Meghan Markle seemed to pop out of nowhere at the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week. Now, fans have the inside scoop on how it happened.
Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli made his debut with the luxury brand on Oct. 4, and the Duchess of Sussex was there to support him. Her appearance made a huge splash among the fashionista set, and her black and white outfits were perfect for the chic affair. Piccioli shared with The Cut on how they’ve grown close over text after meeting “some years ago.”
“She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show. There was no strategy or big orchestration,” he told the media outlet. Here’s where the British tabloids, like the Daily Mail, are inserting their opinion and saying Meghan “invited” herself to the show. The truth is that she wanted to support a friend, and Piccioli was happy to have her there.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 04, 2025 in Paris, France.
Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Balenciaga
“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,” he added. If he spoiled the surprise, there wouldn’t have been such a splash of headlines — and buzz-worthy moments are exactly what any fashion designer would be looking for at their debut collection. It’s a win-win for both of them.
Remember, Meghan has sported many of Piccioli’s designs over the years when he was with Valentino. Her white suit at the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands was a big hit, and who could forget her stunning red caplet dress during a royal visit to Morocco in 2019? The duo and the Duchess of Sussex seem to create magic together, so this might be the start of a beautiful fashion relationship that is beneficial to both of them.
Still, not everyone was thrilled about Meghan’s notable appearance at Paris Fashion Week. The royal family was reportedly a bit irritated that she was back in the news on their side of the pond, per the Daily Beast. “If they really plan to spend more time here, it changes everything. It puts them back in the frame, and that’s not what anyone expected,” a palace insider told the media outlet.
The appearance marked her acceptance into the world of haute couture, and the realization for every single Meghan critic that she’s not going anywhere. The Duchess of Sussex is ready to reclaim her story.
Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best post-royal fashion moments below!
