Meghan defends attending Paris Fashion Week after backlash
Meghan Markle has appeared on the cover of US Harper's Bazaar on the same day her Christmas special trailer dropped.
The Duchess of Sussex gave a wide-ranging interview to the publication and spoke about her appearance at the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week last month.
The "really fun" surprise appearance caused a frenzy, as it marked her first front row appearance after leaving royal life in 2020 and sparked some backlash.
Watch the video above.
Meghan's surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week caused a frenzy - and sparked some backlash. Getty Images for Balenciaga
The former actress says she was simply supporting her friend and the fashion house's new artistic director, Pierpaolo Piccioli.
"I was excited for him," she told the publication.
"I reached out and I said, 'Happy to come and support you'. We kept it a secret, and it was really fun."
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The Duchess of Sussex has appeared on the cover of US Harper's Bazaar. Instagram/Meghan
She gave a wide-ranging interview and spoke about her appearance at the Balenciaga show last month. Harper's Bazaar
But the mum of two says she feels just as happy and at home in the front row of a fashion show as she does in the playground with her kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
"I love being able to do both," Meghan said.
The 43-year-old added she's always going to make choices that feel right for her and not based on what might or might not spark issues in the public eye.
"I think the moment that you start making all of your personal decisions based on external judgment, then you lose your authenticity," she said.
Speaking about the particular controversy she courts, the duchess says she has figured out "different ways to protect yourself" amid all the noise.
That noise during her Paris Fashion Week trip included accusations she invited herself along to the Balenciaga show on October 4.
This was followed by a social media video she posted of a drive around the streets of Paris with her feet up in a car, which featured a bridge near where her mother-in-law Princess Diana had died in a car crash.
Meghan at Paris Fashion Week: "We kept [the appearance] a secret, and it was really fun." Getty
It sparked comments from people about being disrespectful and others accused her of capitalising on her royal connections.
On Thursday, Meghan also launched the first look at her Christmas holiday special, which features a cameo from husband Prince Harry.
The couple are shown kissing as the Duke of Sussex eats a bowl of something in the kitchen.
Since the show is not filmed in their own home, it appears the father-of-two could be making a formal appearance in her Netflix special, which is widely rumoured to be her last in the series after less than ideal ratings.
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