03 August 2023 , 20:34
1185
0
With Meghan Markle's birthday fast approaching, Prince Harry might be out and about buying his love a new piece of jewellery to celebrate the big day. We know he's brilliant at buying gifts for his nearest and dearest, previously giving his wife a stunning silver photo frame containing a photo of their son, Archie.
But there was one thoughtful gift that ended up causing a bit of drama, and ended up with Meghan having an "uncomfortable" phone call with staff at Buckingham Palace. In the early days of their relationship, years before the couple tied the knot and quit the Royal Family, Harry wanted to treat his new girlfriend to a personalised piece of jewellery. He splashed out on a 14-carat gold chain by Maya Brenne that featured M and H charms. The necklace was estimated to cost $300.
Harry's gift to Meghan led to an uncomfortable call from the palace (Getty Images)Meghan was spotted out and about wearing the piece, but it ended up causing a bit of a stir. Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote about the fallout in their unofficial biography of Meghan and Harry, Finding Freedom. They claimed that a royal aide told Meghan on a phone call not to wear the necklace because it was attract unwanted attention from the press.
"She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images - and new headlines," they wrote.
Meghan wore a necklace that an aide told her would attract the press (Getty Images)Meghan supposedly told friends that the call made her "emotional" and she "said very little" during the call. "After hanging up, she felt frustrated and emotional. While she knew the aide had good intentions, the surreal experience of having someone from her boyfriend's office tell her what kind of jewellery to wear or not to smile at a photographer was too much," the book continued.
Oprah Winfrey snubs Harry and Meghan as expert claims 'the tide has turned'
The now Duchess of Sussex felt "damned if she did, and damned if she didn't." She supposedly told a friend: "I can't win. They make out like I'm to blame for these pictures, that it looks like I'm to blame for these pictures, that it looks like I'm encouraging them, that. me even acknowledging the cameras may not be sending the right message."
The response to the necklace from the Royal Family upset Meghan, so hopefully the next gift Harry gives her isn't as controversial. However, it seems that Meghan has come a long way from caring what they think. She and Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and since then have resided in Montecito, California.