Meghan has been very busy lately and we have all the details—plus the upcoming Invictus Games in Germany.
First, I’d like to start by addressing a recent incident on our social media platform Twitter. On Tuesday, I Tweeted about Meghan’s recent birthday celebration with her friends, sharing details about her necklace that had sparked interest among our followers. During this process, I realized I had mistakenly tagged the wrong Twitter account for the jeweler, Ariel Gordon. Swiftly recognizing this error, I promptly edited the tweet. However, during the editing process, an unexpected auto-complete feature on Twitter altered my hashtags to ones I would never intentionally use. Typically, I rely on a consistent set of 2 to 3 hashtags on Twitter: #whatmeghanwore, #MeghanMarkle, and occasionally #duchessofsussex. Regrettably, I failed to notice that the #MeghanMarkle tag had changed to “#MeghanMarkleToxic,” a tag that auto-populates when typing “#MeghanMarkle,” featuring a list of very negative hashtags. It’s crucial to clarify that I’m usually meticulous about selecting appropriate hashtags, and the original post did indeed include the correct tag. This oversight boils down to two key issues:
- I made a mistake initially.
- I neglected to double-check my work after editing.
An acquaintance, Royal Suitor, brought this error to my attention, prompting my immediate mortification. I promptly deleted the tweet and reposted it with the accurate hashtag. Subsequently, I addressed several comments from individuals accusing me of harboring negative sentiments toward Meghan. I encourage those seeking further clarification to peruse the thread for more insight here. Irrespective of this, the damage had been done, and I extend my sincere apologies for my lapse in due diligence.
See the reposted and edited tweets below (apologies I do not have a copy of the original tweet showing the edits):
This incident has been a learning experience, emphasizing the necessity of enhanced vigilance and thorough proofreading before hitting “publish.” Throughout the 7 years since launching WMW as a blog and across social media platforms, I have encountered a few mistakes, each of which I promptly corrected and acknowledged through my tweets. My commitment to transparency is matched by the effort I’ve invested in creating a positive and safe online community in line with Meghan and Harry’s ethos – advocating kindness and combating online negativity. During this time, I’ve diligently monitored my social media accounts for inappropriate and negative comments, extending this practice to the blog comments section. As many of you are aware, we maintain a comment policy (found at the top of the blog) that outlines engagement rules. The comment policy can be accessed here: https://whatmeghanwore.net/comments-policy/.
We are dedicated to cultivating a pleasant and respectful environment at What Meghan Wore.”
On another note, I’d like to address inquiries regarding past contributing writers and editors for What Meghan Wore. Allow me to provide some context: when I initiated the blog in the fall of 2016, I sought Susan Kelley’s input to use the What Meghan Wore name as a mark of respect, given her association with the What Kate Wore and What Kate’s Kids Wore sites. Susan was thrilled to hear about my ideas for the site and even offered her assistance in getting the site off the ground, contributing substantially to our initial posts. My respect for Susan’s professionalism and writing style is boundless.
In early 2020, Susan K. transitioned her focus to What Kate Wore, prompting me to take on full-time writing responsibilities for WMW. Later in 2020, Rachel Burchfield, now the Royal and Celebrity Editor at Marie Claire, expressed interest in becoming a contributing writer for the site. Following thorough discussions, I extended an invitation, and Rachel’s contributions were invaluable in rapidly generating content while I managed licensed images, edits, and the intricate task of detailing Meghan’s ensembles – a time-consuming endeavor. I’m immensely grateful for Rachel’s support throughout that period. During this time, Rachel co-launched a podcast, “Podcast Royal,” with a friend. It’s important to clarify that I wasn’t involved in the podcast. However, I did appear as a guest in the early stages, where I spoke positively about Meghan’s fashion sense. (To listen to the episode, click here: Episode 32 — “William and Harry Unveil the Princess Diana Statue, Kate Enjoys Wimbledon, Plus Special Guest Susan Courter of What Meghan Wore in Honor of Meghan’s Upcoming 40th Birthday”).
