Meghan Markle was recently roasted on “Saturday Night Live,” sparking renewed debate over her standing in US entertainment and fashion circles.
Now, royal commentators have suggested the duchess’s absence from the Met Gala reflects strained relationships with key industry figures and a possible decline in influence.
While speculation continues, Meghan Markle remains active in fashion and public life, including appearances at Paris Fashion Week and recent family-related events.
“Saturday Night Live” recently made jokes about Meghan, and some royal commentators have used it as evidence that she is losing influence in the US.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted her absence from the Met Gala, describing it as noticeable and suggesting it reflected strained relationships with key figures in fashion and entertainment, including Anna Wintour, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and members of the Kardashian circle.
According to the Daily Mail, he claimed the Duchess of Sussex has a “disastrous habit of falling out with Hollywood’s top power brokers.”
Phil Dampier also weighed in, saying public interest in Harry and Meghan in the US seems to be fading. He suggested that the way they are being discussed and seemingly mocked in mainstream and entertainment media shows a shift in how they are viewed.
Over the weekend, “SNL” aired a sketch that included harsh jokes about Meghan, even referring to her as a “terrorist” in a fake news-style segment involving Harry and King Charles. The sketch sparked mixed reactions online.
Meghan Markle’s Met Gala Absence And Ongoing Public And Fashion Appearances
Meghan’s absence from the Met Gala in New York added to the conversation. The event was co-chaired and sponsored this year by figures linked to people she has been rumored to have tensions with, which fueled more speculation about possible fallout.
There have also been unverified reports from unnamed sources suggesting friction between Meghan and some Hollywood and business figures she has worked with, including streaming and fashion partners. These claims have not been confirmed publicly.
Despite the criticism, Meghan has continued to appear at high-profile events. She was at Paris Fashion Week last year and has also been involved in fashion-related projects and investments.
Separately, she recently traveled within the US to attend a First Communion service for her godson in Chicago. She was seen at Holy Name Cathedral during the ceremony.
A photo taken at the event briefly appeared online before being deleted, which sparked comparisons with past situations where images involving the Sussexes were also removed from social media.
Reports Link The Duchess’s Met Gala Absence To Fashion Industry Strains
On the Met Gala specifically, reports suggest Meghan and Prince Harry were not on this year’s guest list amid claims of strained relationships within the fashion industry.
According to the Daily Mail, some insiders believe there has been long-standing tension between Meghan and Wintour, the influential Vogue editor and Met Gala organizer.
One claim is that things shifted after Meghan chose to work with Edward Enninful at British Vogue in 2019 instead of appearing on American Vogue under Wintour.
She later guest-edited a British Vogue issue, which was seen as a major fashion moment for her.
“Meghan pledged her allegiance to Enninful, which p-ssed off Anna,” an insider alleged, adding: “Anna hates her. Meghan doesn’t want to pay and never returns things. Also, Anna loves the Royal Family. She is a Dame. Anna would have hated how they [the Sussexes] handled their exit from The Firm.”
Meghan Markle’s Continued Presence In High-Fashion Circles And The Cost Behind It
At the same time, Meghan has continued to engage with the fashion world. Her surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week in 2025 drew attention across the industry.
At the time, the duchess’s spokesperson shared that the fashion event was thanks to “the culmination of many years of…friendship” with
However, while addressing Meghan’s surprise appearance, Balenciaga’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, revealed that the royal asked him if she could attend the show,
“Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since. She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show,” Piccioli stated, emphasizing that “no strategy or big orchestration” was involved in her appearance.
“I didn’t tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise,” he added about Meghan. “In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”
Meghan Markle’s Continued Presence In High-Fashion Circles And The Cost Behind It
Fashion insiders note that Meghan’s attending major runway shows often involves high behind-the-scenes costs, including travel, accommodation, styling, and security.
Stylist Phillip Bloch, in a chat with NewsNation, estimated that for high-profile guests like Meghan, these expenses can easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on arrangements and security needs.
As he put it: “I would imagine everything was paid for — travel, hotel, clothing, cars, and of course security in Madame’s case, because we know it’s such a big issue with her.”
