Meghan Markle wears £38,000 worth of jewellery – along with Princess Diana’s Cartier watch – on her first day in Colombia with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle is known for her love of expensive and flashy jewelry. She often wears the most striking creations. That was no different on Thursday on the first day of her trip to Colombia.

And the Duchess certainly made an impression on her first day in South America, wearing £38,000 worth of jewellery.

The couple were received yesterday in the capital Bogota by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, who invited the couple after watching their Netflix documentary series, and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.

To look her best for the politician, Meghan wore her Lorraine Schwartz ‘Against Evil Eye’ bracelet, which cost around £15,000.

She added an extra touch of glamour with her Pippa Small Kyanite Classic Stud Earrings, which retail for around £495.

Meghan Markle wore over £36,000 worth of jewellery on the first day of her tour of Colombia with Prince Harry.

The former royal was also photographed wearing Princess Diana’s £17,800 ($22,950) Cartier Tank Française watch.

The late royal wore it several times before it was gifted to Meghan after her death.

According to former royal butler Paul Burrell, Prince William initially chose the Cartier watch from his mother’s collection.

He told the British Fashion Harry chose her famous sapphire engagement ring, but then swapped it with his brother before proposing to the Princess of Wales.

The Duchess then paired this with her £5,800 gold Cartier Love bracelet, which she has owned since 2017.

The oval Cartier bracelet consists of two C-shaped halves that are screwed together. The only way to remove it is with a screwdriver, like the 18-karat version that comes with it – a feature said to be inspired by medieval chastity belts.

Her outfit consisted of a £596 collared vest from New York-based brand Veronica Beard and matching navy ankle-length trousers from the designer, priced £349.

The Duchess of Sussex with Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez

The Duchess of Sussex with Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez

Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in Bogota yesterday

The waistband was cinched in to accentuate the Duchess’s slim figure. The elegant ensemble was teamed with black pumps by Manolo Blahnik and a cream handbag by Italian company Loro Piana (£3,647).

Later in the day, Meghan looked in high spirits as she joined Harry to watch the South American country’s folk dancers perform at the Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota.

She looked stylish as she donned her second look of the tour – a colourful maxi dress by Johanna Ortiz, who has Colombian roots. The Duchess opted for the £1,668 burgundy Navajo Weaver Metallic Tweed Maxi Dress.

While the dress itself appears to be new, Meghan wore a similar look during her ‘quasi-royal’ tour of Africa in May, wearing a £2,275 striped summer dress, also by Johanna Ortiz.

The Duchess paired this ensemble with her €15,500 ($19,994) Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace in yellow gold, which hung elegantly on her collarbone.

She was spotted wearing the eye-catching garment during her interview with CBS’s Jane Pauley earlier this month, where she and the Duke discussed suicide while announcing The Parents’ Network, a campaign aimed at keeping children safe online.

The Duchess also wore a Vintage High Tea yellow gold coral bead flower ring, which costs approximately £970 ($1,250). It is said to be a new piece in her jewellery collection.

Meghan opted to wear her £283 ($365) gold Lanvin Arpège Sleeper Earrings. The earrings were made in Italy and are described as handmade gold-tone brass hoop earrings.

She styled her hair in loose waves after her previous updo – for her second look of the day

Meghan was seen yesterday wearing her £5,000 Cartier love bracelet along with Princess Diana’s Cartier watch at the Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota

Earlier today, Meghan proved her fashion talents again when she headed to Colombia with Prince Harry to start their four-day tour of the South American country

Meghan was photographed wearing her £12,800 Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace in yellow gold, along with her £150 Lanvin Arpège Sleeper earrings in gold.

She has worn the fashion house several times, including at the ballet in New York in 2013 and on her cover of the fashion magazine The Cut last year.

Meghan continued to be photographed wearing her Cartier love bracelet and Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank Française watch, two items that are staples in her wardrobe.

Meghan and Harry were also present during the day a summit on digital responsibility at EAN University at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez.

She changed outfits for the third time, wearing her brown silk Victoria Beckham blouse, a modest £597 designer number, with her La Ligne Colby trousers.

She continued to wear her Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace, but instead wore her Birks Muse Citrine And Diamond Drop Earrings, worth £1,964 ($2,532).

The Sussexes are being given extensive security during their visit, along with Mrs Marquez, who has invited the couple on what is being described as a DIY royal tour, following a similar trip to Nigeria.

Over the next four days, the Sussexes will visit the city of Bogotá before heading to Cartagena and Cali as part of a ‘cultural and social’ visit.

Officials are keeping the route secret because certain parts of the country are considered “best avoided” due to ongoing internal conflict.

Colombia, like Nigeria, is considered a high-risk destination in some respects by the UK Foreign and Development Office.

“FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia,” the government agency said, adding that many armed groups remain active in the country, despite a 2016 peace deal between the government and the revolutionary movement FARC.

In her third outfit change of the day, Meghan kept her Cartier necklace but swapped her earrings for her £1,964 Birks Muse Citrine And Diamond Drop Earrings.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the Responsible Digital Future Forum at EAN University after being invited by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez

In addition to several police cars and vans, armed soldiers were also deployed to protect Harry and Megan in a huge steel ring.

Roads were blocked and residents had to take long detours to reach their homes, and had to wait at checkpoints until the events were over so they could move on.

Answering questions from journalists at a press conference ahead of their arrival, Ms Marquez said she was inspired to ask Harry and Meghan to visit the country after being moved by their Netflix documentary.

“I saw the Netflix series about their life and their story and it touched me and motivated me to say that this woman deserves to come to our country and tell her story. Her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment for so many women in the world,” said Ms. Marquez.

Ms Marquez described the Sussexes’ trip as a “very special visit” aimed at building bridges and joining forces in the fight against cyberbullying and online digital violence and discrimination, and promoting female leadership in Colombia.

The Sussexes’ team has not confirmed how the trip is being funded: privately, through Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation, by the Colombian government or otherwise.

The quasi-royal tour, which bears many similarities to the itinerary of an official royal visit abroad, is the Sussexes’ second visit this year, following their three-day visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the West African country’s chief of staff.

Harper’s Bazaar magazine, which was the only commentator on the trip, wrote that Ms. Marquez shared her personal admiration for Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Meghan and Ms Marquez were pictured warmly greeting each other as they embraced, with Ms Marquez taking Harry’s hands in her own as they were introduced.