The Duchess of Sussex reportedly ended her friendship with French fashion designer Roland Mouret after an incident involving a misunderstanding over borrowed clothing. According to Mouret’s upcoming memoir, a staff member from his fashion house mistakenly contacted Kensington Palace to arrange the return of loaned garments instead of reaching out to Meghan Markle’s personal team. Mouret writes that Meghan considered this mistake humiliating and felt publicly embarrassed, resulting in her decision to no longer wear his designs.
The designer recalls receiving a frustrated call from Meghan, who expressed her anger and made clear that she would not accept his apology or continue to wear his clothes. Mouret notes that this development occurred sometime after Meghan and Prince Harry’s relationship became public but before their official departure from royal duties in 2020. He also mentions that Meghan later wore what he described as an inexpensive copy of one of his outfits, which prompted him to text her that her reaction was "ridiculous." Mouret stresses that the decision to sever ties with his brand was hers alone and not influenced by the palace or others.
Mouret and Meghan had been close since meeting in 2015 during a holiday in Turkey, at a time when she was starring on the television series Suits. Their friendship began with an encounter in a hotel elevator and quickly developed into a close connection, with Meghan later informing Mouret of her relationship with Prince Harry before it was publicly known. Mouret was among the designers considered for Meghan’s wedding dress, although she ultimately chose Givenchy.
The memoir also touches on Mouret’s view of the Princess of Wales, who wore one of his dresses to the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final in July. He describes Kate Middleton as a figure who manages considerable responsibilities with apparent ease, suggesting she might prefer to lead a more private life if given the choice.
Separately, Netflix is undergoing a leadership change that may impact its relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Bela Bajaria, the company’s chief content officer and a key supporter of Harry and Meghan’s media ventures, will be replaced by former Disney executive Peter Rice as of October 26. Bajaria was instrumental in approving the Sussexes’ reported $100 million production deal with Netflix in 2020, which initially included a well-received documentary about their royal experiences. However, subsequent projects have not matched that level of success.
Industry sources indicate that Bajaria’s departure puts uncertainty around the couple’s future collaborations with Netflix. Meanwhile, Meghan’s Hollywood agent is reportedly exploring new opportunities for the duchess, including reality television deals and other small-screen projects. Talks to involve Meghan in Netflix’s crime series The Gentlemen, produced by Guy Ritchie, have not advanced. Representatives for the Duchess of Sussex did not respond to requests for comment.