If Meghan Markle was attempting to look relatable in Jordan, the result was painfully misjudged. The Duchess of Sussex stepped out in heavily creased trousers during what many have dubbed a royal tour – and the optics were impossible to ignore. Not once, but twice, her outfit looked as though it had bypassed an iron entirely.

If this was a calculated attempt to appear down to earth, it was a ridiculous one — because what it actually looked like was completely sloppy. Meghan, 44, and Prince Harry jetted to Aman alongside Prince Harrry on Tuesday to carry out humanitarian work supporting Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Jordan.

The cause was serious. The schedule was packed. The format mirrored the structure of an official royal tour – carefully staged engagements, photographs with children, public walkabouts.

And yet, the conversation quickly shifted. Instead of the focus remaining on the humanitarian mission, attention landed squarely on Meghan’s trousers which were noticeably wrinkled.

The kind of deep creases that don’t whisper effortless – they scream forgotten in a suitcase. She paired them with a khaki top, brown shoes and a loose white shirt layered over the look. Casual? Yes. Careless? Also yes.

I would not be surprised if Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet had rolled those trousers into a ball for a quick kickabout on the sprawling Montecito lawn before they were stuffed into a case and flown to Jordan.

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There is a clear difference between relaxed dressing and looking unprepared. While this was not an official tour as Meghan and Harry are no longer working royals – the structure and styling of the visit echoed royal engagements, which makes the details matter even more.

Royal fashion, even at its most informal, has always been rooted in polish and precision. On this occasion, she appeared to aim for understated ease but ultimately missed the mark.

This is not the first time creasing has followed Meghan onto the world stage. Cast your mind back to 2018, when she wore a custom Givenchy gown to marry Prince Harry at Windsor Castle – a dress that also drew attention for visible creases across the skirt.

For a moment of that magnitude, every detail mattered, yet critics quickly questioned whether the structure was too loose, whether it lacked sufficient tailoring, or whether it simply appeared unfinished. Now, years later, it feels as though history is repeating itself.

Was this a deliberate PR strategy – an attempt to look normal, a message that she is just like everyone else? If so, it was clumsy. No one expects ballgowns at a refugee camp. But there is a clear middle ground between formal and crumpled.

The timing also invites scrutiny. While Meghan and Harry, 41, embark on trips that resemble royal tours in all but name, senior working royals are undertaking official duties across the globe.

Prince William has just returned from Saudi Arabia, strengthening diplomatic ties as the two countries approach a century of formal relations.

The Duchess of Edinburgh is currently in Kenya promoting the role of women in peacebuilding and economic growth ahead of International Women’s Day. Against that backdrop, the Jordan visit feels performative.

There’s a pattern with Meghan’s public image. When criticism builds, she leans into “relatable”. When attention dips, nostalgia gets wheeled out.

Maybe the creases were meant to say effortless. Instead, they just said unprepared.

Royal fashion is a visual language. It signals respect for the setting and awareness of the moment. Turning up on an overseas visit dressed like your suitcase exploded cuts against that completely.

As someone who studies royal style daily, I can say this with certainty: crumpled tailoring is not about to become the next quiet luxury trend. It isn’t edgy. It isn’t modern. It’s just messy.

If the goal was authenticity, it didn’t land. If it was relatability, it felt forced. And if it was accidental, that’s another issue altogether. Either way, the wrinkles ended up saying more than the visit itself.