Meghan Markle’s surprise trip to Paris Fashion Week generated lots of buzz from royal fans because it was a moment that felt outside of her usual wheelhouse.
Balenciaga’s head designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli, already revealed to The Cut that the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance simply happened because “she reached out and said she’d love to come to the show.” He was thrilled to have her there because it was his big debut with the brand, and he made sure not to “tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise. In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”
Having an A-list star like Meghan attend a show isn’t free, and celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch is spilling the tea on how expensive it is for the designers.
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 would imagine everything was paid for — travel, hotel, clothing, cars, and of course security in Madame’s case because we know it’s such a big issue with her,” he told NewsNation. While her two Balenciaga ensembles — one in black, one in white — were “gifted,” Bloch believes that they cost around $50,000 each. In order to keep her appearance a surprise, Meghan was likely flown on a private jet at an estimated cost of $200,000 round-trip.
“If she had flown public or first class, it would have let the secret out — someone would have seen her and said something,” Bloch noted. The tab would continue to add up with a luxury hotel stay, reportedly the Hotel Plaza Athens, in addition to accommodations and salary for makeup artist Daniel Martin. His fees begin at $2,000, per the media outlet.
”The makeup, hair all gets included,” Bloch continued. “And of course, the cost of flowers sent to the room and the presents the designer would have left in her room.” The stylist stated that it was a “genius move for Balenciaga” because we are still talking about it weeks later.
The only people who were allegedly unhappy with her Paris Fashion Week attendance were the royal family. “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,” an insider told the Daily Beast. It was a way for the Duchess of Sussex to have her “soft power reclaimed” in European society — and it worked.
Tina Brown told the BBC in May 2024 that Prince Harry and Meghan’s departure from the palace left a “charisma vacancy” in the royal family. And now, the couple is slowly starting to find their way back to their old life without the royal constraints.
Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best post-royal fashion moments below!