The Duchess of Sussex defends her extravagant celebration in New York, calling out negative media coverage.

Meghan Markle has addressed the backlash over her 2019 baby shower, defending the celebration and criticising the media for its negative portrayal. The Duchess of Sussex, who was expecting her son Archie at the time, attended a lavish surprise baby shower in New York City in February 2019. The event, held at The Mark Hotel, was organised by her close friends and attended by high-profile guests, including Gayle King, Serena Williams, and Amal Clooney.

Despite the joyous occasion, the party was met with harsh criticism, with the media labelling it as “ostentatious” and speculating that the cost of the event was between $300,000 and $500,000. Meghan addressed the controversy in the fourth episode of her and Prince Harry’s Netflix docuseries, recalling how her friends had simply wanted to shower her with love and support.

Reflecting on the negative media reaction, Meghan shared her frustration, emphasising that the party had been entirely funded by her friends, not taxpayer money. “It was so wrong,” she said, expressing disbelief over the criticism aimed at the event. “Why are you taking such a beautiful moment and trying to ruin it?” she added, questioning why her friends’ gesture of love had been turned into something negative.

The episode also included unseen photos from the shower, showing Meghan smiling in a polka dot dress surrounded by her friends. Serena Williams, who attended the event, recalled the challenges of trying to have an intimate experience amidst the intense global attention surrounding the duchess. “There was no intimate moment that one could have,” Williams admitted, reflecting on the pressure Meghan faced.

Additionally, Meghan opened up about her mental health struggles and the sense of being trapped in a “bubble” where “everything was controlled,” shedding light on the emotional toll of public scrutiny.