Prince Harry is reportedly feeling “hurt and upset” following the criticism his wife, Meghan Markle, faced after sharing a video from her recent trip to Paris. During her visit to Paris Fashion Week earlier this month, the Duchess of Sussex posted a video on Instagram showing herself riding in a car through the city with her feet up. The footage, which was intended to show a light-hearted moment, quickly drew criticism from some observers who felt it was insensitive, as it was filmed near the Pont d’Alma tunnel, the site where Princess Diana tragically died in 1997.
Critics quickly pointed out the proximity to the location of Diana’s death, accusing Meghan of being thoughtless. However, friends of the couple told The Daily Mail that it was a “hell of a stretch” to suggest Meghan intentionally drove near the tunnel. Sources revealed that Prince Harry was frustrated by the backlash, with one insider stating that it was “used as a stick to beat his wife with.” The source emphasized that Meghan did not even pass close to the tunnel and called the criticism “a joke,” though one that wasn’t funny for Harry. “He was left feeling hurt, but the depressing thing is he wasn’t even that surprised. He was more despondent than shocked,” the source added.
A separate source close to the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE that Prince Harry would always stand by his wife and family in the face of what he perceives as “unkind, negative, and agenda-driven media narratives.” Harry has long been vocal about protecting his loved ones from unfair media scrutiny, and this incident was no different.
Meghan, 44, had made her debut at Paris Fashion Week on October 4, attending the Balenciaga show to support the brand’s newly appointed creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. She has been a longtime fan of Paris, a city she once described in her former blog, The Tig, as “romanticized in our minds from cinematic shots of the Eiffel Tower to long walks on the River Seine.” Her love for the city, its food, and its culture is well-known, and her visit to the Balenciaga show seemed to reflect her admiration for Parisian fashion and lifestyle.
In contrast, Prince Harry, 41, had shared a deeply personal memory in his memoir Spare of driving through the Pont d’Alma tunnel himself during the 2007 Rugby World Cup semifinal in Paris. He recalled the emotional weight of the experience, which he had hoped would provide him with closure regarding his mother’s death, only for it to intensify his grief. “That was the night all doubt fell away. She’s dead, I thought. My God, she’s really gone for good,” Harry wrote.
Although Meghan never had the chance to meet Princess Diana, Harry has often spoken about the striking similarities between his late mother and his wife. During an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show in April, Meghan was moved when the host recalled Harry’s sentiments about how much Meghan embodies the compassion, empathy, and warmth that Diana once radiated. “It’s beautiful,” Meghan said, adding that she wished she could have met her mother-in-law.
This recent controversy serves as another chapter in the ongoing media scrutiny that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to face. Despite the criticism, Harry and Meghan’s bond appears as strong as ever, with the couple standing by each other amid the ongoing challenges.
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