The real story behind Meghan Markle inviting herself to Paris Fashion Week.

Did you hear the hot goss? Meghan Markle has 'invited herself' to a fashion show. For shame!! For shame!! For shame!!

This was the angle plastered across a number of news outlets and social media channels this week, insisting that Markle had forced her way into a prestigious fashion event. In one particularly unflattering article, the Daily Mail wrote that Markle "had to ask for an invite to her catwalk debut."

Sounds a little embarro, but is that what actually happened? As it goes with most Markle tabloid stories… not really!

Earlier this month, the 43-year-old attended the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show. She made quite the stunning spectacle as she arrived in the designer's white, long-sleeved, flowing cape and matching pants.

Image: Getty.

Pierpaolo Piccioli, the designer who made his debut for Balenciaga at the event, spoke about what led up to the Duchess of Sussex's attendance.

"Meghan and I met some years ago, and we've been texting ever since," Piccioli told The Cut.

"She reached out and said she'd love to come to the show. There was no strategy or big orchestration.

"I didn't tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise. In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful."

This is hardly an example of some rando celebrity talking their way into an event — after all, Meghan arrived wearing a custom-made design, suggesting this fashion collab had long been planned with Piccioli.

Listen to the hosts of The Spill unpack the Duchess of Sussex's latest controversy. Post continues after podcast.

Meghan frequently wore Piccioli's designs when he represented Valentino. Notably, she wore his white suit at the 2022 Invictus Games and a Valentino dress during a royal visit to Morocco in 2019.

Meghan's appearance at the Balenciaga show drew particular ire from some critics, as the brand has previously been accused of promoting child abuse in one of its campaigns.

In response to the fashion show appearance, a spokesperson for Markle said: "Over the years, the Duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo. They have worked closely together collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage," they stated.

"This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship."

Of course, it should be stated that it's rare that Megan does — well, anything — without it ending in controversy.

In 2025 alone, she announced her lifestyle brand, initially named American Rivera Orchard, had to be renamed to As Ever due to copyright issues, which brought renewed criticism of the brand's stunted product launches.

Then came her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle show which many viewers criticised for setting an unrealistic standard and being 'out of touch'.

Watch the trailer for Season 2. Post continues after video.

Mindy Kaling, who appeared on the Netflix special, addressed some of the series backlash, including some people claiming Meghan acted rudely and dismissively towards Mindy.

"I noticed that whenever I do something, anything related to Meghan it becomes … big news," Kaling told The View in March.

"We were making sandwiches and then they'll push in on my face on TikTok and they'll be like, 'Look at this emotion you felt,' and I honestly didn't even remember it because we shot it like nine months ago."

Another famous friend, Chrissy Teigen, has also come out to defend Meghan, who she met when they were both Deal or No Deal models.

"I adore her," Chrissy told People in a new interview.

"It is insane to me how polarising she is for so many different people, when she really is just such a kind, good person… People are just going to come up with their own story."

Feature image: Getty.