Meghan Markle returns to the UK with a private jet of £ 200,000 after the New York Baby Shower

Meghan Markle returned to Britain early this morning after her extravagant half-million dollar trip to New York, where she partyed for five nights with her celebrity friends, now revealed by MailOnline.

The Duchess of Sussex landed in her private jet at the Farnborough Airport in Hampshire after a return trip of $ 250,000 (£ 200,000) to America, following a party birth given by Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, her co-stars of Suits and other personalities.

Meghan, a seven-month-old pregnant, was taken from the UK's most exclusive airport in two Land Rover Discovery armored vehicles containing her security team, her luggage and her gifts.

The exorbitant cost and extraordinarily lavish nature of Meghan's trip to New York has raised concern in Britain, although Kensington Palace has claimed that it is privately funded. Amal and Serena would accumulate large amounts for part of the trip.

Today, it also appeared that Kate Middleton had missed Meghan's baby shower after opting for a secret ski trip with the family – in a move that will do nothing to lessen the rumors of a break-up royal between the two men.

Last night, Meghan boarded a luxury private plane bound for the UK just hours after her closest friends entrusted her to a $ 75,000 penthouse (£ 57,000). ) – the most expensive hotel room in America.

The duchess, who will give birth in April, was photographed boarding the private plane Wednesday night less than an hour after seeing her leaving her upscale hotel on the Upper East Side, meeting place of his starry celebration.

Meghan's extremely luxurious mode of transport to the UK – a Gulfstream G450 jet – would have cost an incredible $ 125,000 (£ 96,000) for a six-hour trip to the UK from the Big Apple.

The 37-year-old Royal would also have arrived in New York via a private jet, which means that a phenomenal $ 250,000 (£ 200,000) was spent on her return trip for the trip girls' staff.

After the five-night lightning trip, which would have cost up to $ 100,000 a day in hotels, events, food, drinks and gifts, Meghan has only two nights to recover at home in London before flying to Morocco with Prince Harry on Saturday for a three-day trip to this North African country.

On Monday, Kensington Palace said Meghan 's trip for this six – day trip had been "privately funded" as it was a personal getaway – but the spokesman did not say "it was a private trip". did not want to comment on any other details of his visit to New York and refused to give any information. official information about its security details or plans during its stay in the city and any costs to the taxpayer.

A video and exclusive images obtained by DailyMail.com confirmed that the Royal had traveled on a private jet to return home to the UK, several sources claiming that she had used the same means of transportation to get to New York in the end. last week.

Meghan is one of many personalities to fly in a $ 43 million Gulfstream G450 ($ 43 million). This aircraft is one of the most popular choice aircraft among Hollywood stars thanks to its sumptuous interiors and its ability to perform both domestic and transatlantic flights.

The Gulfstream G450 has a 16-passenger capacity and works with two Rolls-Royce Tay Mk 611-8C engines, each capable of producing 13,850 pounds of thrust.

According to Haute Living, the G450 is also considered the most advanced cockpit of business aviation, with 14-inch LCD screens arranged in landscape mode and an improved vision system to present to pilots a clear picture of the track. beacons, taxiways and the surrounding landscape at night or deteriorating weather conditions, such as snow and ice in New York on Wednesday.

The aircraft also offers synthetic flight display – optional main flight display to increase the level of safety, making it an incredibly safe option for anyone wishing to indulge in a private jet flight .

It also has a shower, a couch for three people, which would be the perfect place to rest after a busy trip, and a full kitchen with convection oven if the One of the passengers needed a meal in flight.

The plane also had plenty of room for the many gifts that had been seen and delivered to the Meghan hotel before the shower; In the 24 hours leading up to the big event, a wide variety of items were seen brought to the hotel, including a $ 140 mandarin (£ 95), a travel cot of $ 379 ($ 289). £), a presumptive children's bike worth around $ 610 (£ 460) and a $ 17,225 (£ 170) package of lightweight travel bags offered to the Royal and its guests by the trendy travel brand.

Needless to say, the majority of these items would probably not fit in the hold of an average commercial aircraft, especially when paired with Meghan's baggage and those of her two Royal Protection Officers, who would have traveled with her on a private jet. both to and from New York.

It is not known if Meghan and Prince Harry paid for the flight themselves or if one of their many friends from the list lent it.

The members of the royal family certainly have their fair share of famous friends who may have been able to guarantee him access to a private plane; Oprah's TV mogul, who was attending the royal wedding, and who would have forged close ties with Meghan's mother, Doria, owns a private jet plane and once said about the company. Plane that it was incredibly useful to make the exact Duchess of Sussex made Wednesday night.

"I would say that having one's own plane is the greatest luxury," Oprah told British Vogue editor Edward Enninful during an interview in 2018, before adding: "Because it means that one minute you are in New York, then you say to the next minute: "You know Edward, I think I will go to London."

His royal companions, David and Victoria Beckham, regularly travel by private plane with their family, as does actor George Clooney, whose wife Amal was the co-host of Meghan's baby shower, which took place a few hours only before boarding the private plane.

And Prince Harry certainly does not seem to have any scruples about flying in private; the future father chartered a $ 26,100 (£ 20,000) jet to get home on February 14th from Norway so he could spend his first Valentine's day as a pilot. married man with his pregnant wife.

The Duke traveled to and from Cessna Citation Excel Twin Engine for a three-hour visit to Bardufoss Air Base, 322 km from the Arctic Circle. The state-of-the-art 18-foot aircraft flies to and from small airports while offering "the comfort and convenience of an intermediate cabin jet," according to Cessna.

A chartered direct flight on the Excel Quote – based on a seven-hour round trip from Farnborough to Bardufoss, where Harry was traveling between seven people – would cost between $ 23,000 (£ 18,200) and $ 28,000 (£ 21,450) according to Luxaviation.

Last October, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were trapped in the air when their private plane was struck by lightning. The couple were going to an opening night in Amsterdam when their luxurious Dassault Falcon 7X was hit.

A lightning struck the nose cone, barely avoiding the navigation equipment. About 30 million volts have passed through the fuselage of the aircraft.

After the terrible fright, the plane – which would have made the Duke and Duchess return to about $ 26,100 (£ 20,000) for a round-trip flight to Amsterdam – managed to land at the airport from Schiphol safely.

However, the extraordinary price of Meghan's private plane return trip contrasts sharply with the amount she would have spent when she visited her friend Jessica Mulroney in Toronto in September; Although only five months have passed since his three trips, it appears that much has changed in Meghan's travel priorities.

At the time, the Duchess, who had not yet announced her pregnancy, had chosen the Air Canada airline for her trip. According to sources, Royal Central claimed that "the beautiful" Meghan, accompanied by two Royal Protection Officers, had a glass of champagne before watching the Book Club's, a film starring Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda and Mary Steenburgen.

"She seemed very relaxed and was drinking peppermint tea during the trip," the source added.

Even though Meghan and her two protection officers chose to travel in business class, which is the most expensive option proposed by Air Canada, and offers "sleeping beds" for passengers, return tickets for all three cost up to about $ 21,000 (£ 16,000) – which is less than a tenth of the cost of his private plane trip.

The departure of the Duchess of New York comes at the end of a busy journey of five nights and six days that saw her meet her friends, have several meals in the best restaurants in the city and, of course , be the guest of honor. at her baby shower Wednesday before going home.

Despite her seemingly busy schedule over the last few days – where she spent time with friends in key venues like the Surrey Hotel, Polo Bar and Met Breuer – Meghan looked fresh and glowing as she was photographed leaving The Mark a few hours after the end of her shower.

Meghan seemed ready to settle in the comfort of her private plane and was a lot more disguised than we've seen her recently, avoiding her high-heeled boots and nude chic pumps in favor of tight-fitting black leggings and d & rsquo; A matching sports top. it accentuated his big hump.

She also wore a black cap with the word & # 39; Rectify & # 39; written on it, which seems to be a gift from her friend and former co-star of the Suits, Abigail Spencer, who arrived at the hotel for the baby shower earlier in the day. exactly the same design. Rectify is the name of a SundanceTV series in which Abigail played between 2013 and 2016.

The duchess finished her casual look with a pair of black Adidas sneakers and she was seen with a large Cuyana Le Sud leather tote bag at $ 395 (£ 300); the brand is known to be one of the royal's favorites, and the brand has even previously collaborated with Meghan's makeup artist, Daniel Martin.

As she has been throughout the trip, Meghan has been flanked by two plainclothes protection officers in plainclothes, as well as at least three armed officers from the State Department.

When approached earlier this week, Kensington Palace did not comment on details of the King's safety during the trip and it is not known whether the protection officers were paid privately or whether the bill was paid by taxpayers.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Meghan's Scotland Yard's armed bodyguard, who was accompanying the expectant mother on her royal tour to Australia with Prince Harry, was leaving his post after less than a year of role.

The appointment of the inspector as chief of protection made her the first woman to hold such an important position for the royal family and she was regularly photographed monitoring Meghan during her travels to l & # 39; abroad.

In January, it was revealed that protection officers in charge of protecting the Queen and other members of the royal family received a six-figure salary in 2016/17, yielding approximately $ 130,000 (£ 100,000) each, after winning a salary dispute with Scotland Yard their "special escort" allowance.

The latest counts of the Metropolitan Police indicate that 47 agents of the Royalties and Specialists Protection Unit (RaSP) gained six figures in 2016/2017. This is in addition to the significant one-time payments to officers after the conflict over the removal of the escort allowance in 2012.

The Met did not disclose the exact payments, but at least $ 6.5 million was paid to the 47 officers, which averages $ 137,512 (£ 106,000) each.

Given the average annual salary of a Royal Protection Officer and the cost of his room and board throughout the trip, it is estimated that the cost of the two men would have been close to $ 15,000 (£ 11,000). ) for the five nights.

