Meghan Markle wears Princess Diana’s earrings during a glamorous red carpet appearance with Prince Harry on August 7, 2026, in Victoria, Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out together for the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary gala, marking one of their most talked-about joint appearances of the year.
The couple traveled to Victoria for the black-tie celebration honoring four decades of the charity founded by music producer David Foster. Meghan, 45, and Harry, 41, joined a star-studded guest list at the Victoria Conference Centre for an evening that blended philanthropy, music, and personal history.
A Navy Gown With a Personal Touch
Meghan chose a strapless navy gown by Canadian designer Greta Constantine for the occasion. The floor-length dress featured a fitted silhouette and a clean, minimalist neckline, letting her accessories take center stage.
She styled her brunette hair in a polished updo, keeping her overall look sleek and understated. The most meaningful detail of the night came from her jewelry choice.
Meghan added a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. The earrings gave the evening a quiet but significant nod to Harry’s mother, who died in 1997.
Harry complemented his wife’s look with a classic black tuxedo and bow tie. The couple posed together on the red carpet, presenting a coordinated and polished appearance for photographers.
Reuniting With Longtime Friends
The gala reunited Harry and Meghan with David Foster and his wife, actress and singer Katharine McPhee. The two couples have known each other for years, with their friendship predating the Sussexes’ permanent move to California.
Meghan and Katharine actually share a history that goes back even further. Both attended the all-girls Catholic school Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, though Katharine was several years younger at the time. McPhee has previously said the pair appeared together in school musical productions.
That long-standing connection made Friday’s event feel personal rather than purely ceremonial. Photos from the red carpet showed the two couples smiling together, reflecting years of friendship built well before royal titles or Hollywood fame entered the picture.
Inside the David Foster Foundation’s 40th Anniversary
David Foster established the David Foster Foundation in 1986, and the organization has since supported more than 1,600 Canadian families. The charity helps families whose children require life-saving organ transplants by covering non-medical costs such as travel, accommodation, groceries, utilities, and in some cases, rent or mortgage payments.
Friday’s gala represented the first half of a two-day anniversary celebration held in Foster’s hometown of Victoria. The festivities continued into an exclusive after-party at the Fairmont Empress hotel following the main event.
Saturday’s celebrations were set to shift to Victoria’s Inner Harbour for a free public concert. The musical lineup for the weekend included David Foster and Katharine McPhee alongside Josh Groban, CeeLo Green, The Tenors, Loren Allred, and Pia Toscano.
For a charity built around family and support during difficult times, the 40th anniversary carried extra weight. Foster founded the organization in Victoria before expanding its reach across Canada, and returning to his hometown for this milestone added a layer of sentiment to the weekend.
Why the Earrings Matter
Meghan has worn pieces from Princess Diana’s jewelry collection on several occasions since joining the royal family. Diana wrote in a letter of wishes that she wanted her jewelry passed down so that her sons’ future wives could use it, and Meghan has honored that wish repeatedly over the years.
Past appearances have included Diana’s aquamarine ring at her 2018 wedding reception, her gold and sapphire cuff during a 2018 Australia tour, and her butterfly earrings during a 2024 trip to Colombia. Choosing sapphire and diamond earrings for this Canadian gala continues that pattern of subtle tribute.
Royal style watchers often track these choices closely, since Meghan’s decisions about which pieces to wear and when tend to carry symbolic meaning. Wearing Diana’s jewelry at a high-profile charity event surrounded by close friends fits a pattern she has followed for years.
A Meaningful Return to Canada
Friday’s appearance also marked a return to Canada for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a country with which they share a long-standing connection. The couple lived briefly in Canada before their move to California, giving the location added significance beyond the gala itself.
Their attendance at the David Foster Foundation event reflected both a personal relationship with the Foster family and a broader commitment to charitable causes. Harry and Meghan have consistently supported organizations focused on health, family welfare, and community support through their Archewell Foundation.
The red carpet photos from the evening quickly circulated online, drawing attention to both Meghan’s fashion choice and the couple’s continued closeness with the Foster-McPhee family. Fans and royal commentators noted the earrings almost immediately, given how closely Meghan’s wardrobe choices are tracked.
What Comes Next
With Saturday’s public concert at Victoria’s Inner Harbour rounding out the weekend, the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebrations are expected to draw continued attention from fans of both the charity and the Sussexes. Whether Harry and Meghan will make a public appearance at the concert has not been confirmed.
For now, Friday’s gala stands out as one of the couple’s more personal outings of 2026, blending philanthropy, old friendships, and a heartfelt tribute to Harry’s late mother. The sapphire and diamond earrings served as a small but powerful reminder of Princess Diana’s lasting presence in her son’s life, nearly three decades after her death.
Meghan’s choice to wear Princess Diana’s earrings during this Canadian trip reinforces a pattern fans have come to recognize: meaningful jewelry, chosen with intention, at moments that matter to the family.
What did you think of Meghan’s tribute to Princess Diana? Share your thoughts in the comments below.