Who Pays for Meghan Markle's Designer Clothes?

A source tells ET that the bride-to-be is no longer allowed to accept designs or samples for free.

Meghan Markle's regal fashion just keeps getting better and better!

From wool coats to her signature messy bun, the former Suits star has been slaying the style and beauty game, wowing us with each and every outfit she sports to her royal appearances with Prince Harry. She's expertly adapting to her new, fabulous life in London, and we can only imagine what ultra-chic attire the future royal will wear following her wedding on May 19. 

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But with her engagement photo shoot dress by Ralph and Russo costing $75,000, and her new, navy Manolo Blahnik BB pumps retailing at $625 (she also owns a black pair!), who exactly is footing the bill for Meghan's designer clothes? 

Alexi Lubomirski

"Many actors and actresses rely on designers to dress them. That will change completely," a source tells ET. "Royals are prohibited from accepting any designs or samples for free. All of Kate [Middleton]’s wardrobe is paid for personally by her and Prince William, or by the Prince of Wales’ income."

"Meghan, who as an actress would have had her choice of designer duds from stylists and fashion houses, will be expected to pay for any items she chooses," the source adds.

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ET recently spoke with royal expert Katie Nicholl, who echoed those statements, telling us that it's "a big no no" for the royal family to borrow clothes or accept freebies. Everything is purchased at full price.

"Who pays for all of these clothes? Well, at the moment, it's Meghan because she is not a fully-fledged member of the firm [yet]. When she is, then it will be Prince Charles largely paying the cost of her working wardrobe," Katie explains. "When she's on official engagements, it'll be Charles picking up the bill for those, not the British taxpayer."

"[Meghan's] already got a very, very good wardrobe," she continues. "That wardrobe was moved over to the U.K. really quite early on in the relationship. Meghan knew this was going places, Harry knew it was going places, so that meant shipping over the wardrobe from Toronto [where Suits was filmed]."

Hear more on Meghan's fabulous style (and how the Duchess of Cambridge is inspiring her latest looks!) in the video below. And be sure to keep up with all of ET's coverage of the royal wedding right here as we count down to May 19.

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