Another week, another rollercoaster of drama to navigate for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
This time, the couple’s appearance at an August 7 gala in Canada celebrating the 40th anniversary of the David Foster Foundation, resulted in a “hurtful lie” being exposed.
Meghan in particular came under scrutiny as she posed for photos in a black off-the-shoulder gown, as onlookers suggested she had been “snubbed” by the gala host and her friend, producer David Foster himself.
Footage – shared online under the caption, “A brief red carpet exchange between a music legend and Meghan Markle has sent the internet into overdrive”, appeared to show Meghan reaching out her hand, only to have Foster walk straight past her without recognition.
The comments section was quickly awash with claims Foster had “ghosted” his friend.
Foster, 76, was quick to respond to the furore with some candid words.
“As the host of the David Foster and Friends foundation event, I had already greeted our friends, the Duke and Duchess, at the entrance 10 minutes before the red carpet encounter,” Foster told People.
“They both, graciously and selflessly, gave their time and went beyond to engage with everyone. Harry and Meghan are dear friends of mine. Anyone watching can see there was no awkward moment and certainly no snub.
“It’s sad that certain media chose to deceive a red carpet encounter for clickbait. They turned simple ‘positioning’ to get the best photo into a hurtful lie.”
The conversation was quickly snuffed out, just days after a suggestion by celebrity cook Martha Stewart that Meghan had been discussing her recent royal reunion at a dinner party was also shot down as “simply untrue”.
Now, insiders tell Woman’s Day there may be one very simple reason for Team Sussex wishing to put the record straight on certain matters, post their royal reunion with King Charles.
There are suggestions the King is getting flack for his renewed closeness with his errant son and is now backing off a little on a further cementing of relations.
“[Charles] wants this relationship, but he wants to rebuild it at a pace that’s comfortable for him,” the source tells Woman’s Day.
“The problem is, it’s becoming pretty obvious that the Sussexes are in much more of a hurry to keep building on things. Harry wants to see his dad as often as physically possible.
“He’s already talking about Christmas, and there’s all this discussion about wanting Charles to join him at Invictus in 2027.”
The insider claims Prince Harry “keeps pushing”, as does his wife.
“They want to make up for lost time, and Charles appreciates that, but as far as he’s concerned, it needs to be baby steps,” the source goes on.
“Charles is just trying to take things as they come and keep the relationship on a more casual footing.”
It’s understood the King underestimated just how much his reunion with Harry would upset his heir, Prince William.
“He’s glad to be rebuilding a relationship with Harry, but there’s no doubt it’s an enormous undertaking,” the source says.
“The backlash he’s having to contend with is very challenging, and Harry isn’t necessarily helping matters by being really quite overzealous at times.”
