottom is a mismatch for sure. Black flats or a black loafer would have completed the look. I do like the white blazer. I wish she had worn it, when she was chilly, over those black and navy dresses, instead of the trench coat.
The Invictus Games are the main focus of this trip. May everything go well.
Melissa says
I adore the photo of Harry practicing! And the light-colored sunglasses were the perfect accessory to complete Meghan’s outfit.
Sg says
Meghan looks like a rock star with that super sharp blazer, shades and loose hair. Wow, this girl is hot!
Heather says
I would have preferred a pair of dressy sneakers or the wedges that she wore to Bondi Beach yesterday instead of these dressy slingbacks. Interesting that this is the 2nd pair of black jeans we’ve seen her in this trip. I wonder if she brought any other color jeans with her.
Erin says
Those sunglasses are so cute! I may have to snag a pair for myself….and just the other day I said I didn’t love the Duchess’s style. She’s proving me wrong!
Jackie says
Love this outfit. I like that they are both wearing matching shirts. That jacket is a winner in any color. In some outfits it is clear that Duchess Meghan is pregnant and in others p, as with this outfit, she doesn’t look it at all. I am okay with the Slingbacks because heels go well skinny jeans and the jeans being black keeps it from being too casual.
Christina O. says
Clever and so cool…wasn’t it a pair of Mother frayed jeans for INVICTUS 2017?
Love the vibe. She can take a corporate”ish” logo shirt and make it look designer worthy. Like how she swapped the white husband shirt from 2017 for an ultra smart Altuzarra blazer with over sized back pleat.
Sunglasses, too? Thank you Meghan!
Darcy says
I wonder why is it so difficult for Meghan to wear a pair of sneakers for an event like this? Maybe there are some height issues she has… but she is slim and she chooses colors and styles accurately, so she won’t look short or heavy without heels.
Hannah says
I love this blazer, especially paired with the black denim but the entire look is brought down by the Slingbacks shoes, they’re a complete mismatch and far too formal for this outfit and the event.
Hannah says
I love the blazer, especially paired with the jeans but the shoes are a complete mismatch and bring the entire look down because they’re far to formal.