Meghan Markle faces new scrutiny for $1,700 dress

Meghan Markle faces new speculation after a 2022 Variety The dress reappeared in a new promo, prompting claims she kept the $1,695 dress without permission.

Some insiders blame so-called royal rule for “archiving,” while others insist no such protocol exists. His spokesperson also denied all allegations, saying that all the preserved items respected the agreements.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has showcased comfy Gap loungewear and polished vacation outfits in recent videos for her As Ever brand and Netflix series.

Insiders are abuzz after claims surface that Meghan may have left a 2022 Variety cover photo shoot with a $1,695 emerald Galvan dress, a decision some attribute to the royal “archives,” while others say it was never part of the plan.

Speculation reignited this weekend when fans spotted the same green one-shoulder dress in the trailer for her upcoming holiday special, “With Love, Meghan Holiday Celebration.”

Its reappearance immediately fueled rumors that the dress had never made it back to the shoot’s wardrobe team.

A fashion insider said Page six that Meghan “took the dress from the shoot without asking”, a claim echoed by a second source who confirmed that the duchess ultimately kept the dress.

Another source completely dismissed the uproar, insisting it was likely a “misunderstanding.”

According to this source, Meghan was supposed, as a member of the royal family, to “archive all her looks. We knew that when the items were removed, they could not be returned.”

Other industry professionals have categorically denied the existence of such “royal rule.” “It’s a lie!” another source insisted, arguing that none of the people involved were ever informed of any protocol requiring archiving of the material.

This isn’t the first time Meghan has worn items from major shoots again. She stepped out in New York with Prince Harry last October, wearing a strapless black and white Chanel midi dress for which she had previously modeled. The cut in 2022.

As for the “green dress,” one fashion insider says no one is panicking, but admits the situation is strange. “It’s a strange thing to do without asking, since I doubt they would have said no.”

They added that celebrities keeping items from editorial shoots isn’t uncommon, but usually it’s done honestly: “They would normally be offered a discount if it’s something the designer can’t part with or a sample that needs to be returned.”

Conversation surrounding the dress dates back to journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis, who claimed on the “Heretics” podcast in 2024 that Meghan took “a lot of stuff” after “wearing it in a high-profile photoshoot.”

Grigoriadis wondered why someone living in a multimillion-dollar Montecito estate, with lucrative business deals under her belt, would “care enough to take home jewelry and clothes from a photo shoot that she can clearly afford.”

As the story gained traction again, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex categorically rejected the allegations, calling the suggestions “categorically false.”

According to AND! Newsthe spokesperson stressed that all items kept by Meghan were done “with full transparency” and “in accordance with contractual arrangements”.

Meanwhile, in a new weekend video for her lifestyle brand As Ever, Meghan highlighted a mix of comfort and elegance, giving her followers a glimpse of her relaxed at-home aesthetic.

The Duchess wore a chic ensemble from Gap: a cream cable knit sweater paired with matching wide, casual pants in the same warm tone.

The sweater features a ribbed crew neckline and loose, easy sleeves that she casually rolled up to her elbows to make it easier for her to prepare breakfast.