Meghan Markle Sparks Backlash Over Alleged References to Earl Spencer’s New Book
Markle's move comes right after Spencer's book debuted publicly. She had earlier supported Prince Harry's uncle with a post featuring a swan symbol.
Meghan Markle has sparked a fresh media storm with her latest promotional post featuring new 'As Ever' merchandise. Introducing a navy blue bookmark, the Duchess wrote, "Our Latest Keepsake. As Ever’s best-selling bookmark returns tomorrow in a brand-new luxurious navy blue, with a new reminder to hold close." The accompanying aesthetic picture highlighted a book with the bookmark neatly tucked inside. However, eagle-eyed royal fans quickly spotted subtle details that they claim subtly reference Earl Spencer’s latest memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, or possibly Princess Diana herself.
Markle's release comes on the heels of Spencer's book debut. She had previously shown support for Prince Harry's uncle with a post featuring a swan symbol, which also drew notable backlash. Unfazed, the Duchess launched her latest product, sparking speculation over subtle nods to the late Princess of Wales' tragic death.
Royal watchers on X were quick to break down the alleged symbolism behind the product placement. "Her new bookmark, which reads ‘Things Can Only Get Better,’ is photographed inside what appears to be a vintage English-language Paris guidebook. And not just anywhere in the book. It’s opened to pages covering Newspapers, Television and Radio in Paris," noted X user @ViQueenie. "So we have: ‘Things Can Only Get Better,’ a phrase famously associated with a 1997 Paris guidebook, opened to a section about the media. This is a coded reference to Diana’s death in Paris in 1997. And all of this landing amid the release of Charles Spencer’s new book. Given the timing, it’s an interesting set of choices by Meghan."
"The type of collaboration I'd expect from the Markles and Charles Spencer. (For those of you outside Britain, the "L" in love on the bookmark is like a dollar sign.)" @TemuDuchess highlighted. "Markle's promotion of her latest bookmark proves that she is fixated on Diana's death, not her life," @MDymore criticized. "Oh look at this! ‘What I can tell from the original photograph is that it appears to be an older English-language Paris guidebook, with a section covering newspapers, television and radio.’ The book is about news in Paris!!!!! This is not an accident any more than the swan was," @Furiosa24 noted, referring to Markle's previous post showcasing a swan in the caption.
Meanwhile, the Earl's wife, Professor Cat Jarman, praised her husband's resilience and determination following the release of his memoir in a celebratory Instagram post. Expressing pride in his courage as he confronted painful memories of his late sister, she detailed his grueling writing routine, which often began at 4 a.m., and noted that the recollections he unearthed ranged from joyful to heartbreaking. Accompanying her post was a photo of him working on his laptop at Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire. "I'm so pleased people can finally read Swan Song for themselves and get a glimpse into the sister you wrote this book for," she wrote, concluding, "I feel very lucky to be by your side."
