Meghan Markle invited herself to Paris Fashion Week, Balenciaga designer reveals

PARIS, FRANCE: Meghan Markle’s headline-making Paris Fashion Week debut wasn’t quite as spontaneous as it seemed. Speaking to The Cut, Balenciaga’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli revealed that the Duchess of Sussex personally reached out to attend the show, rather than being invited.

Balenciaga designer says Meghan Markle requested to attend Paris Fashion Week

The revelation came days after Meghan described the Paris trip as “the culmination of many years of friendship” with the designer. However, Piccioli’s account suggested a more casual relationship. “Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since,” he said. “She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show.”

Piccioli added that her appearance wasn’t preplanned or strategic. “There was no strategy or big orchestration,” he explained, calling her arrival a “beautiful surprise.” He said he kept her attendance a secret even from his own team to preserve the moment’s impact. “In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”

Meghan Markle’s look wows fans but sparks mixed reactions online

The Duchess of Sussex’s unexpected 10,000-mile trip to Paris dominated headlines last week. She made her front-row debut at Balenciaga’s runway show, seated alongside close friend Marcus Anderson, Soho House’s creative director. Meghan stunned in a white oversized button-through outfit with an incorporated cape, pairing it with Balenciaga’s £745 ($993 USD) ‘Knife’ heels.

Her elegant look earned praise, but her strut as she exited the show sparked playful comparisons to Zoolander, the fictional supermodel made famous by Ben Stiller. 

“Meghan Markle trying to give Zoolander a run for his supermodel walk,” one critic quipped.

The Duchess’s Paris trip wasn’t without awkward moments. A viral video showed Meghan appearing to laugh after a model stumbled on the runway, a moment that left royal watchers divided.

Others pointed out a brief exchange where she tried speaking to British actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who appeared to turn away. A spokesperson for Meghan later clarified that she was not laughing at the model, but sharing a private moment with a friend.

Meghan Markle faces backlash for Paris video linked to Princess Diana’s final route

Adding to the controversy, Meghan was criticized for an Instagram clip showing her resting her feet on the leather seat of her minivan after the show. Commentators called it “disrespectful,” especially as the route she filmed reportedly paralleled the one taken by Princess Diana on the night of her tragic 1997 car crash. 

Despite the backlash, Meghan later posted a polished “highlights” video from her Paris trip, showcasing scenic drives past the Arc de Triomphe, glimpses of the Eiffel Tower, and candid moments with makeup artist Daniel Martin. The clip notably omitted the controversial car footage.

The Duchess of Sussex ended her video with the French song 'Minuit' by Clementine and Oscar Anton, closing out a trip that, by the designer’s own account, she made happen herself.

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