SHANE WATSON: Meghan's five-figure outfit couldn't have matched better with new best friend Malala. It's almost as if it was planned...

The first sighting of the Duchess of Sussex in the capital since she and Harry returned to the UK was always going to cause a flurry – but no one anticipated she would be in the company of the world’s most revered human rights campaigner, Malala.

Both women are known worldwide by their first names only and were instantly recognised by passersby in Mayfair yesterday, as they stepped out on to the pavement in front of Claridge’s Hotel having had afternoon tea together at a corner table for two.

In spite of their age difference – Malala Yousafzai is 29 and Meghan recently turned 45 – the two women have been friends since they joined forces in 2020 for a virtual discussion on the importance of girls’ education, a subject on which Malala – who was born in Pakistan and now lives in Birmingham – has campaigned for since she was a child.

On an autumn evening in Mayfair, both activists – the young woman who survived an attack by the Taliban, and the duchess who survived her stint as a working member of the Royal Family – looked very much together and in sync. Even their clothing, smart trousers and tailoring in browns and creams, seemed to be co-ordinated.

Meghan and Malala were impeccably co-ordinated in neutral shades as they stepped out for afternoon tea at Claridge's 

With a £7,000 Chanel bag tucked under her arm, Meghan's entire outfit cost an eye-watering £28,000

The two women, who first joined forces in 2020 for a virtual discussion on the importance of girls' education, looked perfectly in sync 

These days, Meghan combines her philanthropic work with growing her lifestyle brand As Ever and has positioned herself as a fashion influencer who may yet design her own luxury clothing range.

Only a few days ago she launched an As Ever advent calendar costing £112 on Instagram, while wearing an ivory cashmere sweater, Argent olive green, bias-cut silk skirt, blush Aquazzura ballet pumps and jewellery. The total value of her outfit was estimated at £75,000.

Yesterday, Meghan dressed in similarly stealth-wealth style pairing a Crew cashmere sweater in ‘wheat’ by Los Angeles-based luxury label Co Collections (£630) with silky fluid ivory wide-leg ‘Masina’ trousers by Ralph Lauren (£1,700) and Saint Laurent ivory and tan ‘Chris’ loafers (£795). She also sported a toffee brown draped ‘Maxime’ cape coat by Tove costing £1,695. 

Including the jewellery – her necklace alone, a Lovers Duet Diamond and Emerald Chain necklace by Logan Hollowell retails at £16,262 – and her Chanel handbag, likely to cost upwards of £5,000, yesterday’s outfit added up to a cool £26,082.

You wouldn’t expect Malala, the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, to have the same interest in fashion. However, she has hired a stylist in the past – Dena Giannini – for special occasions such as the British GQ Heroes Awards, and she knows how to make an entrance.

Yesterday she wore a pair of brown and beige striped flared trousers with a tailored beige blazer and pointy-toed brown heels, and looked on point for autumn.

Ivory has become Meghan’s year-round signature, brown and beige are the new black for autumn – who’s to say fashion wasn’t on the menu yesterday afternoon?