Meghan was joined in her shower by a host of distinguished guests, including Gayle King and Jessica Mulroney, all of whom were seen returning home Wednesday night after participating in the five-hour intimate celebration.

And it seems that the no-cost event has gone off without a hitch – at least if Amal's beaming smile while she was leaving the party was all there was to see .

The 41-year-old human rights lawyer, who allegedly co-hosted the extravagant event alongside Serena, a tennis professional, was photographed and smiled while she was there. sortait de l'hôtel The Mark à New York. L'Upper East Side, après avoir passé plusieurs heures à célébrer le bébé à naître de Meghan aux côtés de Gayle, présentatrice de la télévision, de la styliste Jessica et de la designer Misha Nonoo.

Amal a pris la tête des accusations de départ, qui a débuté environ cinq heures après que les invités de marque de Meghan aient été vus arriver à l'hôtel pour l'événement, ce qui aurait été la raison principale du voyage surprise de la duchesse pendant cinq nuits vers la Grosse Pomme – sa première depuis son mariage avec le prince Harry en mai 2018.

La star de la mode glamour a apporté une couleur audacieuse à une journée neigeuse et grise à New York en portant une combinaison écarlate Sergio Hudson, qu'elle a associée à des chaussures à la mode en PVC et à des talons dorés de Gianvito Rossi, avant de passer une veste vintage Chanel autour d'elle. épaules dans un style prisé des éditeurs de mode du monde entier.

La coanimatrice Amal a terminé l'ensemble avec une paire de boucles d'oreilles style doorknocker, un maquillage glamour et des vagues lâches dans ses longues mèches brunes, qu'elle avait glissées sur une épaule en sortant du lieu, avant de se rendre à The Carlyle, un autre hôtel de luxe cinq étoiles situé à moins d’un pâté de maisons de The Mark.

Et elle n'était pas la seule à en tirer le meilleur parti en matière de style; les invités chanceux invités à assister à l'événement ont transformé le trottoir de la ville en un sport passionnant pour les spectateurs, quand ils ont commencé à arriver au lieu huppé où il se déroulait et à le quitter, se disputant à travers la neige et le grésil.

L'avocat des droits de l'homme, Amal, marié à l'acteur George, a été rejoint par une foule des proches de Meghan, parmi lesquels la présentatrice de télévision Gayle King, la designer Misha Nonoo, la styliste Jessica Mulroney, la star de Suits Abigail Spencer et le maquilleur Martin. Sa co-animatrice, Serena, âgée de 37 ans, était déjà à The Mark, ayant choisi de rester à l'hôtel avec Meghan la nuit précédente.

Fait intéressant, la mère de Meghan, Doria Ragland, âgée de 62 ans, qui était sans doute son membre de famille le plus proche et le plus aimé, n'était pas présente et a été photographiée chez elle à Los Angeles alors que la douche avait lieu à New York.

Il y avait cependant beaucoup d'autres invités sur place pour s'assurer que Meghan passerait un après-midi merveilleux, nombre d'entre eux se préparant pour les appareils photos avant d'arriver à The Mark, qui est devenu une sorte de point chaud pour les touristes depuis l'arrivée de Meghan. à Manhattan.

On pense que Meghan et Amal sont des amis depuis plusieurs années et ont été réunis par leurs maris respectifs, l'acteur George et le prince Harry, qui sont des amis proches depuis de nombreuses années.

Le quatuor aurait passé beaucoup de temps ensemble, en grande partie du fait qu’ils sont tous basés au Royaume-Uni, avec George, 57 ans, et Amal résidant dans une magnifique propriété de l’Oxfordshire, ce qui, d’après Meghan et Harry, aurait avoir visité à plusieurs reprises.

Plus tôt ce mois-ci, George avait en réalité défendu Meghan, affirmant qu'elle avait été "poursuivie et diffamée" de la même manière que la défunte mère de Prince Harry, Diana.

Il a également été rapporté que le prince Harry et Meghan demanderaient à l'étoile hollywoodienne de servir de parrain à leur premier-né, bien qu'il ait été prompt à mettre un terme à ces rumeurs, expliquant que ses propres jumeaux étaient pleins à craquer.

But Amal clearly still wanted to play a key role in the celebration of Meghan's unborn child, and by all accounts was one of the driving forces behind the shower, along with tennis pro Serena.

Amal was one of the earlier arrivals at the baby shower venue, turning up at around the same time as Meghan's close friend and unofficial stylist Jessica Mulroney, who was also stylishly dressed in a long black $750 Mackage overcoat, black pants and a $58 (£40) orange turtleneck from Aritzia.

Despite the snow, the mother-of-three followed in Amal's footsteps and wore a pair of chic high heels, opting for a dusty pink-orange shoe that complemented her figure-hugging shirt.

Many of the guests seemed to ignore the heavy snowfall, perhaps opting for style over comfort and practicality in light of the special occasion and the hoards of photographers stationed outside waiting to snap their picture.

