William Reportedly ‘Livid Beyond Words’ at Meghan’s Paris Video: 'That Tunnel Is Sacred Ground'

Meghan Markle has never avoided the royal spotlight, or the scrutiny that follows her every move. But this time, the Duchess of Sussex may have crossed a line that touched a nerve within the royal family. A recent Instagram post of hers has reportedly left Prince William 'livid beyond words,' with many believing it captured, however unintentionally, the Paris tunnel where Princess Diana lost her life.

A Palace insider told royal commentator Rob Shuter, who wrote on his Substack that the future King went ‘white with anger’ after seeing the video. “To him, it wasn’t just bad taste — it was personal desecration,” the insider claimed, adding, “That tunnel is sacred ground. For Meghan to treat it like a selfie moment was the ultimate insult.” The source apparently went on to say, “He said it was grotesque. He couldn’t believe she’d film herself near the very spot that destroyed his family.” As per the insider, the description paints the picture of a man who still carries the immense grief of losing his mother, and who has since made it a point to not let her memory become tabloid fodder.

Meanwhile, others have defended the Duchess of Sussex arguing that she may have simply been unaware her car was driving past the tunnel when she took the video. An insider has also pointed out that William ‘doesn’t understand social media’ and may not realize how easily something symbolic online can be misconstrued. Nevertheless, the incident has once again placed Prince Harry in an uncomfortable position. “Harry’s caught in the middle again,” an insider argued, adding, “He knows it looks bad but is trying to calm things privately.”

On October 4, the Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week to support Balenciaga’s new creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. Following the star-studded event, she filmed herself on the drive back from the afterparty along the Seine at night. In her Instagram stories, she was seen crossing the Pont Alexandre III bridge before her car turned toward the Pont de l’Alma tunnel — the same location where Princess Diana, her partner Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, tragically died on August 31, 1997, after paparazzi pursued their vehicle. Reports at the time also noted that Paul was under the influence, which contributed to the fatal crash.

After the video went viral, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, much like William, dubbed the video ‘utterly bewildering’ and ‘insensitive beyond relief.’ He told the Daily Mail, “I don’t understand what on earth she was thinking — well, she can’t have been thinking. No adviser would ever advise doing something so strange. I’m sure she didn’t mean to cause offense; she can’t have been thinking... It’s a complete absence of thought.” The royal expert continued, “Diana’s death is a tragedy that has scarred so much of Harry’s life, and I can’t imagine he would find this very appropriate.”

The Paris video isn't the only time when the Duchess has been accused of disrespecting Diana’s legacy. On July 1, she was heavily criticized for releasing her Napa Valley Rosé wine on Diana’s 64th birthday.