Meghan Markle Called Out for Allegedly Staging Her Own Anniversary Surprise on British Airways
Meghan wanted to showcase a grand gesture, but critics quickly accused the Duchess of staging the moment as an attention-grabbing PR stunt.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary yesterday and gave fans a sneak peek of their celebration, sharing some throwback photos from their 2018 royal nuptials on social media. Among the highlights was a sweet anniversary card from a British Airways flight crew, which the Duchess received while flying back from Geneva, Switzerland, after inaugurating ‘The Lost Screen Memorial’. Markle publicly thanked the crew on her Instagram stories for their thoughtful gesture. The handwritten card wished the Sussexes well and expressed gratitude for shared memories. The crew also gifted the couple a bottle of champagne and British candies for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
"Dearest Harry and Meghan, Wishing you a wonderful wedding anniversary, With love, The whole British Airways family,” the card read. A source told PEOPLE that the flight crew was exceptionally warm, noting, "Meghan’s flight crew was so lovely on her way back from Geneva. They all came to say happy anniversary and shared their memories of where they were on the day." However, critics quickly accused the Duchess of staging the moment as an attention-grabbing PR stunt. “Meghan...stages everything for clicks. She notified the airline that it was her anniversary and brought her own card for the crew members to sign. They had to sign it; it was their job!” one user slammed, while another brutally mocked, “Wait, WHAT! Meghan arranged an anniversary card to be given to her on her flight? She pre-ordered and then gave the EXCLUSIVE to People Magazine?"
There were others who, interestingly, pointed out the royal isolation of the Sussexes. "So she flew back from Geneva alone but organised an anniversary card… You couldn’t make this up. Did Meghan Markle get permission to make a fool out of the crew by posting this nonsense online? @British_Airways pull the other one!!!" a third netizen noted. "Bring your own card," sending oneself cards, mail, gifts, one wishes others would send/share care/love, seen in movie "Clueless," she sends herself flowers & cards trying make it seem someone admires/loves/cares. Sad as absence behind it," another individual highlighted.
Stunt or not, Markle's anniversary posts succeeded in creating a buzz. Despite their stated desire for privacy, the couple's ongoing high-profile activities point to a calculated pursuit of visibility. Key reasons include commercial brand building through ventures with Netflix and Spotify, narrative control to address public perceptions, and using public appearances as a platform for continued visibility despite their ex-royal status. While critics argue Markle leverages intense media scrutiny to keep her public profile alive, supporters maintain she is simply reclaiming ownership of her own story.
