Meghan Markle recently wore a pair of Princess Diana's diamond and sapphire butterfly earrings to a charity gala in British Columbia, Canada. The Duchess of Sussex attended the event, which marked the 40th anniversary of music producer David Foster's charitable foundation, alongside Prince Harry. Foster, described as a paternal figure to Prince Harry, had previously arranged for the couple to stay in Canada in late 2019.
The specific earrings chosen by Markle were the same ones Princess Diana wore during her visit to British Columbia in 1986. This choice has led to speculation from royal commentators about Markle's intentions.
During a discussion on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential program, commentator Richard Kay suggested that Markle is attempting to "stake a claim on Diana's legacy." He noted that identifying the exact jewelry Diana wore on a specific trip to a less prominent part of Canada in 1986 would have required significant research, implying the selection was not coincidental. Kay posited that Markle may be trying to "channel the mother-in-law she never met."
Sarah Vine, a columnist and guest on the program, described Markle's decision to wear the late princess's jewelry to a "red carpet event" as "bizarre" and "pretty calculated." She indicated that Markle has previously worn jewelry gifted by Prince Harry from his mother's collection on significant occasions, such as her wedding day and an early public appearance after announcing her pregnancy with son Archie.
Richard Eden suggested that Markle's choice might be a deliberate effort to highlight her connection to Princess Diana in anticipation of the 30th anniversary of Diana's death, which is approaching. He pointed to recent social media posts from the Sussexes' European holiday, which appeared to include a visit to Diana's grave on the Spencer family estate. Eden stated that Prince Harry finds comfort in such connections, referencing his past comments about Markle using the same perfume as his mother. He anticipates similar symbolic gestures from Markle as commemorative events for Princess Diana are planned.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have previously acknowledged Princess Diana's influence on their lives. Harry has spoken about how certain items and actions remind him of his mother, and Markle has incorporated elements that echo Diana's style and impact into her public appearances.