Meghan Markle's exchange with Martha Stewart has been described as "the worst thing" she could have done, as commentators question why the Duchess of Sussex chose to "pick a fight" with the lifestyle guru.
Last week, the 85-year-old American businesswoman attended a dinner party with Meghan and claimed she heard her speak about her trip to the UK last month. Meghan, 45, and Prince Harry, 41, were under strict orders to keep all details about their meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla private after they were hosted at Highgrove House in July.
Martha Stewart's claims
Martha said: "I had dinner with Meghan Markle the other night. We were both guests at a dinner party in California. And she had just gotten back from the palace. I didn’t talk to her really more than to say a couple words, but I know she was talking about it."
A source close to the former Suits actress immediately dismissed the claims and suggested Martha was "confused" by what she heard.
Commentators weigh in
Speaking on News24, formerly Sky News Australia, presenter Danica De Giorgio questioned Meghan's motives behind the response to what Martha said. She remarked: "I don't know why she wanted to pick a fight in the first place with Queen of cooking Martha Stewart because Martha will traipse upon her 10 times over. I think it's probably the worst thing she could've done because Meghan's out there selling her jams, dog biscuits and the rest of the palaver that comes with it, not doing very well. Martha Stewart is the queen of selling such items. Why would you want to pick a fight with her?"
Australian commentator Caleb Bond suggested Meghan has lied about the situation, telling Danica: "Either Martha Stewart is lying or Meghan Markle is lying and I tend to know who I think might be the liar. Why would Martha Stewart lie about something like that?"
He described the lifestyle guru as a "well-loved, motherly figure" who has been in the business for a long time and doesn't seem like the type of person who would "unnecessarily stir up s**t". Caleb continued: "Why would she come out and lie about Meghan Markle talking about her trip to see the Royal Family? I don't get it. I don't understand why she would make up that Meghan had been talking about the Royal Family at dinner. It's a big problem if she has because the well-established rules are that you don't talk about the firm and the discussions you have with the firm."
Strategic move?
He argued that Meghan speaking about their private meeting would be "extremely dumb" as Harry is currently trying to reconcile with King Charles. However, he went on to suggest that perhaps Meghan doesn't want to return to her royal life and that she could've "strategically" made the comments at the dinner party to ensure Harry's relationship with King Charles remains strained.
"It turns up in the press, strains the relationship between the King and Harry and then Meghan rubs her hands and says, 'I guess he won't be going back to the UK after all.' I don't know. I'm trying to think of why all of this would've happened," Caleb added.
