Meghan Markle has been accused of being ‘grossly insensitive’ after sharing a video of Paris that was filmed near the spot where Princess Diana died – and it’s said to have ‘horrified’ Prince Harry.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle(Image: Getty Images)
The controversy surrounding the Duchess of Sussex’s Paris video – recorded close to where Princess Diana tragically lost her life – has emerged as the most recent incident to eclipse any hopeful discussions about a Royal family reunion, according to OK!
Meghan, 44, captured her perspective of the city from her car’s rear seat just after attending the Balenciaga fashion show on Saturday 4 October.
Her recording featured the Pont de l’Alma bridge, which connects to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel – the location of the fatal collision that claimed the lives of Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul in August 1997.
The footage, which concluded with an out-of-focus image of Meghan’s high-heeled shoes resting on the vehicle’s seat, gained widespread attention on social media platforms after being posted, with numerous critics condemning the former Suits star as “insensitive”.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams suggests that whilst Meghan simply made an honest error, the clip and ensuing backlash are unlikely to have been well-received within Royal circles, reports the Mirror.
Meghan Markle attends the Paris Fashion Week(Image: Getty)
“I suspect Harry will be horrified and extremely angry, because the video links to the most traumatic period of his life,” he revealed to OK!
“He would be aghast, because even though it wasn’t intentional, it was a very bad mistake.
“Meghan simply cannot afford to behave like that, because of who she is and the fact she has made herself into a brand. Her airily filming part of Paris, while it wasn’t intended to offend anybody and was clearly a mistake, was grossly insensitive, and these mistakes hold weight.”
Meghan’s lone journey to the French capital marked her first European venture in two years, whilst Prince Harry stayed behind in California with Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
She had travelled there to back her mate, Balenciaga’s fresh creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, and was snapped chatting with Vogue legend Dame Anna Wintour, alongside film-maker Baz Luhrmann.
However, it was the footage she shared following the glamorous fashion spectacle that dominated online chatter about her visit. One individual posted on X: “I’m speechless. This doesn’t show love or respect for Harry. I feel for Prince William. This is beyond insensitive”.
Others branded her upload “tasteless”, claiming she had “disrespected” Diana’s legacy.
The footage also allegedly didn’t go down well with Harry’s family members. One insider was extensively quoted as revealing Prince William, 43, was “livid beyond words”.
Richard, a former editor of The International Who’s Who, believes that the elder Royal brother wouldn’t have been pleased with the footage, telling us he reckons William “would regard it as an ill-judged and self-centered mistake”.
He suggests that the backlash might leave Harry in a tricky spot regarding publicly backing his spouse.
The video ended with a clip of Meghan’s stilettos on the car’s seat(Image: meghan/Instagram)
“He is unable to shield Meghan from the repercussions of her mistake, it cannot be undone,” he explained. “If the average person filmed a video like that, it wouldn’t matter. But every single thing Meghan does is scrutinised, by friend or foe.”
However, her trip undoubtedly elevated her standing in the fashion world, particularly after images of her sporting striking pieces from Balenciaga’s latest collection graced newspaper front pages globally.
Jennie Bond, the BBC’s former Royal correspondent, believes the Paris Fashion Week appearance clearly indicated Meghan’s future direction.
“You can see from the interest in her at the show, including a greeting from Anna Wintour, that the fashion world values Meghan,” she told OK!
. “And she is likely to become more interested in the fashion world with all the collaborations and commercial opportunities it can offer. And that’s fine. She’s a pretty woman and is now free to do as she pleases.”
Jennie also concurred that causing Harry distress with the video would have been “the last thing Meghan meant to do”, adding, “She could have thought about it harder, but, like so many people these days, it’s all about sharing your life instantly without considering the implications.”
Despite Harry and King Charles, 76, meeting face-to-face last month, the journey towards repairing their bond has remained turbulent.
(Image: Getty Images)
After their private meeting at Clarence House on 10 September, Harry’s representatives accused “sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son” of revealing details about what transpired between the pair. Meghan’s recent trip to Paris might have been hailed as a success in terms of media coverage, if not for the controversial video.
Richard suggests that this social media blunder is just the latest in a string of missteps that could further prolong the Royal family feud.
During Harry’s recent visit to Kyiv to promote his Invictus Games Foundation in Ukraine, he spoke candidly to a journalist about his current familial situation.
In addition to expressing his desire to spend more time in the UK and shift the focus onto his father in the coming years, he also addressed some personal revelations in his memoir, Spare.
Harry refuted claims that he “aired his dirty laundry in public”, stating that he merely penned a “series of corrections to stories already out there”.
Despite possibly having good intentions, Richard believes his words may have done more damage than good. “There was much chatter about his meeting with King Charles, followed by a few positive days with WellChild and his trip to Ukraine,” he elaborated.
“But then he shot himself in the foot, declaring he regretted nothing. It’s simply unbelievable. I can’t foresee another meeting between the King and Harry happening anytime soon.”