CBS co-anchor Gayle King, 64, arrived at the shower in a very bright outfit, wearing a bright purple coat and a pink and purple furry scarf over a bright pink dress. She added a pair of matching pointed-toe heels to the look, and also added a brightly-colored rainbow snakeskin-print clutch bag, which actually perfectly matched the large rainbow gift bag she also had in her hand.

Gayle was perhaps most the surprising guest at the shower; her friendship with Meghan is not something she has commented on previously, although her best friend Oprah is known to have formed a close bond with the duchess and her mother, and actually attended the royal wedding back in May.

Her friend Gayle meanwhile was tasked with covering the event for CBS, a job she took on with great enthusiasm and energy, even revealing at the time that she was something of a royal fan, particularly when it came to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana.

'I’ve loved the royals for a long time,' she said of her trip to London to cover the wedding. 'I was the girl who got up to watch Princess Diana get married, because I thought she was so cool. There was just something about her that was so different, so I followed everything about her… from the courtship to the marriage and then, unfortunately, to the funeral.

'To see the video of William and Harry walking behind the casket, I remember thinking, "I hope her boys are going to be OK," Now, to see them all grown up, it’s all very exciting to me.'

She did actually get the chance to meet and spend time with Prince Harry in the summer of 2017 however, revealing that she and the royal ended up at the same retreat together, and ended up having dinner along with British TV host James Corden.

'I’m not saying that Harry and I are great pals, but it was fun to spend even a little bit of time with him,' Gayle said of the exciting encounter.

Meghan's former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer was the first guest to arrive at the hotel, and she was followed closely by the duchess's makeup artist Daniel Martin, the man behind the royal's stunning bridal beauty look for her wedding to Prince Harry last May.

Daniel, who is a brand ambassador for Dior Beauty, was quite literally wearing his heart on his chest when he arrived at the hotel in an all-black ensemble that included a hoodie with the message, 'Thank you for being a friend' written across it in white lettering.

The hoodie, which is from trendy brand Ami, is by no means you're average sports store sweatshirt however, with the stylish item costing an impressive $290 (£220). That price pales in comparison to the makeup artist's Off-White x Nike sneakers, however, which retailed for a staggering $749 (£600) per pair.

37-year-old Abigail meanwhile, was wearing a long flowing skirt and a black sweater, but concealed her face somewhat in a dark baseball cap and large sunglasses.

She was also laden with bags when she turned up at the hotel, arriving just a few minutes before Daniel with a silver Away carry-on, a large brown paper bag – likely filled with a gift for Meghan – and two other, smaller purses, one over each shoulder.

Interestingly, her metallic suitcase was by the same brand that donated $225 (£170) carry-on bags to each of the guests at the shower; two women were seen stacking up the luggage outside of the hotel earlier on in the day before wheeling it into the venue for the event.

The Suits star was quickly relieved of the items however, with a helpful staff member rushing to her aid in order to bring the larger bags into the hotel for her, allowing her to better showcase her boho-inspired look.

It had been previously reported that Meghan's shower, which is said to be the main reason for the seven-months-pregnant royal's secret trip to the Big Apple, had taken place on Tuesday, however a source later revealed that it was actually scheduled for Wednesday, shortly before Meghan is set to return to London.

Speaking to Tatler, the insider revealed that the baby shower would be held in the Grand Penthouse Suite at The Mark hotel on New York's Upper East Side, where Meghan and her friend Serena, 37, stayed on Tuesday evening, after enjoying dinner together at a swanky Manhattan restaurant.

Although it is not known whether Meghan has been staying in the penthouse for her entire trip – which began on Friday when she flew in from London after spending Valentine's Day with her husband Prince Harry – the location was picked as the perfect place to host the duchess and several of her closest pals while they celebrated the upcoming arrival of Meghan and Harry's first child.

Described by the hotel as 'A Castle in the Sky', the 10,000sq ft suite boasts every luxury, including a 2,500sq ft rooftop terrace overlooking Central Park, five bedrooms, four fireplaces, six bathrooms, two powder rooms, two wet bars, a dining room, a conservatory, and a living room that can be 'transformed into a full-size Grand Ballroom' if desired by guests.

The two-story penthouse, which is located on the 16th floor of the hotel, is described on The Mark's website as being 'lavishly-adorned' and 'unprecedentedly spacious', and features 'majestic' interior decor designed by legendary French interior designer Jacques Grange.

According to Tatler's source, the location was chosen by Serena, who is a long-time fan of The Mark's in-house restaurant, The Mark by Jean-Georges, a renowned chef whose flagship restaurant on Central Park West boasts two Michelin stars, however she is not thought to have stayed at the hotel before Tuesday night, after she and Meghan enjoyed dinner with two of the royal's closest friends Jessica Mulroney and Markus Anderson.

Mother-of-one Serena is also said to be footing the bill for the use of the pricey hotel room, who has been a close friend of Meghan's since they first met in 2010.  She is said to have chosen the location after 'visiting several other properties in the area', according to the source.

