Meghan Markle's 'baffling' behaviour in Paris decoded by expert

Meghan Markle's behaviour in Paris over the weekend was described as "bafflling" by a PR expert, who criticised the Duchess for "turning something neutral into a controversy" with her decisions. The Duchess of Sussex was snapped attending Balenciaga's Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show on Saturday and its afterparty later on.

But her visit to France, her first trip to Europe in three years, went viral for a different reason. Meghan uploaded a story on her official Instagram page, showing herself being driven through the streets of Paris and relaxing in a limo while passing Princess Diana's crash site nearby.

The late Princess of Wales died in August 1997 while crossing the Pont de l'Alma tunnel. Meghan was seen filming the Pont Alexandre III bridge, which is just before the Pont de l'Alma.

Meghan's video also showed her relaxing at the back of her limo, crossing her legs and resting them on the seat. But it sparked backlash by royal watchers and fans worldwide. The video is no longer available on her stories.

Renae Smith, founder of The Atticism, told the Express: "I wouldn't advise a single client of mine to get involved with them. No way in hell."

Now a PR expert has delivered a brutal verdict on the former actress's first appearance back in Europe in a long time and said the video was a "terrible" decision".

Renae Smith, founder of The Atticism, told the Express: "As we know, Meghan has an incredible ability to turn neutral moments into controversy. The video near the tunnel where Diana died was a terrible decision from a PR perspective.

"It's not just tone-deaf, it's strategically reckless. She has to know how symbolic that location is, so doing a posed video there just looks self-serving."

Ms Smith added that while Meghan's behaviour in Paris was "baffling", it alse seemed to align with her tendency to be "self-centred".

She said: "If she genuinely wanted to visit privately, that would've been totally fine. But to share a stylised video that makes it about her?

"I'd love to say it's baffling - because I guess the behaviour is - but it's also straight out of the 'All about ME-ghan' textbook of behaviour."

Meanwhile, Lee Cohen, a US-based columnist/royal and foreign policy commentator, was also critical of Meghan's appearance in France, telling the Express: "This vile stunt exposes her as a desperate zero with the emotional depth of a puddle, clawing for likes while trampling on sacred memories.

A soure close to the Duchess dismissed the backlash and accused Meghan's critics of trying to find the "most tenuous" link between the two events, while her spokesman said of the night: "This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga."