The latest portraits of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have some royal watchers seeing red.
The Duchess of Sussex, who returned home to California with her husband following Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on September 19, sports a red tie-neck blouse in two new photos that were released Monday by photographer Misan Harriman — and her look is drawing comparisons to Wallis Simpson, the American divorcée who caused King Edward VIII to abdicate the throne in 1936.
Wearing the “Bow Blouse” from Another Tomorrow ($540) along with the brand’s red trousers ($590), Markle, 41, stares straight on at the camera in one photo, bearing a striking resemblance to a 1971 photo of Simpson.
The royal wife — who became the Duchess of Windsor following her marriage to Queen Elizabeth’s uncle King Edward VIII, later known as the Duke of Windsor — wore a long-sleeved red ensemble in the vintage photo, with the attached scarf tie of her dress tossed over the same shoulder as Markle’s.
Fans have pointed out that the present-day duchess is wearing similar gold hoop earrings as the ones Simpson sported in the 1970s snapshot and sporting a middle part with her hair pulled back, along with making a similar facial expression.
In another photo — snapped in black-and-white by Harriman, who is a friend of the Sussexes — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are shown in profile, staring off into the distance along the lines of a portrait released of the Windsors years ago.
Royal fans on Twitter were quick to point out the similarities between the red outfits, and unsurprisingly, the comments weren’t positive. “JEEZ it’s creepy” one user wrote, sharing a collage of four of Meghan’s outfits compared to ones as worn by Simpson, who was said to be a Nazi sympathizer.
“Here we go again,” another account wrote. “Note the earrings too? Anyone would think MM savours the role of pantomime villain.”
Indeed, this isn’t the first time royal fans have pointed out that Markle appears to be emulating some of Wallis Simpsons’ looks.
Back in 2021, the black-and-white Armani dress she wore during the Sussexes’ infamous Oprah Winfrey interview was compared to a frock the Duchess of Windsor wore with a similar pattern.
The head-to-toe Dior outfit she wore to a service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee this summer also looked reminsicent to a white look worn by Simpson.
Author Anna Pasternak, who penned “The American Duchess” about Wallis Simpson, wrote in the Daily Mail on Tuesday that “this week was far from the first time that Meghan has apparently modelled her look on Wallis.”
And while she noted the similarities between the two women as American divorcees, she advised Markle to perhaps take a look at history in other ways by remaining quiet about her time with the royals.
“Meghan was given everything by the Royal Family that Wallis was denied: a HRH title, a royal wedding and a warm welcome by the Windsors,” Pasternak said. “Yet none of this was enough for the former Ms Markle.”
“Meghan may well be a fan of the Duchess of Windsor’s elegance,” she continued. “Now, some would say she might do well to emulate Wallis in other ways, too — and practise a dignified silence.”