The inside source also revealed that the shower was set to include a host of elegant activities, kicking off with a flower arranging lesson that will be accompanied by a variety of delicious desserts prepared especially by the hotel restaurant's head chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Jean-Georges himself was believed to have be present at the start of the event in order to personally greet Meghan and her guests upon their arrival in the suite.

Other guests pictured arriving at The Mark ahead of the baby shower included newly-engaged designer Misha Nonoo, who looked chic in a gray plaid coat, Lindsay Roth, Meghan's closest pal from Northwester University, and fashion publicist Celine Khavarani.

Misha, who seems to have spent a lot of time with Meghan since the royal arrived in the US on Friday, looked every inch the fashion favorite as she made her way into the event, wearing a short black skirt and a simple gray sweater under her long button-up jacket.

She finished the look off with a pair of heeled boots and a black and white purse with a gold chain handle; Misha, who got engaged to oil heir Michael 'Mikey' Hess during a Valentine's Day getaway in Mexico, was also seen carrying a white shopping bag from high-end interiors store Rani Arabella.

The company sells all manner of luxury home decor pieces,

It was also reported that hairstylist Serge Normant – the man who styled Meghan's locks for the royal wedding – was due to be in attendance – as was Soho House consultant Markus Anderson, who is believed to have had a hand in arranging Meghan and Harry's first blind date, and was pictured heading to dinner with the royal at The Polo Bar on Tuesday night.

NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group chairman Bonnie Hammer was also included in the names of potential guests, however none of them were photographed outside the venue on Wednesday.

Interestingly, no other royals were in attendance at the event; Prince Harry's cousin Princess Beatrice, who actually lives in New York City, where she works at software firm Afiniti as the vice president of partnerships, was not pictured at the hotel on Wednesday, nor is she thought to have made an undercover appearance at the event.

Meghan's sister-in-law Kate Middleton also failed to attend the event – as did Meghan's mother Doria, who made for a rather surprising absence, given how close she and her daughter are known to be.

It had originally been suggested that Meghan's long-time friend Jessica was spear-heading the organization of the event, however Tatler's source says that it is officially being co-hosted by Serena and Amal, 41, who attended Meghan and Harry's wedding along with her husband George, who recently spoke out to blast the media's treatment of the pregnant duchess during a press conference.

Meghan's close pal and fellow screen star Priyanka Chopra, who was a guest at the former Suits star's wedding to Prince Harry, all but confirmed that she would not be attending the baby shower, when she posted a selfie on her Instagram account on Tuesday afternoon, and listed Beverly Hills, California, as the geographical location of the snap.

It was thought that Priyanka – who, like Meghan spent Valentine's Day in the UK – might have joined the royal on her trip over to the Big Apple in time for the shower, but it now appears that is not the case.

Meanwhile, pilates instructor Heather Dorak, another close friend who attended the royal wedding, welcomed her second child, a baby boy named Cody Cohen, on Valentine's Day, which presumably left her unable to attend the event.

But before any of Meghan's lucky guests were seen arriving, The Mark was abuzz with furious activity as staff prepared for the very high-profile event, with numerous deliveries seen being made throughout the morning, from catering boxes to a stack of Away carry-on suitcases to harpist Erin Hill, who brought her instrument and music stand with her.

The catering delivery included several boxes marked with the name 'Jean-Georges', suggesting they are supplies for the food he will be preparing for the mother-to-be and her guests, as well as a cotton candy machine, which may well be used to whip up some sweet treats for the party.

And that's not the only treat in-store for Meghan and her guests; shortly after the catering delivery, around 17 carry-on suitcases from trendy travel brand Away were seen being wheeled into the hotel on a luggage cart, each encased in its own white branded dust bag.

The suitcases, which have been carried by a host of celebrities, including the likes of Elizabeth Olsen and Hailey Bieber, cost £170 ($225) each, and were – a source told DailyMail.com – gifted to the pregnant royal by the brand. It is highly likely that the suitcases, which each come with their own removable battery, will be given to each guest at the shower, potentially in order to carry other gifts that they may receive.

Shortly after the suitcases were wheeled into the hotel, renowned harpist Erin Hill arrived at the location, wheeling her large instrument into the venue, while a helper followed on with her music stand – sparking speculation that she will be providing at least some of the entertainment at the lavish bash.

On Tuesday evening, Meghan was pictured heading out to Ralph Lauren's swanky restaurant The Polo Bar on Tuesday night alongside fellow mothers Serena and Jessica, perhaps finalizing plans for the lavish baby shower set to take place today.

Despite a busy day spent catching up with friends, Meghan looked fresh-faced and full of energy as she arrived at the high-end eatery – which is also known to be a favorite of President Donald Trump's, and is located just a few block's from his tower on Fifth Avenue.

The party spent three hours inside the restaurant before stepping back out into the chilly New York night. Meghan and Serena were then spotted arriving back at their lavish hotel, The Mark, on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Jessica, a Canadian stylist who has been helping best friend Meghan with her outfit choices for years and has three children: twins Brian and John, aged eight, and daughter Isabel, aged five. Serena has a one daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, aged one.

