After Meghan Markle turned heads at a red carpet event earlier this month in a striking red dress with a plunging neckline, a source says it’s a clear sign she’s “distancing herself” from her royal past

Meghan Markle, once determined to “blend in” with her subdued and neutral royal wardrobe, made a very obvious departure from her old approach at a recent charity event. Dressed in a bold, low-cut red designer dress and sporting loose, tousled hair, she was the undeniable centre of attention – and according to insiders, it’s a sign she no longer cares “what people think”.

Four years after leaving the UK and her beige royal attire behind, a source tells OK! that Meghan’s dramatic red carpet transformation is part of her Hollywood comeback strategy. “Before she met Harry she would always wear eye-catching outfits like that on the red carpet and would love the attention they would bring,” they claimed. “She has admitted herself that once she became a royal she really had to tone down her wardrobe and make more conservative choices as well as claiming she wasn’t allowed to wear a lot of colour.”

Meghan wore a £4,595 Caroline Hererra dress for the glitzy event ( 
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(Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles))

It was a far cry from her muted Royal wardrobe of the past ( 
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Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

In the 2022 Netflix special, Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, now 43, demonstrated her thoughtful approach to fashion. She disclosed her desire to make a statement and dress “like a rainbow” during her final week as a working royal two years prior, after years of trying not to “overshadow” or “ruffle any feathers” among her new royal family.

“To my understanding, you can’t ever wear the same colour as Her Majesty if there’s a group event,” she disclosed. “But then you also should never be wearing the same colour as one of the other more senior members of the family. So I was like…well, what’s a colour they’ll probably never wear? Camel? Beige? White? So I wore a lot of muted tones but it was also so I could just blend in.”

However, with her recent choice to re-wear her £4,595 Caroline Hererra dress, it appears that such concerns are now behind her. “Since leaving, she has slowly been getting more daring with her choices and this appearance proved that she is finally free of her royal era and doesn’t want to be associated with that part of her life anymore,” the source added.

“Both she and Harry are pursuing their own career goals and Meghan has decided that when she’s doing solo events, she’s going to be the star of the show. She has lots of exciting projects coming up, including the launch of her new Netflix cooking show, and this is just the start of her fun and sexy new look.”

Meghan said previously she was conscious not to ‘overshadow’ any other Royals ( 
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Style expert Stefania Bartolomei, founder of One of A Style personal styling, said Meghan’s red carpet appearance was not only indicative of her impeccable taste but also a testament to her self-assurance. “The daring choice wasn’t just a fashion statement, but a reflection of the confidence it takes to wear such a standout piece,” she revealed to OK!.

“She didn’t just stand out, she shined. The dress was also reminiscent of her earlier public appearances, and a definite departure from the neutral and conservative colours she was once known for in the UK.”

Another noticeable change in Meghan’s appearance was her hair – which spent much of her royal years tied up in a sleek bun – styled into loose, beachy waves.

“The relaxed waves suggest a woman who is not only comfortable in her own skin but also ready to embrace a more carefree and personal style,” Stefania said. “The combination of the vibrant red and loose hair exudes a sense of freedom, hinting at a Meghan who feels more at ease and confident-perhaps more in tune with her Hollywood roots than the strict wardrobe protocols of her former life.”

“Her bold step into the spotlight shows that she’s ready to move forward and reclaim her space with a renewed sense of freedom and strength. Meghan seems to be telling the world she’s ready to move forward, confident, glamorous, and more comfortable than ever.”

Meghan’s eye-catching outing came on the back of a string of solo appearances by Harry, 40, who came to the UK to attend the WellChild Awards before jetting off to South Africa for engagements relating to his Sentebale charity.

Despite being home alone with her children – five-year-old Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, three, – Meghan appeared not only incredibly stylish at the LA Children’s Hospital gala, but also seemed happy and relaxed, a stark contrast to many of the images in her royal photo album. “Her time in the royal family made her sad and anxious and she felt that she lost part of herself during that time and is only just getting it back,” revealed our insider.

“And she doesn’t care what people think, she spent so long worrying about whether she was wearing the right outfit and if it was appropriate and now she just wants to be herself. Meghan has no plans to even go back to being a royal and this dress shows that she’s distancing herself from them and everything she used to be.”