Meghan Markle Shows Out to Support Tyler Perry in a Strapless Gown With a Mile-High Slit

There are two things I know to be certain about Meghan Markle. She'll always shut down a red carpet and she'll always show out to support her friends—often at the exact same time.

Nowhere were these two truths more obvious than on the red carpet for the Paley Honors Tribute to Tyler Perry at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills on Dec. 4. Perry has been Markle and Prince Harry's close confidante since 2018, so she'd naturally support his lifetime achievement award with her presence.

Markle and her stylist, Jamie Mizrahi, approached the evening honoring Perry's legacy in film and TV with an Old Hollywood strapless black gown by Oscar de la Renta. Its sweetheart neckline and rich, dark fabric had holiday party written all over them, but the exaggerated slit in the skirt was pure red carpet material.

Markle accentuated her dress's refined neckline and skin-baring skirt with a simple updo, consisting of a teased bun with tendrils framing her face. (The look isn't that out of the ordinary—she favors a curled bun when she's not wearing her hair down.) Two accessories looked like pieces avid followers of the Duchess of Sussex's wardrobe would recognize: a diamond Logan Hollowell necklace and Stuart Weitzman heels. However, her glittering jewelry was actually custom Lorraine Schwartz and Engender, while her heels came courtesy of Celine. A coat of sugar-cookie white nail polish graced her fingertips in place of her usual bubble bath manicure.

Meghan Markle has kept a low profile in 2024, making public appearances primarily to voice her support for charitable causes (like the Archewell Foundation's Welcome Project) and close friends. In one of her best royal re-wears, the Duchess brought her red Carolina Herrera dress out of storage last October to attend the Children's Hospital Los Angeles benefit gala alongside her pal Kelly McKee Zajfen. A few months prior, she wore a custom white gown by Oscar de la Renta to cheer on Serena Williams as the tennis legend hosted the 2024 ESPY Awards. She simultaneously showed her support to her husband, who was accepting the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

At the Paley Center Honors, Markle joined Kerry Washington, Tina Knowles, and more stars in entertainment and philanthropy to recognize Tyler Perry's decades of work in film and television. Perry's career has encompassed more than 2,000 episodes of TV and 28 feature films—which he either wrote, directed, produced, or all of the above.

Perry has been a fixture in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's friend circle ever since the mogul reached out to Markle around the time of her royal wedding. When the Sussexes relocated to the US, Perry offered his Beverly Hills mansion for them to avoid the paparazzi. He is also the godfather to Markle's daughter, Princess Lilibet.

He addressed his close relationship with Meghan and Harry during red carpet interviews before the gala began. "They love each other," Perry said in a conversation with E! News. "They have a beautiful family and I just want the best for them."

The conclusion from this week's event: Friends who walk the red carpet together, stay together. Oh, and that Angelina Jolie's 2012 Oscars gown has some competition for a black dress with a major leg slit to admire.

Editor's note: This post was updated to reflect the designers of Meghan Markle's dress, jewelry, and heels.

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