By the fall of 2022, Rachel’s freelance writing commitments had increased, and I resumed sole responsibility for crafting blog posts. Subsequently, with fewer Harry and Meghan engagements, the blog’s frequency naturally decreased. Admittedly, I’ve been unable to dedicate time to listening to Rachel’s podcast or reading her articles, as my schedule has been quite packed. Consequently, I lack insights into her recent contributions. It’s important to clarify that Rachel served as a past writer for WMW and wasn’t directly involved in posting content or making editorial decisions for the website or social media accounts. These tasks were solely my responsibility. The title of “Contributing Editor” might lead to some confusion, but it’s a standard term in the writing world. In essence, Rachel produced content that I subsequently reviewed and refined. In a parallel narrative, Brook Nurthen and Autumn Brewington lent their writing expertise to the blog shortly after Harry and Meghan’s wedding but have since moved on to other endeavors.
The creation of What Meghan Wore is rooted in the principles articulated on our About page:
Our approach to this site is rooted in respect for Meghan’s individual role and her position within the Royal Family. We center our focus on Meghan’s style and fashion choices, avoiding distasteful topics and sensationalism designed merely for attention. Additionally, we adhere to the practice of utilizing appropriately licensed photographs in our blog posts.”
In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to our readers for their continued support and understanding. This incident has underscored the importance of maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and scrutiny in my content creation process. I also realize that some may ask why I didn’t respond to this in a more timely manner, but the truth is I’ve been very busy this week as well as battling a nasty cold.
We’re all human, mistakes are made — We love Harry and Meghan.
Moving on, here are some recent updates regarding Meghan’s activities as of late as well as the upcoming 2023 Invictus Games in Germany…
Archewell Foundation Announces Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund Winners
On August 2nd, In a heartwarming announcement that underscores their commitment to positive change, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed the deserving winners of the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund. This initiative, driven by their shared passion for technology’s responsible use, aims to empower young leaders in driving digital innovation for social good. In this short blog post, we delve into the significance of this announcement and celebrate the innovative minds behind the winning projects.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been vocal advocates for the responsible use of technology, emphasizing its potential for positive impact while raising awareness about its potential pitfalls. The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund was born out of their belief in harnessing the power of digital innovation to create a brighter future, and its winners exemplify their vision.
For the appearance, Meghan wore separates by Bleusalt. Their Sleeveless Turtleneck, $140 and their Tube Skirt, $162 both in camel.
Meghan’s earrings are from Lanvin, the ‘Gold Arpège Sleeper Earrings‘, past season.
Happy Birthday Meghan!
On Wednesday evening, August 2nd, Meghan and Harry were spotted out in Montecito for a pre-birthday celebration for Meghan’s 42nd birthday on August 4th.
Meghan looked stunning and glowing in a dress from Australian based brand Posse – the Theo strapeless dress, $239.
She styled the look with her Cult Gaia ‘Nia’ wooden beaded clutch bag, $428 and a pair of Emme Parson sandals, the ‘Cecelia’ thong sandals, $415.
While we don’t have clear images of her earrings, it’s possible she wore her Tabayer ‘Oera’ gold pair, $2890. She first wore them for the 2022 One Young World event (shown below).
This week we were treated to a photo shared on Instagram by Meghan’s hair colorist, Kadi Lee. The friends were shown out celebrating Meghan’s birthday with author, Cleo Wade.
Meghan wore a new pendant from Ariel Gordon jewelry – the brand confirmed she wore the Imperial Disc pendant necklace, starting at $1840.
There were also reports that Meghan attended the Taylor Swift Eras Concert in LA on Tuesday August 8th with friends and we are LOVING this! (For those wondering, big ‘Swiftie’ here!)
In honor of Meghan’s birthday, What Meghan Wore made donations to World Central Kitchen and Harvest Home.
Out and About in Montecito!
On August 10th, Meghan was spotted out shopping in Montecito.
