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September 24, 2019

Duchess Meghan recycles maxi dress for reception with youth leaders in South Africa

WATCH: Prince Harry and Meghan celebrate South Africa Heritage Day

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is proving that old can be new again in fashion, recycling a previously worn dress for the second time during her tour of South Africa with Prince Harry and their son, Archie.

Meghan, 38, stepped out Tuesday for a reception with youth leaders in Cape Town wearing a a striped maxi dress by Martin Grant.

PHOTO: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a reception for young people, community and civil society leaders at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 24, 2019.
John Rainford/Cover Images via Newscom
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a reception for young people, community and civil society leaders at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 24, 2019.

Meghan and Harry chat (and share a quick Cinderella moment!) with Jade Bothma, who started charity @OceanoReddentes at just 12 years old. Her mission? Save the ocean — one piece of plastic at a time... and create “eco-bricks” with the waste to build homes for the homeless♻️ pic.twitter.com/6l8RUNhtek

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 24, 2019

She previously wore the dress last October on her first royal tour with Harry in Australia. Meghan was newly pregnant with Archie at the time and wore the dress as she joined Harry and mental health advocates on Bondi Beach.

PHOTO: Meghan and Prince Harry talk to members of OneWave, an awareness group for mental health and well-being at South Bondi Beach, Oct. 19, 2018, in Sydney, Australia.
Paul Edwards/Getty Images
Meghan and Prince Harry talk to members of OneWave, an awareness group for mental health and well-being at South Bondi Beach, Oct. 19, 2018, in Sydney, Australia.

On the first day of the Sussexes' South Africa royal tour, Meghan wore a blue dress by Veronica Beard that she also wore on last year's tour Down Under, during the couple's tour of Tonga.

PHOTO: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, arrive at the District Six, on the first day of their African tour in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 23, 2019.
Sumaya Hisham/Reuters
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, arrive at the District Six, on the first day of their African tour in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 23, 2019.
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A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

Earlier in the day Tuesday, Harry and Meghan joined surfers in Cape Town, South Africa, to talk about mental health, revealing they both practice meditation.

The parents of nearly 5-month-old Archie joined a welcome circle on Monwabisi Beach with Waves for Change, a charity that teaches local kids about mind and body therapy through surfing.

They also took part in a team-building activity that saw them on their feet and dancing, just like they did on day one of their South Africa tour in Nyonga.

One attendee, a former gang member who was helped by Waves for Change, told ABC News that Meghan "had some moves" but added, "Harry could do with some work."

At Monwabisi Beach with @WavesforChange. Harry and Meghan take part in a team building exercise with the charity's surf mentors and staff. pic.twitter.com/NENA1ZBMDY

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 24, 2019

Harry and Meghan both dressed casually for the beach event, with Meghan even wearing a denim jacket. She paired the jacket with what appears to be the white button-down Misha Nonoo shirt from her Smart Set capsule collection, black pants and woven leather flats.

PHOTO: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, visit Waves for Change, an NGO, at Monwabisi Beach on Sept. 24, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Chris Jackson/Pool via Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, visit Waves for Change, an NGO, at Monwabisi Beach on Sept. 24, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. Waves for Change supports local surf mentors to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in under resourced communities.

Talking about mental health remains a top priority for Meghan and Harry, who launched the Heads Together mental health initiative in 2016 with Prince William and Kate.

(MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan dance and greet kids as they kick off South Africa tour)
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Meghan told a reporter on the tour that the most important thing is to get people to talk about mental health.

“This Africa tour was always going to be fantastic,” Harry shares of their first two days in Cape Town. “I love this place. And meeting the people, the energy, the fun, again the positivity, the optimism and the hope in the face of such incredible adversity.” #SussexRoyalTour pic.twitter.com/kG5GAnLSrU

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 24, 2019

“You see that no matter where you are in the world, if you’re a small community or a township, if you’re in a big city, it’s that everyone is dealing with a different version of the same thing," said Meghan. "Globally I think there’s a bit of a consciousness crisis, and so the fact we’re able to be here together to see on the ground so much good work that’s being done, just because people are willing to talk to each other about it and someone’s willing to listen is huge."

“And that can apply to being here, certainly can apply to being in London, L.A. – doesn’t matter where you are we’re all sort of trying to power through and find some optimism," she said.

PHOTO: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, laughs with members of the NGO Waves for Change, during their African tour, on Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 24, 2019.
Mike Hutchings/Reuters
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, laughs with members of the NGO Waves for Change, during their African tour, on Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 24, 2019.

During their beach visit, Harry and Meghan also stopped by The Lunchbox Fund -- one of the charities the couple asked fans to donate to in lieu of baby gifts for Archie -- and joined the Commonwealth Litter Program to learn more about the impact of plastic waste on the ocean.

(MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan and baby Archie kick off Africa tour: 5 things to watch)

Harry later traveled solo to Seal Island with officers from the City of Cape Town Marine Unit (MPU), to learn about their role in combating illegal wildlife trade locally.

He and Meghan then reunited to visit Auwai Msoque, the oldest mosque in South Africa. Meghan changed into a long dress and wore a head scarf as she and Harry toured the mosque and met with local faith leaders.

After a quick lunch (and change into appropriate attire), Harry and Meghan arrive at the @AuwalMasjid Mosque... pic.twitter.com/o2nOKEV1iS

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 24, 2019

The couple's second to last stop for the day was to Cape Town's Bo-Kaap neighborhood to mark South Africa's Heritage Day. The duke and duchess received a noisy welcome at the festive event, arriving to the sound of a marching band.

PHOTO: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, take part in Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in the Bo Kaap district of Cape Town, South Africa, September 24, 2019.
Toby Melville/Reuters
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, take part in Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in the Bo Kaap district of Cape Town, South Africa, September 24, 2019.

The couple ended their day at the reception with young leaders at the residence of the British High Commissioner.