Meghan Markle wears $6,250 winter coat in warm Beverly Hills sunshine for lunch with her wedding dress designer at celebrity haunt Cipriani

Meghan Markle recently made a stylish appearance in Los Angeles, where she was photographed on her way to a lunch date at Cipriani Beverly Hills. The Duchess of Sussex, who gained fame for her role in "Suits," showcased her sophisticated winter wardrobe on the sunny streets.

Meghan Markle and British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller dined at new celebrity haunt Cipriani Beverly Hills on Thursday

Markle looked radiant as she stepped out in a luxurious $6,250 Max Mara cashmere coat in a 'tobacco' shade, perfectly complemented by a matching limited-edition suede clutch from Cesta Collective, priced at $490. Her ensemble also included a chic black Bleusalt turtleneck, slacks designed by Ulla Johnson, Aquazzure shoes, and Givenchy sunglasses.

The 42-year-old Suits star–turned–Duchess of Sussex wore a $6,250 (£5,000) Max Mara winter coat in the warm LA weather 

She also wore a black Bleusalt turtleneck, slacks by Ulla Johnson, shoes by Aquazzure and Givenchy sunglasses 

She carried a matching limited-edition suede clutch by Cesta Collective that comes with a $490 price tag 

Accompanying Markle was British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, known for her role as the former artistic director of Givenchy and the creator of Meghan's iconic bridal gown. The Duchess has continued to collaborate with Keller, frequently choosing Givenchy designs for important occasions. Their close relationship was highlighted in 2018 when Markle surprised Keller at the British Fashion Awards, where she presented her with the prestigious British Womenswear Designer of the Year award.

Her dark tresses were impeccably styled into long, lustrous curls that were draped across her chest

Her surprise appearance at the buzzy new eatery comes as she helped open a new wing of an animal charity in London, with the announcement of her virtual visit made via her and Harry's glossy new Sussex.com website

Despite Keller's departure from Givenchy in 2020, she remains an influential figure in the fashion world, as evidenced by her recent collaboration with Uniqlo on an affordable line.

Markle's outing with Keller underscores their enduring friendship and mutual appreciation for elegant fashion.

Meghan Markle's recent appearance at Cipriani Beverly Hills coincided with her involvement in charitable endeavors, highlighting her commitment to both public appearances and philanthropy. While dining at the newly opened restaurant, Markle's presence underscored her support for the opening of a new wing at an animal charity in London, an event she announced via the couple's Sussex.com website.

Cipriani Beverly Hills, a renowned Italian restaurant chain, opened its doors earlier this year, joining other locations in cities such as Venice, Milan, New York, and Las Vegas. Markle's solo outing suggests a potential desire to increase her public presence, even in the absence of her husband, Prince Harry.

Additionally, Markle utilized the Sussex.com platform to honor her late friend Oli Juste by inaugurating a new wing at an animal charity named in his memory. This demonstrates her ongoing commitment to philanthropic efforts and her utilization of digital platforms to amplify charitable causes.

She was honoring her late friend Oli Juste, who died in January 2022, by opening the wing after it was named in his honor

The virtual appearance came just days after Meghan's husband Prince Harry reportedly told some of his friends that he was willing to return to the UK to attend to royal duties

The passing of Oli Juste, a beloved dog trainer and behaviorist, deeply affected Meghan Markle, who shared her emotional response in a video address during the opening of the Oli Juste wing at an animal charity. In her announcement on Sussex.com, Markle expressed her gratitude to the team at Mayhew for their dedication in realizing this tribute to her late friend. She emphasized the importance of celebrating Juste's memory in a manner that honored his passion for animals.

Markle's virtual appearance coincided with reports of her husband Prince Harry's willingness to return to the UK to support his family during King Charles' cancer treatments. While sources indicated Harry's readiness to assist, royal expert Hugh Vickers suggested that the royal family may not currently desire his return to royal duties. Vickers highlighted the complexities involved in such a decision, noting that reconciliation and resolution take time, even though King Charles has shown openness toward Harry.

Sources told The Times of London that Harry wanted to help carry some of the load as his father King Charles, 75, undergoes cancer treatments

However, royal expert Hugh Vickers told MailOnline that his presence wasn't desired by the royal family, despite reports that Charles is still keen to reconcile with him

Despite Prince Harry's status as a counsellor of state, both he and Meghan Markle chose to step back from their roles as working members of the royal family in 2020. As a result of this decision, they have pursued endeavors outside of the traditional royal duties and have taken on more independent roles.

Though Harry is a counsellor of state, both he and Meghan stepped down from their positions as working royals in 2020

While there has been speculation about Harry potentially returning to senior royal duties, experts suggest that he is not currently being considered for such roles. This suggests that the royal family is focusing on other members to fulfill these responsibilities, at least for the time being.

'Harry can't suddenly pick up royal duties again, under the present circumstances, it's quite a long way [away]. It's always possible to reconcile. It's always possible for things to be sorted out, but not that quickly. So no, is the answer,' Vickers said

Harry and Meghan's departure from senior royal duties marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the royal family, and their subsequent actions have reflected their desire for greater autonomy and independence in their public and private lives.