
Prince William and Harry's cousin claims late Queen was wrong on key Meghan decision
A distant cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry has spoken out in defence of Meghan Markle, and a decision she made on her wedding day. Maddison May Brudenell followed in the Duchess of Sussex's footsteps on her own wedding day, in particular, her dress.
Maddison - the great-granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, who is a third cousin to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex - married her husband in November 2024, opting to wear a white dress on her big day, just as Meghan did when she married Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018, despite being married once before.
Sources have long claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth wasn't happy with Meghan's dress choice for the royal wedding, claiming that it 'too white' for a divorcee to wear for a second wedding.
Maddison, who previously married DJ Olaoluwa Modupe-Ojo in 2015, claimed she received stern words from her own mother when choosing her wedding dress, and despite the protests, opted for a bespoke white gown to marry Canadian welder Bret Kapetanov.
Writing in a lengthy post on Instagram, Brudenell repeated royal commentator Ingrid Seward's famous quote about Meghan: "In the monarch's view, it was not appropriate for a divorcée getting remarried in church to look quite so flamboyantly virginal."
Brudenell explained: "Not written about me but about Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, needless to say when this article was flung in my face last week, I didn't bat an eyelid.
"Seward wrote how the late Queen only revealed her opinion to her closest confidantes and the Queen's cousin Lady Elizabeth Anson, who is said to have been among those confidantes, apparently shared that Meghan's dress was improper – considering she had been married prior to Prince Harry.
"Why was I unsurprised by reading this article? Because my mother, our late queen's god daughter, had said exactly the same to me. Other family members would agree, she said." Brudenell continued: "As I told my mother, we may as well just splash some muddy water, drip some blood, sweat and tears on it for good measure.
"As it happens my dress did have a lot of unique components to it but these were because of what I chose and not in any way what I felt I must choose. My mother listened to my wisdom and respected my style. I am blessed to have had that freedom, the pressures on the immediate Royal family are extreme and we must pray for them."
White wedding dresses first became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, when in 1840, she was one of the first women to wear white on her special day.
On May 19, 2018, Meghan wore a beautiful gown designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller for her Windsor church wedding, before changing into a halter-neck dress that featured a daring open back by Stella McCartney for the reception.
The royal wedding was Meghan's second marriage, as she was previously married to film producer Trevor Engelson between 2011 and 2014, with the pair separating two years before Meghan met Prince Harry.

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Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Meghan's trying to ‘wash her reputation' but cringe new Netflix trailer ‘is the exact same recipe as first season flop'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEGHAN Markle's cringey trailer for the new season of her show has "the exact same recipe" as its "first season flop", a royal commentator has said. The Duchess of Sussex released the sneak peek for the second season of With Love, Meghan earlier today on social media. 6 The trailer for the second season of Meghan Markle's show With Love, Meghan was released today Credit: Netflix 6 A royal commentator has said the new season has the 'same recipe' as the previous critically panned one Credit: Netflix 6 Meghan is also using the show to 'wash her reputation as a bully', the royal commentator added Credit: Netflix The first series of the show was critically panned upon release, with one reviewer calling it "gormless lifestyle filler", another slamming it as an "exercise in narcissism" and US entertainment magazine Variety branding it a 'Montecito ego trip not worth taking." Now, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield has slammed the duchess for trying to "wash her reputation" with her new show. The trailer sees Meghan cooking and baking alongside a number of celebrity guests in her swanky Montecito home. Kinsey told The Sun: "Meghan has a reputation for being ugly and a bully to some of her staff. "I think she's doing this 'pursuit of joy, happiness, look at me dancing, having fun' as a way to change public perception about her." However, Kinsey says the show seems "so staged", focusing on how a member of the filming crew can be overhead saying "right on cue" at the start of the trailer. She added that the show seemed very much the same as the first season - which it was filmed alongside. Kinsey said: "If you weren't impressed with the first season, don't expect a sudden evolution. "You're getting more of the same recipe here, and you really see that in the trailer. "It doesn't look like there's any real shift here - even the music is very much the same." 'Vicious' Meg is trying to one-up Kate with money-grabbing Netflix deal but it WON'T work, expert slams She added: "The first season was a critical flop but the Sussexes still have a certain morbid curiosity factor around them. "People can't help but peek, even if they roll their eyes while watching." The second season of the show is due to air on August 26 on Netflix and will land just weeks after Meghan and Harry announced their renewed deal with the streaming giant. The new episodes have been advertised as "fun and heartwarming", with a plethora of celebrity guests due to make their appearance. This includes model Chrissy Teigen, podcast pal Jamie Kern Lima, and Netflix Queer Eye star Tan France. Meghan can be seen laughing alongside guests at her luxury Montecito home in the trailer, even joking at the end about Prince Harry's lack of love for lobster. Speaking to Chef Andrés, she says: "You know who doesn't like lobster? My husband." In response, the chef light-heartedly retorts: "And you married him anyway?" In one moment during the trailer, in which she is seen cooking and baking with celebrity friends, the Duchess of Sussex also says: "I love the idea of just spending time together... and finding new ways to show people you care." She adds: "There are easy ways to show up, lovingly." There were also some notable omissions from today's trailer, with husband Harry, 40, and the couple's two kids - Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4 - nowhere to be seen. 6 Meghan and Harry signed a new deal with Netflix earlier this week Credit: Netflix 6 Meghan will feature alongside a number of celebrity guests in her show's newest season Credit: Netflix 6 Critics had panned the show's first season as an 'exercise in narcissism' Credit: Netflix This comes after Harry and Meghan announced yesterday they had signed a new "multi-year, first look deal" with the American streaming giant to produce "film and television projects". The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have previously released a number of shows on the platform, including a 2022 documentary on their lives and lifestyle show With Love, Meghan this year. They had secured a lucrative five-year contract - thought to be worth more than $100 million (£74 million) - with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. However, this new deal has been signed for "much less", an insider told Page Six. Meghan said in a statement: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision." Netflix will only pay for projects they want to screen, rather than pay in a single multi-million pound agreement like the one signed in 2020, The Sun understands. The Sun can also reveal, however, that the streaming giants will cover Archewell Productions's overheads, including all costs for its offices and staff. The new deal was also described as a "downgrade" by PR expert Mark Borkowski. He told the Mail: "I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn't deliver, and they've taken that deal off the table, and they've given them a modest one. "It's not like they're gradually uncoupling – it's a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It's Netflix saying, 'Let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate'."

Leader Live
6 hours ago
- Leader Live
Guests and release date revealed for second season of Meghan's lifestyle show
The teaser, which Meghan also shared on her Instagram, revealed that the next instalment of With Love, Meghan will air in two weeks' time on August 26. Among the celebrity guests joining the former Suits star during the eight episodes will be US model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye star Tan France, as well as podcaster Jay Shetty and his cookbook author wife Radhi Devlukia. Also appearing will be chefs Samin Nosrat, Clare Smyth, Christina Tosi, Jose Andres and David Chang, and Meghan's close friends, pilates instructor Heather Dorak and make up artist Daniel Martin. The best moments are made to be shared ✨ With Love, Meghan returns on August 26th! — Netflix (@netflix) August 12, 2025 The trailer, to the soundtrack of Bobby Day's upbeat Rockin' Robin, showed Meghan cooking, baking and crafting with her celebrity friends and saying: 'I love the idea of just spending time together … and finding new ways to show people you care.' She adds while being shown wrapping a gift: 'There are easy ways to show up, lovingly.' Meghan also reveals the Duke of Sussex is not a fan of lobster. She tells Andres as they prepare a dish together: 'Do you know who doesn't like lobster? My husband,' with the chef replying, prompting laughter from Meghan: 'And you marry (sic) him?' On Monday, Harry and Meghan announced a 'multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects', in contrast to their reported 100 million dollar (£74 million) contract five years ago. PR and crisis expert Mark Borkowski described it as a 'downgrade', and suggested Netflix was 'pivoting away' from Harry and Meghan. Season one of With Love, Meghan was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show'. The series has a 3.2 rating out of 10 on Netflix said at the time that the second season had already finished filming. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) The duchess officially launched her lifestyle brand As Ever, in which Netflix is a partner, just hours after season one premiered in March. She has gone on to sell jam, pre-made baking mixes, herbal tea and rose wine – as well as flower sprinkles, which she heavily promoted during the programme and which are also seen being used in the new trailer. Netflix said 'Meghan draws on her years of home cooking, entertaining, and all-around people pampering' for the Montecito-based show. The trailer shows Meghan embracing France, who tells her after unwrapping a gift: 'That is actually giving me goosebumps. That is so lovely.' A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Meghan is also filmed cutting a loaf of fresh bread and remarking: 'Look at that.' Andres tells the duchess everyone should have a serrano ham holder at home, with an unsure Meghan replying: 'You think so?' Shetty's appearance will raise speculation Meghan could be a possible future guest on his popular On Purpose mental health podcast. Seemingly confronted with a basket of assorted flower sprinkles and dried fruit, Shetty is seen saying: 'I have no idea where to start.' Make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, who interviewed Meghan for her podcast and also appeared on the duchess's Confessions Of A Female Founder series, also appears briefly in trailer in a segment filmed outside. Teigen, who has a podcast called Self-Conscious and a cookware and baking brand, meanwhile, tells Meghan as they make tiny flower pendants 'Oh my gosh I could do this everyday' and later adds: 'Little things like this make me so happy.' Meghan is also pictured taking part in a pottery throwing lesson with long-time friend Dorak. Near the end of the one minute and 27 second trailer, Meghan says: 'I love these moments of discovery and beauty. So let's be curious together.'


