The Queen's Former Press Secretary Called Meghan Markle's Baby Shower Over the Top

(Image credit: James Devaney)

last updated 24 September 2021

In February, Meghan Markle celebrated her baby shower in NYC (opens in new tab) with close friends.
Though it was a private event, the Duchess was spotted hanging out with friends across the city all weekend.
The Queen's former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, called the baby shower "a bit over the top."

Last month, Meghan Markle celebrated her baby shower (opens in new tab) in NYC with some of her closest friends, including Serena Williams, Amal Clooney, Jessica Mulroney, and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer at The Mark Hotel in NYC (opens in new tab). Royal fans were surprised to see the weekend of festivities so public, and now the Queen's former spokesperson is weighing in as well—calling the shower "over the top."

Dickie Arbiter, the Queen's press secretary until 2000, told US Weekly (opens in new tab), “Baby showers, it’s very much an American thing. We don’t do it here in the U.K. It was a bit over the top in terms of expense and the way she got there.”

(Image credit: Marie Claire)

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He continued, “Meghan is American and she does things the American way”—which, like, he's not wrong. Meghan is American, so it makes sense that she would want to follow American tradition.

Though she originally flew to the States incognito, the Duchess didn't exactly try to hide her tea date with Mulroney (opens in new tab), her dinner with Serena Williams, and the baby crib delivered to her (opens in new tab) as a present. It's unclear whether or not a second baby shower is still happening (opens in new tab) in London.

See Every Photo From Meghan Markle's Baby Shower Weekend

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Clothing, Eyewear, Vision care, Glasses, Trousers, Coat, Jacket, Outerwear, Jeans, Sunglasses, — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Meghan cradles her bump while making her way through the crowd.

Either way, it's Meghan's baby and she can do what she wants. Let the Duchess live!

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Meghan Markle Is Having an NYC Baby Shower

Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop.