Meghan Markle’s video of the crash site where Princess Diana died has likely further deepened the rift between the Windsors and the Sussexes, according to a royal expert
Meghan Markle’s now infamous Paris video – filmed near the Pont de l’Alma tunnel where Princess Diana died – created an online storm of criticism and has potentially further deepened the divide between Prince Harry and Prince William, as OK! reports. Meghan, 44, was in Paris earlier this month to attend the Balenciaga fashion show in support of her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli, the fashion house’s new creative director.
After a day of fashion events, the Duchess of Sussex posted a short video clip to her Instagram stories showing the Pont de l’Alma bridge, which leads to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, the site of the crash that killed Diana, taken from the back of her private car. The video also included a shot of her stiletto-clad feet on the seat of the car, and led to accusations that that she was “insensitive”.
Speaking to OK! about the subsequent furore, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says he suspects Harry’s big brother William will have taken a very dim of the clip too, regarding it “as an ill-judged and self-centered mistake”.
He added that while Meghan simply made “a very bad mistake” and didn’t intend to offend or hurt, she cannot afford to make such mistakes with the profile – and husband – she has.
On how Harry might have reacted, Richard said: “I suspect Harry will be horrified and extremely angry, because the video links to the most traumatic period of his life. He would be aghast, because even though it wasn’t intentional, it was a very bad mistake.
“Meghan simply cannot afford to behave like that, because of who she is and the fact she has made herself into a brand.”
He also said that given the sensitive subject matter – the crash that killed Diana, her partner Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul in August 1997 – Harry is unlikely to be able to protect Meghan publicly from the backlash.
“He is unable to shield Meghan from the repercussions of her mistake, it cannot be undone,” he said. “If the average person filmed a video like that, it wouldn’t matter. But every single thing Meghan does is scrutinised, by friend or foe.”
The video backlash followed what had been a tricky few weeks for Harry, following his first face-to-face meeting with his father, King Charles, in 19 months.
The pair met at Clarence House for just under an hour on 10 September, but Harry’s office later accused “sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son” of leaking details about what happened between the pair behind closed doors.
has become the latest event to overshadow any positive talk of a royal family reconciliation. Meghan, 44, videoed her view of the city from the backseat of her car shortly after attending the Balenciaga fashion show on Saturday 4 October.
