Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has drawn criticism from a royal expert for posting a photo on Instagram of herself tending to her garden in Montecito, California, during the recent U.S. state visit to the United Kingdom. The timing of the post, featuring Markle tending to strawberries and captioned “Seasons shift, but the garden stays magic,” has been interpreted as an attempt to draw attention away from the official royal engagements.
Royal expert and author Robert Jobson, in an article for The Sun, suggested that Markle’s social media activity was a calculated move to compete with the attention garnered by Princess Kate and former First Lady Melania Trump during their joint engagement with the Scouts at Windsor. Jobson characterized Markle’s post as “needy” and contrasted it with the “soft diplomacy” displayed by Princess Kate during the state visit. He further described Markle’s Instagram content as “trivial.”
The U.S. state visit to Windsor, which concluded recently, saw Donald Trump and Melania Trump engaging in official events alongside members of the British royal family. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States, have not commented publicly on the state visit. The couple has previously expressed their disapproval of former President Trump, who maintains a close relationship with King Charles.
The state visit occurred shortly after Prince Harry’s reunion with his father, King Charles, marking their first meeting since February 2024. This meeting had sparked speculation about a potential reconciliation within the royal family. Markle’s social media activity continues to be a subject of public discussion, particularly in relation to major royal events.
