The Palace Warned Meghan Markle About Having a Flashy Baby Shower

The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex Sign A Book Of Condolence At New Zealand House

(Image credit: Chris Jackson)

published 29 March 2019

Remember when Meghan surprised royal fans and had her first baby shower with close friends in NYC last month à la paparazzi, swag bags, and a fancy lunch? Same, and apparently the Palace warned her that the royals don't have "flashy" baby showers.

“Meghan is still struggling with the press in London. She was made aware that Kensington Palace and the royal family, that’s not the way they do it with a big, flashy baby shower like the one she had in NYC,” a source told US Weekly. The source also notes that the Duchess didn't receive “a scolding” for her party, but was told that it's not exactly the norm for royals.

Then again, it's not exactly the norm to have an American duchess, either.

Last week, the Queen's former spokesperson, Dickie Arbiter, called the baby shower "a bit over the top." “Baby showers, it’s very much an American thing. We don’t do it here in the U.K.," he told US Weekly. "It was a bit over the top in terms of expense and the way she got there.”

Meghan will apparently have a second baby shower in the U.K. Though, if it hasn't happened yet, she'll be cutting it pretty close to her due date next month.

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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.