South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Guests and release date revealed for second season of Meghan's lifestyle show
The teaser, which Meghan also shared on her Instagram, revealed that the next instalment of With Love, Meghan will air in two weeks' time on August 26. Among the celebrity guests joining the former Suits star during the eight episodes will be US model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye star Tan France, as well as podcaster Jay Shetty and his cookbook author wife Radhi Devlukia. Also appearing will be chefs Samin Nosrat, Clare Smyth, Christina Tosi, Jose Andres and David Chang, and Meghan's close friends, pilates instructor Heather Dorak and make up artist Daniel Martin. The best moments are made to be shared ✨ With Love, Meghan returns on August 26th! — Netflix (@netflix) August 12, 2025 The trailer, to the soundtrack of Bobby Day's upbeat Rockin' Robin, showed Meghan cooking, baking and crafting with her celebrity friends and saying: 'I love the idea of just spending time together … and finding new ways to show people you care.' She adds while being shown wrapping a gift: 'There are easy ways to show up, lovingly.' Meghan also reveals the Duke of Sussex is not a fan of lobster. She tells Andres as they prepare a dish together: 'Do you know who doesn't like lobster? My husband,' with the chef replying, prompting laughter from Meghan: 'And you marry (sic) him?' On Monday, Harry and Meghan announced a 'multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects', in contrast to their reported 100 million dollar (£74 million) contract five years ago. PR and crisis expert Mark Borkowski described it as a 'downgrade', and suggested Netflix was 'pivoting away' from Harry and Meghan. Season one of With Love, Meghan was savaged by critics. One review in The Guardian described it as a 'gormless lifestyle filler' and 'so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show'. The series has a 3.2 rating out of 10 on Netflix said at the time that the second season had already finished filming. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) The duchess officially launched her lifestyle brand As Ever, in which Netflix is a partner, just hours after season one premiered in March. She has gone on to sell jam, pre-made baking mixes, herbal tea and rose wine – as well as flower sprinkles, which she heavily promoted during the programme and which are also seen being used in the new trailer. Netflix said 'Meghan draws on her years of home cooking, entertaining, and all-around people pampering' for the Montecito-based show. The trailer shows Meghan embracing France, who tells her after unwrapping a gift: 'That is actually giving me goosebumps. That is so lovely.' A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Meghan is also filmed cutting a loaf of fresh bread and remarking: 'Look at that.' Andres tells the duchess everyone should have a serrano ham holder at home, with an unsure Meghan replying: 'You think so?' Shetty's appearance will raise speculation Meghan could be a possible future guest on his popular On Purpose mental health podcast. Seemingly confronted with a basket of assorted flower sprinkles and dried fruit, Shetty is seen saying: 'I have no idea where to start.' Make-up entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, who interviewed Meghan for her podcast and also appeared on the duchess's Confessions Of A Female Founder series, also appears briefly in trailer in a segment filmed outside. Teigen, who has a podcast called Self-Conscious and a cookware and baking brand, meanwhile, tells Meghan as they make tiny flower pendants 'Oh my gosh I could do this everyday' and later adds: 'Little things like this make me so happy.' Meghan is also pictured taking part in a pottery throwing lesson with long-time friend Dorak. Near the end of the one minute and 27 second trailer, Meghan says: 'I love these moments of discovery and beauty. So let's be curious together.'