Meghan Markle has stunned at a glamorous gala event in Los Angeles, despite controversy surrounding claims made in a book by a former ally.
Meghan attended the Variety Power of Women gala on Thursday night, where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Margot Robbie, Oprah Winfrey, Dua Lipa, Carey Mulligan and Billie Eilish.
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The Duchess of Sussex looked elegant in a simple one-shouldered pale taupe gown, with her hair slicked back into a chic bun accessorised with simple jewellery and natural makeup.
Variety’s Instagram followers loved the look, describing Meghan as “very beautiful” and “stunning”.
“She looks so classic and elegant. This look is chef’s kiss gorgeous,” one fan wrote.
“Effortlessly chic,” added another. “Love her style.”
“Perfection,” said a third.
Meghan’s attendance at the high-profile soiree came as royal writer Omid Scobie claimed that Prince Harry was “kept in the dark” about the state of Queen Elizabeth’s health before her September 2022 death.
A day after the Queen had been advised by doctors to rest, Harry had “no idea” her death was impending, Scobie claims.
“By the next morning, the Sussexes had no idea that Buckingham Palace was already planning for the Queen’s final hours and the first days of the monarchy’s new era — until the duke’s phone started ringing,” he writes.
“An unknown number. He usually ignored those.
“Harry hadn’t spoken to his father much that year, but this was not the time for any father-and-son tension.
“Charles told him he and Camilla were about to leave Dumfries House for Balmoral, where Princess Anne was already by the Queen’s side.
“He told Harry to make his way to Scotland immediately.”
Scobie then claims Harry sent a text message to Prince William asking how he was getting to Scotland but didn’t receive a reply.
Instead, Harry had to scramble to get on a flight with his uncles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Scobie, who has written another book about the Sussexes, called Finding Freedom, was once considered something of a flag waver for the pair.
But in the new book, he has made a number of claims that apparently do not sit well with Harry and Meghan.
They include a claim that Prince William feels he has “lost Harry” and “doesn’t want to know this version of him”.
Keeping distance
According to the UK Daily Mail, Harry and Meghan have denied any affiliation with Scobie’s new book, or the claims made in it.
It’s thought the allegations aired in Endgame could potentially pose a threat to the slowly thawing relationship between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family.
Harry recently broke the ice of a six-month-long silence by calling his father, King Charles, on his 75th birthday.
But the Sussexes also released a statement denying a UK tabloid claim that they had rejected an offer to attend his birthday celebrations, saying they were never invited in the first place.
Meghan also reportedly chatted to Charles on his birthday, sending him a video recording of their two children Archie and Lilibet singing happy birthday to their grandfather.
A source close to Charles said the phone call did not last too long.
“The King was extremely busy but is polite and loves his son and his grandchildren, and not so mean that he would not take a call on his birthday,” the source told The Sun.
‘Long way to go’
The phone call included plans to “catch up soon”, the source added, but said there was still “a long way to go” to patch up the relationship between the monarch and his son.
“There is still a long way to go to mend the rift created over many years — and the deeper issues caused by allegations in the Netflix series and Spare are not healed with a phone call,” the insider said.
Prince Harry has not seen his father since Charles was crowned on May 6.
One source close to the King recently told The Times the monarch was saddened by the state of things between Harry and Prince William, and his own estrangement from his son.
“When he gets to the end of another successful work day and thinks of his family, there will always be a twinge in his heart about a problem he hasn’t been able to solve yet,” Charles’ friend told the outlet.
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