The Duchess.wore her MaxMara ‘Rispoli’ coat, a piece she first wore while the couple visited New York, September 2021.
She paired the coat with a new scarf from Hermes, the ‘Rayures D’Ete’ shawl scarf, $1,225 along with her Goyard ‘St. Louis GM’ bag, $1,825 and a new pair of Chanel cap-top sling-back flats in beige/black.
Her earrings are the Lanvin pair, ‘Gold Arpège Sleeper Earrings‘, seen recently, and belt is the Givenchy Double-G, $450, a piece she first wore while visiting Ireland, July 2018.
It looks like her jean may be the Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne crop ankle slit – similar here.
You may have noticed a round, blue disk on Meghan’s wrist. This is an energy disc from NuCalm – the Biosignal Processing Disc, $80 for a pack of 20. The discs are used along with a software subscription (see site for subscription packages).
Finally, on Sunday, August 13th, Meghan was spotted out for dinner at Lucky’s in Montecito. She wore her Anine Bing ‘Kylin’ top, $229. We first saw her wear the top for the Invictus Games Düsseldorf Germany event, September 2022.
In other news….
It was announced this week that the upcoming @netflix series Heart of Invictus will be available to stream August 30th, just ahead of the 2023 Invictus Games Düsseldorf, which start on September 9th. Prince Harry is the Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation and Meghan will join him at this year’s games.
See the trailer below.
It was also announced that the Duchess will moderate the closing ceremonies at this year’s event!
More from Invictus Games Foundation —
The Invictus Games will be held in Germany for the first time in 2023. The German Armed Forces and the City of Düsseldorf are proud to jointly host this unique international sports event from 9th – 16th September.
With the 6th Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, their goal is to give soldiers who are wounded, injured or ill in body and soul a greater awareness and recognition in society and to support their path in rehabilitation.
Under the motto “A HOME FOR RESPECT.” the city, together with the German Armed Forces, will welcome around 500 competitors from 22 nations as well as around 1,000 family members and friends to compete in ten disciplines.”
This year’s event takes place from September 9th-16th. Prince Harry’s 39th birthday will take place during the tournament on September 15th. We’re very excited to see Harry, Meghan and the games this year!
Once again, What Meghan Wore has donated to the foundation in honor of this year’s games. If you would like to donate to the games, please see the link here.
Harry Takes Part in Polo Tournaments Over Seas
Harry and friend, Nacho Figueras were in Japan last week and played in a polo tournament to raise funds for the International Sports Promotion Society Handa, a Japanese charity that focuses on sporting events for people with disabilities. Below, the pair out shopping while in Tokyo.
Harry stopped in Tokyo to appear on an ISPS Handa panel discussing the importance of sports for mental health. During the panel, Harry spoke about his work with injured veterans. More from Vanity Fair —
I have seen sports literally save their lives,” he said. “The physical piece to sports is obviously the most important. But the mental aspect and healing ability is extraordinary.”
Harry and Nacho also took part in the annual Sentebale Polo Cup. This year’s match took place at the Singapore Polo Club.
More from Harper’s —
Sentebale has remained a pillar of support in communities across southern Africa for almost two decades, ensuring future generations are well equipped to address the many challenges facing our world,” the royal said in the statement. “Adaptability and nimbleness have been a defining factor in our work since Prince Seeiso and I founded the charity 17 years ago.”
“Our work has remained rooted in our mission, and in honour of our late mothers, we wish to ensure all children and young people in southern Africa are empowered, healthy and able to pursue their ambitions and dreams,” he continued.
Finally, this week the British Royal Family updated their website with the removal of Harry and Meghan’s “HRH” titles. In an effort to clear up any misinformation, this does not mean that the royal couple has “lost” their “HRH” titles, but merely a reflection of the agreement made when the pair announced they were stepping back as Senior Royals and would not use the “HRH” title, but simply go by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
For those that may not be aware, Harry and Meghan are legally entitled to keep and use their HRH styles unless a Letters Patent is issued to remove them. You can read more about their titles and stepping back as Senior Royals in our post from January 2020 here.
