Meghan Markle accused of stealing $1,695 designer gown

The holiday season typically brings tidings of comfort and joy, but for Meghan Markle, it has arrived with an unexpected side of scandal. The Duchess of Sussex finds herself at the center of a peculiar controversy involving a designer dress she wore in promotional materials for her upcoming Netflix holiday special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.

What began as innocent marketing for a festive program has devolved into unfounded speculation about whether Meghan appropriated a $1,695 Galvan gown without permission—a claim her representatives have vehemently denied as categorically false and highly defamatory.

The Anatomy of a Baseless Scandal

The controversy erupted after viewers noticed that the champagne-colored Oscar de la Renta strapless gown Meghan wore in recent promotional footage was the same dress from her 2022 Variety photoshoot. The discovery sparked speculation across social media, with commentators drawing comparisons to actress Winona Ryder’s 2001 shoplifting conviction.

Page Six amplified the gossip, publishing claims from anonymous sources suggesting Meghan either retained the dress for a royal archive or took it without authorization. One insider insisted royal protocol requires all garments to be catalogued and preserved, while another dismissed the affair as manufactured drama. Meghan’s representatives swiftly refuted these allegations, calling them categorically false and highly defamatory, while confirming that standard industry protocols and contractual arrangements were followed.

Fashion Recycling and Celebrity Double Standards

This incident illuminates a persistent contradiction within celebrity culture. While sustainable fashion advocates encourage wearing garments multiple times to reduce environmental impact, high-profile women face criticism for doing precisely that. The backlash against Meghan for rewearing a designer piece reveals why many celebrities maintain extensive wardrobes and rarely appear in the same outfit twice—a practice contradicting contemporary sustainability values.

The dress controversy also reflects the heightened scrutiny Meghan has endured since her relationship with Prince Harry began in 2016. Every sartorial choice becomes fodder for analysis and criticism, representing the latest episode in a years-long pattern of intense media attention. Fashion choices, parenting decisions, family relationships, and professional endeavors all become subjects of debate and condemnation.

This incident serves as a microcosm of challenges faced by public figures in the digital age, where speculation rapidly evolves into accepted fact despite lacking evidence. The speed with which the dress rumor spread demonstrates how celebrity culture often prioritizes sensationalism over accuracy.

Inside the Meghan Holiday Special

Despite the manufactured controversy, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration promises genuine festive warmth when it premieres on Netflix December 3. The hour-long special invites viewers into the Sussexes’ Montecito residence for an intimate celebration featuring cooking demonstrations, home decoration, and holiday entertaining tips.

The program showcases Meghan’s passion for creating handmade gifts and cultivating cozy seasonal atmospheres. Aesthetically, the special evokes Pinterest-worthy holiday boards, with carefully composed shots of wreath-making, table settings, and culinary creations. The show features a tender moment between Meghan and Prince Harry, including a rare on-camera kiss offering audiences a glimpse into their private relationship. Industry observers have described it as a strategic soft launch into lifestyle programming, positioning the duchess as a domestic authority while maintaining accessibility.

Meghan’s Reflections on Marriage and Media Scrutiny

In a candid conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Meghan addressed how fame has shaped her relationship with Harry. She revealed that establishing firm boundaries has become essential since departing from official royal duties in 2020, noting that public figures must find different ways to protect themselves from constant scrutiny.

Meghan emphasized Harry’s protective nature and unwavering support, expressing that his love provides certainty he will always have her back. The duchess also reflected on the qualities that initially attracted her to the prince—his playfulness, spontaneity, and childlike sense of wonder. These characteristics, she noted, continue to enrich their partnership and family life with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

A Pattern of Manufactured Outrage

The dress controversy represents the latest episode in relentless media scrutiny directed at Meghan. This incident demonstrates how celebrity culture often prioritizes sensationalism over accuracy, where speculation can rapidly evolve into accepted fact despite lacking evidentiary support.

As the holiday season unfolds, Meghan’s special aims to transcend the noise and deliver authentic festive content. Whether audiences will focus on the programming itself or remain distracted by manufactured scandals remains to be seen. Regardless, the controversy has already secured substantial publicity for the Netflix special—perhaps proving that even negative attention serves its purpose in the attention economy.