Princess of Wales wears fashion label that caused ‘tensions’ with Meghan Markle
The Princess of Wales appears to send a message amid tensions with Meghan Markle as senior royals reportedly make a pact over the Sussexes.
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The long-running feud between the Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle has intensified, all because of a $5500 outfit.
The Princess of Wales raised eyebrows at the recent Commonwealth Day service by choosing to wear a jacket and matching skirt by British designer Erdem, a label that has long been the source of tensions between the warring pair.
According to reports, Catherine and Ms Markle previously clashed several times over the British fashion label when the Princess - as a more senior royal - was given “first dibs” to the designer’s creations over Ms Markle.
The pair’s already volatile relationship - which was detailed by Prince Harry in Spare - turned even rockier when Erdem is said to have continually prioritised the Princess of Wales over the Duchess of Sussex and gave her exclusive access to new creations.
As a long-running customer of the brand who wore the label long before she met Prince Harry, this did not go down well with a furious Ms Markle, who reportedly assumed she would get special treatment from the designer and felt she was being shunted down the royal pecking order.
Known for using fashion as a form of communication, Princess Catherine’s decision to choose the Commonwealth Day service for the wearing of her latest Erdem outfit is being viewed by royal watchers as a major dig at her California-based sister-in-law.
Fashion observers have pointed to the fact that Ms Markle first wore Erdem as a member of the royal family at a 2019 event also marking Commonwealth Day, when she and Prince Harry visited Canada House in London.
Ms Markle, then pregnant with son Archie, donned a custom-made green Erdem coat and empire waist dress for her pre-Megxit appearance.
The British label, which is based in East London and has a flagship store in ritzy Mayfair, was founded by designer Erdem Moralıoglu.
The son of a Turkish father and a British mother, the high-end designer was born and raised in Montreal before moving to London in 2000 to study fashion.
His elegant designs are a hit with other royals including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh.
ROYAL FAMILY’S PLAN TO DEAL WITH MEGHAN AND HARRY
Senior members of the royals are praying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will turn down their invitations to the coronation and have made a secret pact to shun them if they come.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told News Corp Australia working royals including Zara Tindall have vowed to “talk to them about the weather” for fear their conversations will feature in the next instalment of an autobiography or Netflix docuseries.
“Not everyone wants them there, in fact most of the royal family are hoping they won’t come and have discussed talking to them only about the weather if they do attend the coronation,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“No one trusts them … Harry and Meghan have attacked the royal family so much that everyone’s too scared to mention anything for fear they will end up in Harry’s next book or Netflix series.
“The royals will be keeping their distances, that’s for sure,” he said.
A royal insider added: ”Zara (Tindall) was nervous she was going to be in Harry’s book Spare – she likes Harry but she’ll be giving him a wide berth at the coronation.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed they have received “email correspondence” from King Charles III’s office inviting them to England for the coronation on 6 May.
The King has offered Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle a room at Buckingham Palace whenever they visit England amid talks they can stay at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor for which the lease expires at the end of March but they have been allowed to keep it going for a few months.
The Sussexes who live in California after shirking their responsibilities as working royals have not disclosed their decision to attend.
The Sussexes’ children Prince Archie of Sussex, who turns four on May 6, and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, 21 months, are considered by palace officials too young to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. It is possible the couple will choose to spend the day with their son.
The balcony line up for the palace balcony will include only working royals alongside the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen. Their attendance at the coronation will be strictly limited to ensure they do not upstage the king.
Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have lost popularity on both sides of the Atlantic following the publication of his memoirs Spare.
Earlier this year, Prince Harry released his memoirs Spare unveiling a litany of grievances against his family.
In a television interview with ITV presenter Tom Bradby to promote his book, the Duke refused to confirm whether he would attend the Coronation.
There are now rumours of peace talks between the princes and their father which could open the door for the Sussexes to attend the coronation.
Prince Harry has since demanded an apology from his family for how they treated his wife, writing in his memoir that they “stereotyped” her for being an American actress.
Last week, Prince Harry appeared in a televised interview with celebrated trauma therapist Gabor Mate in which he said he was different from his family and had “learned a new language of therapy” that they did not understand.
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