Meghan Markle Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over $1,700 Dress

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

Some insiders blame a supposed royal “archiving” rule, while others insist no such protocol exists. Her spokesperson has also denied all allegations, saying that any kept items followed agreements.

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

Insiders are buzzing after claims surfaced that Meghan may have left a 2022 Variety cover shoot with a $1,695 emerald Galvan gown, a move some are chalking up to royal “archiving,” while others say it was never part of the plan.

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

Its reappearance immediately fueled talk that the gown had never been returned to the shoot’s wardrobe team.

One fashion insider told 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 gown.

Another insider dismissed the uproar entirely, insisting it was likely “a misunderstanding.”

According to that source, Meghan had been expected, as a royal family member, “to archive all her looks. It was known that when things were pulled that they may not be returned.”

Other industry insiders flatly denied that such a “royal rule” ever existed. “It’s a fib!” another source insisted, arguing that no one involved was ever told of any protocol requiring items to be archived.

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

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

They added that celebrities keeping items from editorial shoots isn’t rare, but typically it’s done above board: “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.”

The conversation surrounding the gown can be traced back to journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis, who claimed on the “Heretics” podcast in 2024 that Meghan had taken “a lot of stuff” after she “wore it in a very high-profile photo shoot.”

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

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

According to E! News, the rep emphasized that any items Meghan kept were done “with full transparency” and in “accordance with contractual arrangements.”

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

The duchess wore a chic co-ord from Gap: a cream cable-knit sweater paired with relaxed, wide-leg matching 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 herself to prepare her breakfast.

She kept her accessories to a minimum, wearing her usual gold-and-diamond rings and a Cartier Love bracelet. A natural, rosy makeup look and a simple ponytail completed the look.

The video follows another recent clip shared on Instagram promoting the holiday episode of her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” where she highlighted the more polished side of her seasonal wardrobe.

In that reel, she cycled through crisp, festive looks, such as a classic white button-down tucked into a vivid red pencil skirt.

She also rocked a black knit paired with blue jeans and black boots, and the striking metallic-green gown with an asymmetrical halter neckline, which is the topic of debate plaguing the U.S.-based royal.