More about the removal of the titles on the royal site from People Magazine —
The royal family’s website has not been completely updated following the death of Queen Elizabeth. As Express pointed out last week, Queen Elizabeth was still referred to as the current monarch, King Charles was called “the Prince of Wales” and Queen Camilla was still being styled as “the Duchess of Cornwall.”
In a statement from the palace.
The Royal Family website contains over five thousand pages of information about the life and work of the Royal Family. Following the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, content has been revisited and updated periodically. Some content may be out of date until this process is complete.”
We will be back in the coming weeks with more updates and of course coverage of the 2023 Invictus Games on September 9th.
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It’s kind of strange that happened when so many would agree. Thanks for explaining.
Thank you for maintaining such an oasis and negative free space about Meghan and Harry. Someday with hindsight I hope the British media will have a reckoning that they made a grave mistake in going after Meghan the way they have. I’ll leave it at that as I don’t want to waste anymore breath on something that none of us can control but that we all recognize as being deeply unfair.
I have made a point to not go on Twitter much since it was renamed X (likely will delete my account) so I missed your hashtag mistake. If I had seen it, I may have questioned it but most likely attribute it to just being a mistake. We all make mistakes and that’s ok! Looking forward to your coverage about the Invictus Games.
Thanks Amelie! Appreciate the understanding, support and kind words! – Susan
Thank you Susan. As I’ve said before, the integrity and values you show in your journalism here are desperately needed. Sometimes the world seems under attack by destructive forces (witness the autopopulated tag you refer to above). Those of us who follow you here are grateful to you for holding the line.
Hi Maureen, Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Very much appreciate it! – Susan C.
Truly need you to maintain this inclusive and positive site. Always loved your posts and will continue to do so!
Hi Allie – Thank you so much for your kind words and support! – Susan
I closed my Twitter account when the company sold to its present owner. Your experience with a negative “auto-correct” assumption about your hashtag intentions by that company’s algorithm tell you everything you need to know about why I did. So first of all, I would have had no knowledge of what I see as a “forced error” (not one you intended). Second, thank you for this site. It’s just the facts with no judgment, excellent fashion coverage, and well-written.
Thanks Linda! 🙂
That’s ok! Thank you for the explanation and thank you for the updates on Meghan’s fashion! I don’t have Twitter and was waiting on your posts. Thanks!
I absolutely love your work and know how hard you work to ensure the site is a positive place to visit and spend time. I can’t imagine there would be anyone who hasn’t had a similar mishap with the auto populate/ auto text features! Don’t be too hard on yourself, and take care.
I love good news about Meghan. I love your blog, it’s the first time I’ve visited it. Just one detail, about the title “His Royal Highness”, an article appeared in “The Sun” itself where it is clear that Harry and Meghan continue with the “Royal Highness”, they just don’t use it and to remove that title, just changing the 1917 Act. I’ll try to send you the link.
Thanks Fatima. We avoid using the Sun or Dailymail along with other tabloids anymore in posts. Regardless, we wanted to be sure to include the correct information about their HRH titles as there has been some confusion around it since 2020. 🙂 – Susan
I’m so sorry this happened to you, Susan! Over the years I’ve learned how much work it takes to run a site like this, and yours has always been one of the absolute best. People on Twitter are out of control sometimes…so unnecessarily cruel and ready to jump to the most negative conclusions. But your excellent work, and everything on this site, speaks for itself. Real Meghan supporters and all of us who’ve followed you from the beginning will absolutely see how this was just a blip— it could have happened to anyone! Hang in there and thank you for all of the work you put into WMW 🩷
Thanks Lucy! Appreciate your support and kind words! – SC
Great post and thanks. We all make mistakes in writing with things that slip by our notice. This blog has always been respectful and fun to read.
Hi Queentim, Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Susan C.