Mother-to-be Meghan looked every inch the glamorous royal as she made her way into the restaurant, escorted by the same group of burly officers from the State Department and royal protection officers.

The pregnant duchess recycled the same $3,085 (£2,250) navy Victoria Beckham coat that she was seen wearing in images published exclusively by DailyMail.com on Monday evening – the first photos taken of Meghan since she arrived in the Big Apple on Friday evening.

She paired the chic double-breasted coat with a black scarf, a pair of black satin boots – thought to be from Isabel Marant – and a $1,140 (£915) black chain-handle handbag by vegan designer Stella McCartney.

Meghan also modeled a much more glamorous makeup look than she had been seen wearing during the day, modeling a dark smokey eyeshadow, while emphasizing her natural pregnancy glow with some highlighter and bronzer.

As the former actress climbed out of her SUV – which appeared to be the same State Department vehicle she has been using all day – she couldn't help but flash a wide smile, no doubt at the prospect of spending an evening with some of her closest pals, many of whom live an ocean away from the royal's home with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace.

Meghan's husband may well have been in her mind however thanks to the choice of venue.

Not only is The Polo Bar known to be a much-loved celebrity haunt, the restaurant is also themed entirely around the popular equestrian sport from which it takes its name, a sport that Prince Harry has been playing for decades.

Meghan and Serena have actually watched one of Harry's polo matches together, along with the tennis pro's husband Alexis Ohanian, who joined the two women to cheer on the prince in the Audi Polo Challenge in Oxfordshire back in July, not long after Meghan and Harry tied the knot.

And there would have been plenty of reminders of that fun summer day inside the restaurant.

In the main dining room, which is located downstairs, diners are met with a myriad of equestrian-themed artworks that cover the walls, while riding helmets and polo mallets can be found hanging on hooks near the bathroom, just waiting for a few social media-savvy patrons to pose for a photo or two.

Upstairs, the is an intimate bar area, where diners can enjoy one of the many cocktails on the extensive menu, which not only features classic cocktails like the Moscow Mule and the Old Fashioned, it also boasts a number of signature reserve cocktails, including the Jockey Club and the Improved Negroni.

There is even a drink on the menu named after Meghan's father-in-law, the Prince of Wales, a $22 drink that is made of High West Rendezvous Rye, Cherry Heering, honey, pineapple, and Champagne.

The restaurant also boasts an extensive wine list, featuring bottles from around the world, including a particularly pricey $18,000 1891 Brunello di Montalcino.

As for the food, which was no doubt pregnant Meghan's focus, as opposed to the alcohol offerings, The Polo Bar boasts a host of classic American dishes, from a house chopped salad that retails for $18 to a 16oz New York strip steak, which costs $55.

The restaurant even has its own signature hot dog, the $20 RRL Hot Dog, which comes complete with sauerkraut, sweet relish and mustard, all served on a toasted brioche bun.

Having opened in early 2015, The Polo Bar quickly became one of New York's most popular eateries for high-profile diners, and has played host to everyone from Hillary Clinton to Gwyneth Paltrow.

President Trump, Melania, and their son Barron also enjoyed dinner at the eatery back in June 2016, the night before Donald's 70th birthday, and just a few months before he went on to win the presidential election against Clinton.

Meghan's evening outing came after a busy day of activities for the royal, which started early in the afternoon when she was seen leaving high-end New York hotel The Mark to enjoy an afternoon out.

The seven-months pregnant royal was seen cradling her baby bump as she made her way to Met Breuer museum, which is located just a few blocks away from The Mark hotel – with her former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer joining her for the quick city jaunt.

Moments earlier, Meghan was pictured walking out of the five-star hotel at 1:05 pm, once again keeping a hand rested on her growing bump, surrounded by armed officers thought to be from the State Department, as well as several plain clothes royal protection officers, just moments after her close friend and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer was pictured making her way into the venue.

Taking advantage of what is a bright and sunny day in the Big Apple, Meghan wore a vintage gray Courrèges coat for her surprise outing, pairing the outerwear with some skinny black jeans, and some nude suede heels.

Elle a accessoirisé son ensemble avec une paire de lunettes de soleil noires, qui cachait une grande partie de son visage aux caméras, et elle a été vue portant un sac gris pâle au creux de son bras droit, tandis que l’autre main était fermement appuyée sur sa grosse bosse.

Meghan was accompanied on the trip by what appeared to be several members of hotel security, as well as a handful of plain clothes police officers, including the same man seen escorting the mother-to-be out of a Manhattan apartment on Monday evening.

Other than her impressive security detail, the royal appeared to be along as she made her way past photographers and into a waiting SUV, which had Department of State license plates.

From there, she traveled the two-block distance to the Met Breuer museum, arriving at 1:10 pm, and was pictured spending time in the restaurant after her arrival, however a source revealed that she also found time during her 30-minute visit to take in some of the museum's artworks during a tour around one of the galleries, noting that the Duchess 'looked beautiful' during her visit.

