The Duchess of Sussex made a rare public appearance in Paris on Saturday night
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show(Image: Getty)
Meghan Markle caused a stir in Paris as she made an unexpected appearance at Fashion Week, marking her debut at the prestigious event. But the visit didn’t come without the usual background of familial strain for the ex-Royal.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, jetted solo from her Montecito, California home to back long-time pal and designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, who has recently taken the helm as Balenciaga’s new creative director.
A spokesperson for Meghan confirmed: “The 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,” reports the Mirror.
The statement continued: “Over the years, the duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo. They have worked closely together, collaborating on 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.”
The Duchess later shared glimpses of her Paris trip on Instagram(Image: Getty)
Meghan rocked up to the show sporting an effortlessly stylish white outfit, teaming wide-leg trousers with a tailored blazer from Balenciaga’s newest range.
The Duchess subsequently posted snaps of her Parisian adventure on Instagram, flaunting her fashionable comeback to the style circuit.
Whilst this marked her first appearance at Paris Fashion Week, Meghan had previously graced similar occasions in New York and Toronto whilst starring in Suits. Her bond with Pierpaolo Piccioli stretches back to his tenure at Valentino, where she notably donned numerous of his designs for major public appearances.
In April 2022, she launched the Invictus Games wearing a sharp white Valentino suit, paired with Aquazzura heels and a coordinating Valentino handbag. She also caught attention in a striking red Valentino dress during her and Prince Harry’s official visit to Morocco in 2019.
The Duchess’s stylish appearance follows fresh focus on her strained family ties. Just days before, news emerged that her father, Thomas Markle, had become trapped in his 19th-floor flat in the Philippines after a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck.
Meghan Markle does not speak to her 80-year-old father Thomas Markle Snr(Image: Instagram)
His daughter, Samantha Markle, posted online that their father was “stuck” and couldn’t move around, causing widespread worry.
Nevertheless, Thomas, 81, later calmed fears by stating: “Please don’t worry about me, everything is okay,” whilst expressing gratitude to “everyone” for their support.
Thomas has been residing in Cebu, Philippines, alongside his son, Thomas Jr. , since relocating there from Mexico earlier this year.
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The duo are understood to have moved into a leased tower block flat close to the city’s busy main thoroughfare.
It comes after Prince Harry and King Charles’s face-to-face reunion also became embroiled in fresh controversy amid allegations of Royal briefings and undermining tactics.
Following reports that details of the meeting were supposedly leaked by someone with insider access, Harry’s representatives released a statement implying it was the handiwork of “sources intent on sabotaging” the reunion.