Meghan Markle was accused of insensitivity by a British tabloid after filming a video from her car seat less than a mile from the tunnel where Princess Diana died.
The Duchess of Sussex posted footage from the back seat of a car showing her passing the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, seemingly heading in the direction of the Pont de l’Alma. Diana died in a car crash in 1997 in the underpass beneath the Alma bridge, though on the other side of the River Seine.
Critics on social media accused Meghan of insensitivity and the story featured on the front page of the Sussexes’ old tabloid nemesis, the Daily Mail.
A Sussex source told Newsweek Meghan did not know the underpass was nearby and pointed to the role the British tabloids played in Diana’s death, as the princess’ car was followed by paparazzi photographers: “The Daily Mail throwing out a line about insensitivity is a bit rich.
“They have chosen, at a complete stretch I might add, to draw the most tenuous, tenuous link between an Instagram post and the death of Harry’s mother. That for me is the insensitive bit.”
The source pointed out Harry is currently suing the Mail on allegations of historic phone hacking, with the trial due in January. The newspaper denies the allegations.
Why It Matters
Prince Harry and Meghan have spoken about Diana in the past, including in relation to Harry’s stated fear that history will repeat itself and that Meghan will meet a similar tragic fate fueled by press intrusion and harassment.
He has also said in more positive terms that he felt Meghan was walking in Diana’s footsteps through philanthropy. Perhaps as a result, Diana has become a key lens for both supporters and detractors.
What to Know
One clip of Meghan’s footage was viewed 542,000 times and liked 1,100 times after it was posted with the message: “Let’s drive by the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, just to trigger Aitch! Because that’s what I do! #PrinceHarry #MeghanMarkIe.”
The Daily Mail ran the online headline: “Meghan Markle savaged for ‘utterly bewildering’ Instagram video as she’s driven past Diana crash tunnel with feet on the seat… and royal expert suggests Harry could take a dim view.”
Meghan posted the footage to her Instagram stories on Saturday and it showed the Pont Alexandre III bridge filmed from the backseat of a car.
The camera then panned to, seemingly, show the black, stiletto Balenciaga shoes she had warn to the luxury brand’s show at Paris Fashion Week that evening.
“It’s a beautiful part of Paris, right by the River Seine,” the Sussex source told Newsweek. “The bridge is lit up, she’s driving through Paris, she’s taken a picture of the night time Parisian skyline and the Mail has chosen to try to turn this into some kind of Machiavellian message. That’s the insensitive part in all of this.”
What People Are Saying
Afua Hagan, a U.K. based royal commentator, told Newsweek: “Honest, this is just people wanting to find something wrong. It was just a really innocent, nice moment.
“She just took the video not really thinking about where she was or anticipating people wanting to find something negative with it. I don’t think there was anything mean or malicious about it. People are always going to find something wrong with what she is doing.”
At the Balenciaga show, Hagan said Meghan “looked absolutely incredible.”
Richard Fitzwilliams told celebrity.land.co.uk: “I don’t understand what on earth she was thinking—well, she can’t have been thinking… to share a video which had any connections with the tragic death of the Princess of Wales defies belief.”
Prince Harry described in his 2023 book Spare a 2007 trip to Paris when he drove through the actual underpass where Diana died: “I’d had plenty of bad ideas in my 23 years, but this one was uniquely ill-conceived. I’d told myself that I wanted closure, but I didn’t really.”
Harry had in his younger years believed Diana was not dead and was living in hiding somewhere to escape press intrusion: “Deep down, I’d hoped to feel what I’d felt when [his former aide Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton] gave me the police files—disbelief. Doubt. Instead, that was the night all doubt fell away. ‘She’s dead,’ I thought. ‘My God, she’s really gone for good’.”
Prior to the backlash over the video, a spokesperson for Meghan told Newsweek: “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attended the Balenciaga show in Paris on Saturday night in support of Pierpaolo Piccioli, who recently assumed the role of Creative Director for the House. This marks her first time back to the shows in over a decade.
“Over the years, the Duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo. They have worked closely together collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage. She has long admired his craftsmanship and modern elegance, and tonight was no different.
“This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga.”
What Happens Next
Harry is suing Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail, on historic allegations of phone hacking, wire tapping and other unlawful information gathering and the case appears to be heading for a high stakes trial in the New Year. The company strenuously denies his allegations.
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