The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, continues to fuel debate over her relatability with her choice of luxury fashion.
PR experts argue that her lavish jewelry, worth nearly $200,000 at a recent charity gala, sends conflicting signals to the public.
Though Meghan Markle defended herself in an April interview, insisting her life hasn’t always been privileged, scrutiny intensified after her Netflix series showcased more designer looks.
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Meghan Markle’s Glamorous Jewelry Sparks Debate Over Her Image
Meghan’s appearance at a recent charity concert has sparked renewed discussion about the contrast between her public persona and her high-end fashion choices.
According to PR expert Ryan McCormick, her luxurious accessories may send mixed messages to the public.
“Meghan may desire to connect with everyday people, but if so, she has to be fully committed,” McCormick told the Daily Mail.
The expert continued, “Wearing that kind of expensive jewelry communicates, ‘I am in the upper class, so we have two conflicting messages here, and that’s one of the reasons why it could be challenging for some members of the public to emotionally connect with her.”
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The Duchess Looked Radiant At A Charity Event, But An Expert Says It’s Hard To Perceive Her As ‘One Of Us’
McCormick’s critique comes after Meghan’s attendance at the One805LIVE! Charity event hosted by actor Kevin Costner.
For the event, the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in a sophisticated navy Carolina Herrera gown, accessorized with a collection of high-value pieces.
Among them: Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank Française watch, estimated at $24,000; a $5,000 tennis bracelet by Jennifer Meyer; a $7,000 Cartier Love bracelet; and her iconic diamond engagement ring, reportedly valued at $160,000.
McCormick noted that the total value of her jewelry alone is worth “multiple times the average annual salary of most people.”
“This definitely makes it harder for the Duchess to be perceived as ‘one of us,” he explained.
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Meghan Markle Pushes Back On Claims She’s ‘Out Of Touch’
In an April sit-down with the New York Times, Meghan addressed criticism that her upscale lifestyle makes her seem “unrelatable” to everyday people.
Speaking from her luxurious Montecito estate, the former “Suits” star questioned the narrative.
“Don’t they know my life hasn’t always been like this?” she said, referring to her rise from modest beginnings. According to interviewer Julia Moskin, Meghan appeared genuinely unsettled by accusations that she’s “out of touch.”
In March, Meghan also seemingly addressed the concerns about her relatability by giving People Magazine a glimpse into her daily life in the area.
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“We go to a lot of dinners, and not just in people’s homes or private rooms; we just go into the restaurant,” she shared. “I have a couple of girlfriends up here; these are stay-at-home moms and working women with normal jobs, not in the public eye. We went from just connecting through our kids to having girls’ night out or doing Pilates together.”
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Expert Says The Duchess’s Luxury Style Is About Fitting In, Not Showing Off
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield suggested to the Daily Mail that Meghan’s taste for luxury fashion and high-end jewelry may have more to do with her rich surroundings than her public image.
Residing in the affluent enclave of Montecito, home to celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow, he suggested that Meghan might simply be adjusting to her new environment.
“Her habit of wearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry feels less like a play for an audience and more like a way of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ in Santa Barbara,” Schofield noted.
The expert added, “I simply think she’s competing with her very famous and very rich neighbors.”
Montecito Resident Describes Living Near The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex
Meanwhile, Montecito residents have offered insight into what it’s like sharing a neighborhood with Prince Harry and Meghan.
In an interview with The Telegraph, some locals noted that Harry is most often spotted alone, walking along the beach, cycling, or occasionally going out to dine, with his security detail never far behind.
Meghan, on the other hand, is said to keep a low profile but is more often seen than her husband. She’s been observed enjoying meals with friends or visiting local markets.
Speaking about their lifestyle, longtime columnist and local reporter Richard Mineards noted, “They live rather splendidly, it couldn’t be a nicer place.”
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“We have got a lot of very rich and very famous people here, and none of them have a security retinue like the Sussexes,” he continued, hinting at Harry and Meghan’s immense security measures.
