Meghan Markle is grabbing headlines with her each and every move at the moment – but that hasn’t stopped the internet from revisiting her past appearances too!
A resurfaced video of the Duchess of Sussex at the 2018 British Fashion Awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall is once again making the rounds online, sparking backlash over what some critics have called “awkward” behavior and a disregard for royal protocol. Keep reading for more details…
Meghan Markle Presented Clare Waight Keller With The ‘British Designer of the Year’ Award In 2018
The former Suits actress was pregnant with Prince Archie at the time, and appeared at the event to present Clare Waight Keller – the then-artistic director of Givenchy – with the coveted ‘British Designer of the Year’ womenswear award. Waight Keller famously designed Meghan’s dress for the royal wedding earlier that same year, so Meghan’s appearance at the event did sort of make sense.
However, it wasn’t Meghan’s attendance that puzzled social media, it was her on-stage behavior during the moment she stood alongside actress Rosamund Pike, who introduced her, and designer Clare Waight Keller. It’s believed that Pike was due to present Waight Keller with the award, but Meghan made an unexpected appearance which then changed how things played out on stage.
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
Many social media users commented on Meghan's "awkward" behavior, and criticized the way she carried herself during the presentation.
According to one Reddit user, the With Love, Meghan star made a "surprise appearance" at the fashion awards. The Reddit user added: "Note this was a surprise. I can't find the bit I read, but apparently she suddenly appeared on the stage and stood there in everyone's way clutching her bump. She just stood there as someone else was talking until it was time for her to give the award – extremely strange behavior."
Reddit Users Criticize Meghan Markle's On-Stage Behavior
"Is this the one where Rosamund Pike was present? And Meghan was standing there awkwardly expecting to make a speech? And the press went nuts over black nails?" asked one Reddit user, in reference to Meghan's black nail polish. This goes against royal protocol, as the late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly made it very clear that working royals should only wear very pale, natural polish colors. Fun fact: the late Queen's go-to shade was Essie's 'Ballet Slippers.'
"So did she really crash the event and take over from Rosamund Pike?" asked a second, as a third said: "She kinda made things very awkward standing there, waiting for a mic to give a speech no one asked for. Was a weird vibe." "When is she not a whole weird vibe?" asked a fourth, adding: "It's the whole Meghan brand."
A fifth added: "She was widely criticized for it. Like so many of MM's blatantly calculated moves, it fell flat and backfired on her. Such a contrast to Catherine, who simply is, without (obvious) thought as to how everything she does will appear in the press. No playing angles, no deliberate expressions for the cameras, no self-serving phoniness at all."
A sixth replied: "'Catherine who simply is.' You've summed it so well. That's exactly who she is. The opposite of megamaniac. When can we see her disappear? Will she ever?"
Speculation around Meghan's motives was also a common theme on social media. "I think she really just wanted to show off her bump and likely asked to be invited or invited herself," speculated another Redditor, adding: "When do royals attend fashion events? There were some backstage pictures taken and posted on social media that the palace asked to take down." Another Reddit user chimed in: "She was jealous of Catherine attending the BAFTAs looking like an angel."
