The Duchess of Sussex was accused of stealing a dress after a promotional photograph was released for her Netflix Christmas special – but she has hit back at the claims
Meghan Markle has come out fighting after being accused of stealing a dress from a 2022 Variety photoshoot.
Internet sleuths had alleged that the Duchess of Sussex, 44, had taken an emerald green Gavan Ushaia dress worth $1,724 (£1,292) from the promo after they spotted her wearing something very similar in a poster for her Netflix Christmas holiday special, With Love, Meghan.
But Meghan’s team has hit back at the allegations and have called the insinuation that the mother-of-two took any items without the knowledge of those on set “categorically false”. They have also denied any claim of “theft and dishonesty”.
It is sometimes common practice for high-profile figures to keep items from photoshoots to avoid potential resale or unauthorised auctions in the future.
Speaking up about the controversy, Markle’s official spokesperson Liam Maguire, director of communications in the UK and Europe for the Office of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said: “The insinuation that the Duchess of Sussex took any items from a photoshoot without the full knowledge and agreement of the on-set stylists or their respective teams is categorically false.
“Any items retained were done so transparently and in strict accordance with contractual arrangements.”
This spokesperson’s statement also described the whole incident as “highly defamatory” to the Duchess of Sussex.
He added that “any items kept were done so in total transparency and in accordance with contractual arrangements.”
Furthermore, they added that “individually and collectively, these statements assert that the Duchess committed theft or acted dishonestly”.
The statement added: “They are false, unsubstantiated, and have caused serious harm to her reputation.”
Meghan’s holiday celebration episode came out at the beginning of the month but was met with poor reviews with one reviewer saying it wasn’t “fun, enjoyable or even aspirational”.
Her relationship with her estrange father, Thomas Markle, has also come under the spotlight again after it emerged he had had his leg amputated in the Philippines and the Duchess had reached out to him with a letter.
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