Meghan Markle Raises Eyebrows After Rewearing a Designer Dress From a Photoshoot in New Special

Call it Dressgate. When the trailer for With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration premiered on Nov. 19, fans quickly recognized the green gown Meghan Markle is wearing in one festive scene — and lit up the comments sections with accusations she’d pilfered it from a Variety photo shoot in 2022.

“Gotta love the Meg in a stolen designer dress,” wrote one critic on YouTube, while another warned: “Netflix, better check all the props and wardrobe and send Meghan the bill if anything is found to be missing.”

Soon, a Page Six report emerged seemingly doubling down on the allegations she’d held on to the one-shoulder Galvan frock without asking. Its supposed price tag? $1,695.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, denied having sticky fingers, though. “The insinuation that any items were taken without the full knowledge and agreement of the on-set stylists or their respective teams is not only categorically false, but also highly defamatory,” insisted a spokesperson for Meghan. “Any items kept were done so in total transparency and in accordance with contractual arrangements.”

They Said, She Said

This isn’t the first time rumors have surfaced of Meghan allegedly failing to return borrowed pieces. In Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, author Tom Bower wrote of an alleged incident during a 2016 Reitmans commercial shoot, where “to the surprise of the wardrobe staff, she forgot to leave behind the Aquazzura shoes.”

“They are scroungers, the Sussexes,” Bower claimed in the book, adding that Meghan and husband Prince Harry, 41, are “constantly looking for freebies.”

The former Suits actress raised eyebrows again in October by appearing to rewear a black-and white Chanel frock from her 2022 The Cut cover story — which came out mere weeks before the now-infamous Variety article. Not helping Meghan’s case? Journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis said on a 2024 episode of Andrew Gold’s Heretics podcast that she too had heard whispers about the As Ever founder lifting items from a “high-profile” set.

“What’s shocking about hearing these kinds of alleged stories is that somebody who is living in a $15 million-plus mansion in Montecito, who’s just had $100 million deals, would care enough to take home some jewelry and clothes from a photo shoot that she can clearly afford,” the Vanity Fair contributor shared.

Of course, as a working royal, Meghan wasn’t allowed to accept any fashion handouts. It’s been more than five years since she and Harry stepped away from palace life, though.

“Meghan can’t seem to win,” says a source close to the duchess. “If she didn’t take the dress she would have probably been criticized for not liking her wardrobe or something. We’ll never know the real story, that’s for sure.”