However a source at the museum told DailyMail.com that Meghan was initially supposed to have lunch at the Met Breuer, but made a last-minute change of plans because the venue was felt to be 'too public' thanks to the large windows in the restaurant, which make it easily viewable from the street outside.

Because of this, Meghan, Abigail, and their entourage of protection officers, chose a more secure, private location for the royal to enjoy more of an incognito lunch – The Surrey hotel.

Meghan's very brief trip to the Met Breuer was enough to provide a bit of excitement and intrigue for some however, with a few social media users sharing their shock at running into her in the art gallery – with one person revealing that they bumped into the duchess in the bathroom.

'I went to see Julio le Parc at the Met Breuer and also ran into Meghan Markle in the bathroom,' Instagram user Ashley Toth wrote, while sharing an image of one of le Parc's pieces. Ashley then saw the duchess again while 'walking home', sharing an image of Meghan and Abigail exiting The Surrey hotel.

Actress Abigail, also 37, also joined the royal at the museum, before the pair left together to walk the short distance across the street to The Surrey hotel – another high-end establishment that has played host to a slew of high-profile clients, from JFK to Bette Davis.

Meghan and Abigail were flanked by two of the same royal protection officers seen escorting Meghan out of The Mark, with Meghan walking just a few paces ahead of her friend, flashing her three-diamond engagement ring as she placed her hand on her baby bump while crossing the road.

Suits star Abigail was wearing the same red patterned shirt dress that she was seen modeling when she arrived at the hotel earlier on, but she had abandoned the gray beanie that she sported with it; she also traded the thick fur-trim parka she had been sporting, in favor of a more lightweight black jacket, allowing her to show off more of her colorful dress.

The duo spent just over an hour at The Surrey, perhaps taking the time to enjoy a light lunch.

At approximately 3pm, the friends were seen leaving the hotel in order to make the very short journey back to The Mark, arriving around three minutes later – presumably just in time to start getting ready for the main event of the day, Meghan's baby shower.

Shortly after their return, newly-engaged designer Misha Nonoo – the woman credited with introducing Prince Harry and Meghan – was seen arriving at The Mark, having spent much of the day at her studio in NoHo, before going to join her royal pal.

It is a double celebration for Misha, 34, who got engaged to oil heir Michael 'Mikey' Hess, 32, during a Valentine's vacation in Mexico, with the groom-to-be proudly sharing the happy news on social media, before the designer was seen wearing her dazzling new diamond ring while out and about in New York on Tuesday.

That same ring was front and center as Misha made her way into The Mark, wearing the same chic, but low-key, outfit that she was pictured modeling earlier in the day, when she left her Manhattan apartment in the morning, and when she stepped out to grab a salad for lunch.

The bride-to-be bundled up against the chilly New York weather in a dark blue overcoat, black tights, and a bright red scarf, finishing the look off with a pair of heeled black ankle boots.

Misha was also seen carrying her iPhone, and a small personalized red purse that had her initials MN embossed on the bottom corner.

Although Meghan managed to spend a few hours away from the hotel, the venue was still alight with feverish activity even in her absence, with crowds gathering outside its main entrance in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the duchess, one of her close friends and guests – or at the very least one of the many fascinating deliveries arriving ahead of her shower on Wednesday.

Abigail was the first of the royal's nearest and dearest to be seen making their way into The Mark hotel on New York's Upper East Side – trying to maintain a low profile by wearing a gray beanie hat and large, dark sunglasses as she made her way inside, flashing a wave at the waiting photographers on her way in.

She spent just a few minutes in the hotel, taking the time to change up her outfit slightly, before heading out again to join Meghan at the Met Breuer.

Abigail first sparked speculation that she had traveled to the Big Apple for the special occasion after sharing an airport selfie on her Instagram account on Monday – less than 24 hours before she was seen making her way into The Mark, shortly after bouquets of flowers, an orange tree, and a $380 travel crib were seen being delivered to the swanky venue.

As well as her shades and hat, the actress was dressed in a thick black parka with a fur-lined hood upon her arrival, showing off just a hint of the more colorful, stylish pink dress seen poking out from underneath the thick winterwear.

Meghan managed to make a very under-the-radar arrival in the city however, going almost entirely unseen by the public over the weekend, after reportedly arriving on Friday evening.

Lundi soir, la duchesse a tenté d'aller incognito en se couvrant d'une casquette et Un long manteau bleu marine Victoria Beckham et une casquette de boudin grise rabattue sur ses cheveux bruns – avec sa grande bague de fiançailles en diamant bien visible sur son doigt de mariage.

Meghan est revenue à la Grosse Pomme ce week-end pour passer du temps avec ses amies avant l'arrivée de son premier enfant ce printemps. Elle a été vue lundi soir en train d'être escortée dans un VUS par un officier de la protection royale.

The palace declined to comment on Meghan's security detail for the duration of the trip, or the plain clothes officer seen accompanying her.

