Meghan Markle is under fire after sharing an Instagram Story video showing her riding in a limousine with her feet up, seemingly near the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris — the site where Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in 1997.
The clip, posted during her appearance at Paris Fashion Week (at the Balenciaga show), shows the Duchess of Sussex lounging inside the limo while the car drives past bridges like Pont Alexandre III and Pont des Invalides. The video sparked outrage when many viewers pointed out how close the route is to Pont de l’Alma, where Diana’s fatal accident occurred.
Royal commentators and social media users were quick to criticize the post. Richard Fitzwilliams, a British royal expert, called the gesture “insensitive beyond belief,” saying he couldn’t understand what Meghan was thinking. Some people believe there was no ill intent, but most agree that the choice to film this scene was a major misstep.
For many, the location carries deep emotional weight. Princess Diana’s death has been a trauma point for the royal family, especially Prince Harry. Critics say that even if Markle didn’t intend any disrespect, the optics are bad — when you consider what that tunnel means to so many people.
On the flip side, some defenders argue the video was harmless. They say Meghan was just traveling, showing off parts of her trip, or possibly not aware of how close she was to the crash site. But these defenses haven’t calmed most of the backlash.
So far, Meghan hasn’t released a statement addressing the criticism. It remains to be seen whether her team will clarify the intention, or if this ends up being another rumor-fueled debate in royal and celeb news circles. Either way, the video has thrust her into one of the more controversial moments of her recent public appearances.
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