24 February 2024 , 18:39
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Meghan Markle and Jessica Mulroney were once the best of pals, but their friendship turned sour just two years after the former Suits star tied the knot with Prince Harry.
The Canadian stylist was one of the most important people in Meghan’s life before she met Harry in 2016, and Jessica was such a trusted confidante that the Duchess of Sussex called her BFF just moments before Harry popped the question in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2017. Their close bond was on display during Harry and Meghan’s lavish wedding at St George's Chapel in Windsor in 2018, with Jessica’s three children - twin sons John and Brian, and daughter Isabel - served as pageboys and a bridesmaid in the ceremony.
Jessica was also on hand to celebrate Meghan’s baby shower in 2019, which caused controversy as it was held at the lavish Mark Hotel on New York City's Upper East Side, with guests including Amal Clooney and Gayle King, as well as Serena Williams, who reportedly footed the $200,000 bill for the party. The mother-of-three also joined Meghan and Harry on their royal tour of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Tonga, and was on hand to advise her close pal on stepping down from her and Harry’s roles as senior working members in the Royal Family.
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Jessica and Meghan were best friends for years (Instagram)However, her close friendship with the Duchess began crumbling in 2020, when Jessica was accused of “problematic” behaviour after her head-to-head with lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter. In an 11-minute video posted on Instagram, Sasha alleged Jessica had threatened her connections with brands and sponsors after the women sent each other messages regarding a misunderstanding over a Black Lives Matter post.
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“If you go to the press over this nonsense and threaten to go to your followers, I won’t be afraid to go to brands and tell them what you are doing to me,” Jessica said in a text message to Sasha, which promptly marked the beginning of her downfall. Despite issuing three public apologies, and releasing all of her text messages and emails to Sasha, she was dropped by Good Morning America and Canadian TV network CTV, where she hosted her wedding-themed reality TV show I Do Redo.
Meghan even called Jessica just moments before Harry proposed (WireImage)
Their friendship cooled when Jessica was involved in a race row (WireImage)At the time, it was reported Meghan had cut ties with Jessica after she was embroiled in the race row, but just a few months later, the mother-of-three posted an update on her friendship with the Duchess of Sussex on her Instagram Story. “'I’m going to tell this once and for all. Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend and has checked up on me everyday,” Jessica wrote. Six months later, she posted a snap of the flowers she had received from Meghan on her 41st birthday, with a sweet card that read: “LUCKIEST FRIEND XXXX, THX MM.”
But less than a year later, Jessica hinted that her friendship with the former actress had soured, as she shared a cryptic quote on Instagram about losing important people from her life. “Life changes. You lose love. You lose friends. You lose pieces of yourself that you never imagined would be gone. And then, without even realizing it, those pieces come back. New love enters. Better friends come along. And a stronger, wiser you, is staring back in the mirror,” it read.
Jessica's three children were even included in Meghan and Harry's wedding day (AFP/Getty Images)
Jessica has seemingly been replaced by Meghan and Harry with Michael Buble and his wife (WireImage)In 2022, speculation was rife that Jessica and Meghan’s friendship had cooled after she posted another quote, this time suggesting she had reflected on a problematic relationship. “You are not too sensitive. Your are not overreacting. If it hurts you it hurts you,” the quote read, with Jessica writing: “'I wish I had a seen this a long time ago. I hope it makes a difference in your day too.”
The nail in the coffin of their friendship happened earlier this month, when Meghan and Harry returned to Canada for the One Year To Go event ahead of the 2025 Invictus Games. Despite having a jam-packed schedule, Meghan failed to meet up with her former pal Jessica, with the Sussexes preferring to spend time with Canadian crooner Michael Buble and his wife Luisana instead.