Meghan Markle’s unexpected appearance at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 4 not only surprised the paparazzi, but it also shocked the royal family.
The Duchess of Sussex was last spotted in Europe in 2023 for the Düsseldorf Invictus Games with Prince Harry, so the palace hasn’t had to worry about Meghan headlines in a while. But if she begins to make more frequent stops in Europe, the royal family might start to sweat, according to the Daily Beast.
More from SheKnows
“If they really plan to spend more time here, it changes everything. It puts them back in the frame, and that’s not what anyone expected,” a palace insider told the media outlet.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 04, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Balenciaga)
With the way things are playing out, the Sussexes might make Europe their playground once again. Harry is slowly trying to reconcile with King Charles III, and their recent meeting seemed to thaw some of the icy relations between them. In September, The Telegraph reported that the Duke of Sussex “would love to come back to the UK more,” but not in an official royal role.
“…[His plans are] driven by the causes that he supports – if they say, ‘We’d really like you to come over, we’re doing this thing’, he will try to make it work. It’s driven by the requests. He would love to do as much as possible,” a source explained.
Meghan and Harry also purchased a home in Portugal in October 2024, in the same upscale neighborhood, CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, where Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, reside. The residence is still being built, but the $4.6 million real estate investment is a clear indication that the Sussexes have an interest in Europe.
The Duchess of Sussex’s appearance in Paris feels like a test launch for her and Harry’s future projects. “Over the years, the Duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo [Piccioli, who was just named creative director for Balenciaga]. They have worked closely together, collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage,” her spokesperson told People while noting that as friends, Meghan was there to support him.
But the Daily Beast is noting that her warm welcome back to the European high society scene was “soft power reclaimed.” The royal family doesn’t love it when the focus is taken away from them, especially when it comes to Harry and Meghan. But they may need to realize the world is big enough for all of them to thrive in the public eye.
Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best post-royal fashion moments below!
Meghan Markle
Best of SheKnows
Sign up for SheKnows’ Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.