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
Jennifer Newton Deputy Royal Editor and Mitya Underwood
11:40, 11 Oct 2025
Meghan Markle is seen during the Womenswear Spring Summer 2026 as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 5, 2025 in Paris, France.(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 footage of the city from her car’s rear seat following her attendance at the Balenciaga fashion show on Saturday October 4.
Her recording featured the Pont de l’Alma bridge, which connects to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel where the fatal collision occurred that claimed the lives of Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul in August 1997.
The footage, concluding with an unfocused image of Meghan’s high-heeled shoes positioned on the vehicle’s seat, gained significant traction across social media platforms after being published, with numerous critics condemning the former Suits star as “insensitive”.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England.(Image: Getty Images)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams suggests that whilst Meghan merely committed an honest error, the clip and ensuing controversy are unlikely to have been well-received within Royal circles, reports the Mirror.
“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 solo jaunt to Paris marked her first European trip in two years, while Prince Harry stayed put in California with their children, six year old Prince Archie and four year old Princess Lilibet.
She was there to back her friend, the new creative director of Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli, and was snapped rubbing shoulders with Vogue legend Dame Anna Wintour and film director Baz Luhrmann.
However, it was the video she shared following the glamorous fashion show that sparked a flurry of online chatter. One individual commented on X, “I’m speechless. This doesn’t show love or respect for Harry. I feel for Prince William. This is beyond insensitive”.
Others labelled her post as “tasteless”, implying she had “disrespected” Diana’s memory.
The video also reportedly didn’t sit well with Harry’s family members. One source was widely quoted as saying Prince William, 43, was “livid beyond words”.
Richard, a former editor of The International Who’s Who, concurs that the elder Royal brother wouldn’t have been chuffed with the clip, telling us he suspects William “would regard it as an ill-judged and self-centred mistake”.
He further suggests that the fallout could place Harry in a tricky spot when it comes to publicly backing his wife.
“He is unable to shield Meghan from the repercussions of her mistake, it cannot be undone,” he stated. “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 journey undoubtedly elevated her status in the fashion industry, particularly after images of her donning striking pieces from Balenciaga’s latest collection graced the front pages of global newspapers.
Jennie Bond, the BBC’s ex-royal correspondent, believes Meghan’s attendance at Paris Fashion Week is a clear indication of her 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 shared with 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.”
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Jennie also concurred that upsetting Harry 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, having an in-person meeting last month, the road to repairing their relationship has been anything but smooth since then.
After their private tea at Clarence House on 10 September, Harry’s office accused “sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son” of leaking details about what transpired between the two.
While Meghan’s Parisian jaunt might have been hailed a triumph – in terms of media coverage – if not for the video, Richard suggests that the social media post is merely the latest in a string of gaffes that could further prolong the Royal family rift.
During Harry’s recent visit to Kyiv to champion his Invictus Games Foundation in Ukraine, the duke opened up about his current familial situation to a reporter.
Meghan Markle attends the Paris Fashion Week(Image: Getty)
Meghan’s ‘insensitive’ video as she posts clips with feet up in tunnel where Diana died(Image: meghan/Instagram)
In addition to expressing his desire to spend more time in the UK and for the spotlight to shift onto his father in the forthcoming years, he also touched on some of the personal revelations in his memoir Spare.
Harry refuted claims that he “aired his dirty laundry in public” and stated that he penned a “series of corrections to stories already out there”.
Despite possibly having good intentions, Richard believes his words likely caused more damage than benefit. “There was much chatter about his rendezvous with King Charles, followed by a few positive days with WellChild and his Ukrainian trip,” he elaborated.
“But then he shot himself in the foot, declaring he regretted nothing. It’s beyond comprehension. I can’t envisage another meeting between the King and Harry happening anytime soon.”
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