Meghan Markle cradles her bump as she makes surprise appearance at British Fashion Awards

11 December 2018, 06:42 | Updated: 11 December 2018, 08:01

The Duchess of Sussex was called upon to present an award to the brains behind her stunning wedding dress.

Pregnant Meghan Markle outshone even the most celebrated fashionistas when she made a surprise appearance at last night's British Fashion Awards.

The 37-year-old was greeted with rapturous applause as she walked on stage to present Givenchy boss Clare Waight Keller - the brains behind her wedding dress - the prestigious British Womenswear Designer of the Year award.

Read more: Princess Diana's psychic claims pregnant Meghan Markle is due BEORE April

Taking the mic at the Royal Albert Hall, she said: "It's such a pleasure to be here, celebrating British fashion and British designers, in my new home in the UK.

"We have a deep connection to what we wear. Sometimes it's deeply personal, sometimes it's emotional."

Read more: Kate Middleton wears trousers to a public event for the FIRST time... is she stealing Megan's style?

Meghan was wearing a one-shouldered velvet dress, which it is believed was also Givenchy, and simple gold jewellery.

She also flouted Royal protocol to sport jet black nails, a massive no-no for the Queen, who insists Royal women wear nude nails at official events.

Earlier this year it was revealed that she called Clare to Kensington Palace to brief her on her wedding dress, saying she wanted something with an "elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour."

Read more: How did Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's wedding dresses compare?

The veil she wore when she walked down the aisle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, was embroidered with flowers representing all 53 nations in the Commonwealth.

To make the gorgeous accessory, hundreds of artisans spent hours sewing the flowers in to the lace, washing their hands every half an hour to keep the fabric pristine.

Read more: Meghan Markle 'made Kate cry' with Princess Charlotte bridesmaid demands

It seems that Clare's vision paid off - least of all as she made a new friend.

Clare, 48, personally thanked "amazing" Meghan in her speech, saying: "This woman is so amazing.

"I got to know Meghan on such a personal level. To have someone like that trust you on such a personal moment in their life...

"I can't thank you enough because it was the most beautiful moment."

Meghan wore the boat necked gown when she walked down the aisle with Prince Harry in May this year.

The event, which catapulted the former actress to international fame, was just the start of a whirlwind few months for Meghan, who announced her pregnancy in October.

More recently there have been reports of a rift between Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

Further reports have claimed that Harry was furious with older brother William "for not rolling out the red carpet" for his American bride.