Speculation surrounding the Duchess of Sussex's fractured friendship with Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney has circulated for several years, but a new claim from Jessica's former husband suggests the pair maintain cordial relations. Ben Mulroney, a prominent Canadian television host, has indicated that his ex-wife and Meghan Markle are currently on what he describes as "positive terms."
A Once Unbreakable Bond
Jessica Mulroney was once considered Meghan's staunchest defender and closest confidante, famously acting as the "keeper of secrets" during the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry. The friendship blossomed when Meghan was filming the legal drama Suits in Toronto, with Jessica playing a pivotal role in helping the couple keep their initial dates in Canada and London discreet during the summer of 2016.
The depth of their bond was publicly showcased at the royal wedding in 2018. Jessica's twin sons, John and Brian, had the honour of carrying Meghan's train down the aisle at St George's Chapel in Windsor, while her daughter Ivy served as a bridesmaid alongside Princess Charlotte. In her 2022 Netflix documentary, Meghan shared footage from the night Prince Harry proposed in 2017, revealing she immediately FaceTimed her friend "Jess" while walking the grounds of Kensington Palace.
The Alleged Falling Out
However, by 2020, numerous reports suggested the friendship had dramatically soured. Insiders claimed the Duchess had severed ties with Jessica after she became embroiled in a public dispute with influencer Sasha Exeter concerning the Black Lives Matter movement. The clash occurred in the wake of George Floyd's death, with Sasha alleging that Jessica had threatened her livelihood during an argument about the importance of speaking up.
At the time, a source told Page Six that Meghan felt Jessica was attempting to "make a career out of the friendship," and the controversy provided "the excuse she was waiting for to cut Jess off for good." Jessica issued public apologies and was subsequently dropped by several television networks, including Good Morning America, while her Canadian reality show I Do Redo was pulled from broadcast.
Contradictory Signals and Recent Claims
Despite the widespread perception of a permanent rift, Jessica has occasionally pushed back against the narrative. In September 2020, she posted on her Instagram Stories, stating, "Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend and has checked up on me everyday." Six months later, she shared a photo of flowers received from Meghan for her 41st birthday, captioned "LUCKIEST FRIEND XXXX, THX MM."
Yet, in the following years, Jessica posted several cryptic messages about loss and loneliness on social media, and she was notably absent from Meghan's recent With Love, Meghan project. The pair have not been seen together publicly in five years and do not follow each other on social media. There was also no mention of Jessica in Prince Harry's memoir, Spare.
In the latest development, Ben Mulroney, who separated from Jessica in July 2023 after 16 years of marriage, offered a contrasting perspective. Speaking to Hello magazine, he stated, "It's Jess' story to tell, I wouldn't speak for her," before adding, "But from what I understand, they're on positive terms."
Personal Turmoil for the Mulroneys
The claim comes during a period of significant personal change for Jessica Mulroney. Her separation from Ben, the eldest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, marks the end of a relationship that began when they were teenagers. The couple, who have three children together, attended Meghan's wedding in 2018. In one of their final social media posts together in November 2023, Jessica admitted they had "forgotten" their wedding anniversary.
Whether Ben Mulroney's comments signify a genuine thaw in the high-profile friendship or simply reflect a personal interpretation remains unclear. The statement nonetheless reintroduces a note of ambiguity into a narrative that has been dominated by reports of a permanent estrangement between the Duchess of Sussex and her once closest friend.