Meghan is understood to have flown into the city on Friday for a surprise five-day trip after spending a quiet Valentine's Day evening with her husband, Prince Harry. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace would not divulge details of the Duchess's flights, but confirmed that as this is a personal trip, her travel was 'privately funded'.

'The trip is a lovely chance to catch up with friends and spend time in a city she loves.'

Ce sera la dernière fois que beaucoup d’entre eux verront Meg jusqu’à la naissance du bébé, c’est agréable de partager des moments précieux », a déclaré une source à Harper's Bazaar.

Meghan baissa la tête alors qu'elle se dirigeait vers le VUS lundi soir, avec ses cheveux noirs couvrant le côté de son visage. Elle portait un deuxième chapeau noir à larges bords – vraisemblablement un modèle de Rag & Bone de 160 £ (195 $) – à la main, avec un sac blanc.

Mais alors que la duchesse de Sussex semblait tenter de passer sous le radar de son ensemble discret, la grande bague de fiançailles en diamants sur son doigt de mariage était indéniable.

Son mari a fait dessiner le motif en trois pierres pour elle, en particulier avant les fiançailles de 2017, en utilisant un diamant qu'il avait acheté au Botswana, où le couple a passé des vacances ensemble au début de leur relation.

La conception éblouissante était clairement visible alors que Meghan descendait les marches et se dirigeait vers la voiture, portant son chapeau de rechange et un simple sac blanc pouvant contenir un cadeau.

Ses ongles semblaient avoir été peints avec une nuance subtile d'un rose éclatant – une option de polissage beaucoup plus discrète que certaines des couleurs plus sombres et plus audacieuses qu'elle était connue pour modeler, malgré les traditions royales suggérant que seules les nuances les plus subtiles soient nues. usé.

Dans son autre bras, la future mère tenait un grand sac à main en cuir gris au creux de son coude.

Le garde du corps qui l'a escortée jusqu'à son véhicule d'attente semblait également avoir quelques objets personnels, dont un sac fourre-tout en Lululemon recouvert du manteau de laine beige de Meghan, suggérant que le royal avait peut-être plus d'une option vestimentaire à portée de main.

The visit marks the first time the Duchess of Sussex has been in the Big Apple since she said 'I do' to Prince Harry in May 2018, and she wasted no time before visiting some of her favorite hot spots.

'The trip is a lovely chance to catch up with friends and spend time in a city she loves,' a source told the outlet.

'This will be the last time a lot of them will see Meg until after the baby is born so it’s nice to share precious moments.'

But while the trip may have come as a surprise to some, according to the unidentified friend of the royal's, Meghan's visit to the Big Apple was actually planned months ago.

'It’s been a relaxing visit. Nothing beats face time with your friends,' the person added. "Meg rentrera à la maison rafraîchie et détendue – et avec de nombreux vêtements pour bébé."

Meghan joined Jessica at Ladurée in SoHo on Saturday to enjoy macarons and tea in one of the location's private spaces, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Bien que Jessica soit basée au Canada, elle est arrivée à New York à la fin de la semaine dernière pour filmer certains segments de style de Good Morning America, après avoir été nommée la plus récente contributrice de la mode à la fin de 2018.

La décision de rendre visite à Ladurée pourrait bien appartenir à Meghan, car le gastronome connu a déjà participé à une séance photo pour Tod's dans le restaurant français richement décoré.

In an image from the shoot, she is seen sitting in the New York tourist hotspot, wearing a patterned suit, a white shirt, and a pair of silver Tod's loafers with fringing detail on the front.

Her makeup for the shoot was rather more glamorous than the subtle, natural looks she seems to prefer now; Sur la photo, on peut voir Meghan modeler une lèvre rose vif et des yeux fumés et noirs tout en regardant droit dans l'objectif avec une expression très sérieuse sur le visage.

But it seems the somewhat unimpressed look she was making in the shot does not reflect her feelings about the French eatery, which is famed for its colorful confections and wide variety of teas, as well as its elegant interior.

The Duchess also praised the restaurant in an interview with writer Barry Samaha.

'I love Ladurée in SoHo,' she said. 'It’s like a little slice of Paris in the middle of New York City.

'It is absolutely beautiful, and the courtyard is awesome,' she added. 'Everyone should get the Coupe SoHo, which is this amazing salted caramel ice cream. It’s delicious!'

And it's not just Ladurée that holds a special place in Meghan's heart; the Duchess spoke on a number of occasions about her love for New York City and its many restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops, even giving the website Citiphile a full rundown of her favorite spots back while she was still starring as Rachel Zane in Suits.

During the interview with the site, Meghan referenced several much-loved New York establishments, including the Marlton Hotel, Italian eatery Babbo, piano bar Marie's Crisis, and West Village favorite Fedora – which she praised for its dirty martinis.

But according to sources, when Meghan isn't indulging in pastries from Ladurée, she will be spending much of her time enjoying the many amenities at the undisclosed five-star hotel where she is believed to be staying for the duration of her trip.

The day before she flew to New York, Meghan enjoyed a quiet Valentine's Day evening with Prince Harry, their first as a married couple.