On the same day that Meghan Markle attended a special gala where her appearance was heavily criticized, her royal husband went solo to another event where he addressed rumors about their marriage.
Revered public figures stepped out in style on December 4 to attend the prestigious Paley Honors Fall Gala in Beverly Hills, California. Meghan Markle, 43, was among the stars on the A-list guest list. Although she rocked an elegant glam look, netizens were quite unimpressed with her physical appearance.
For the glitzy affair, the Duchess of Sussex donned a chic strapless gown that featured a slit on one side and a lengthy train that trailed behind her on the red carpet.
She paired her ensemble with stunning diamond jewelry, including an eye-catching necklace, a gold bracelet, and her wedding ring.
Completing her look, the 43-year-old sported open-toed, strapped heels and styled her dark locks into an updo, leaving a few strands loose on one side to frame her face. She also accentuated her features with light makeup.
Joining the Duchess of Sussex at the event was iconic actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, 55, who was honored with a tribute at the gala.
According to the organization’s website, which also divulged details about the event including how one could purchase tickets and a table, “The Paley Honors Award, presented by The Paley Center for Media, is the organization’s highest honor.”
The Paley Honors recognize those who have “consistently set the bar for excellence” with their “groundbreaking achievements in media.” Established as the world’s premier nonprofit cultural institution, the Paley Center is “dedicated to preserving our media history and exploring media’s powerful shaping influence on culture and society.”
Any proceeds made from the Paley Honors are allocated to supporting the organization’s educational programs and the continuous preservation of the Paley Archive. Frank A. Bennack Jr. is the organization’s chairman and Maureen J. Reidy is the CEO and president.
Aside from taking photos with Paley Honoree Tyler, Meghan, who is a Tribute Chair for the Paley Center for Media, was seen spending time with legendary actress and fellow Tribute Chair Kerry Washington, 47, who wore a figure-hugging, structural dress.
A video shared by Hello! Magazine shows the duo and Tyler Perry seated at their beautifully decorated table inside the venue, where they chatted and posed for pictures. “Kerry Washington, Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry are the dinner table we want to be sat at!” captioned the outlet.
In another video Hello! shared on Instagram, Kerry and Meghan were spotted dancing and clapping their hands in their chairs as an appeal specialist called out paddle numbers.
Although a lot was going on at the event, online viewers diverted their focus to Meghan. Many had unkind sentiments to express concerning her appearance. “She looks so old and untidy,” remarked a user on X.
Another accompanied their message with close-up photos of Meghan’s skin, commenting, “Ageing like tanned leather,” while another opined, “LOL LOL, she looks more like grandma too old [sic].”
“oops Meghan, getting old [sic],” added someone else. “She looks mid fifty’s at best she ain’t 42 or whatever she claims [sic],” observed a spectator.
Bringing the Princess of Wales into the mix, an Instagrammer asserted, “And her fans dare to drag Kate for ‘ageing’ [sic] LOL.” “She looks very old,” stated an observer.
“Who put her butter all over the face [sic]?
,” wondered a netizen, while another criticized, “She has bad skin.”
A social media user who believes Meghan has had some enhancement work done wrote, “Oh wow she’s messing with plastic surgery too much. She doesn’t look like her original beautiful self anymore.” Another echoed, “What’s she done to her face, it looks different.”
“Why is she so weird and awkward. [sic] She’s a woman in her forties but she’s all anxious and giggly and grabs at people. She’s got no finesse and she never looks stylish,” expressed an Instagrammer.
Someone who sat on the fence penned, “Looks nice .. Maybe showing age alittle [sic].” “Who butchered her hair, disaster,” pondered an Instagrammer, while another said, “She needs a hairstylist. she [sic] has bed head.”
On the other hand, however, some showered Meghan with compliments. “Keep thriving Meghan! unbothered and stunning [sic],” praised a fan. A fellow admirer defended, “Say what you will but this woman is both beautiful and adorable.”
“Wow Meghan looks beautiful and very young, I love seeing her so beautiful and happy
,” swooned another supporter.
On the same day that Meghan attended the Paley Center Gala, her husband, Prince Harry, 40, appeared at a different event.
The Duke of Sussex attended The New York Times DealBook Summit, where he sat down for an interview with DealBook founder and editor-at-large Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Prince Harry spoke about mental health awareness and his philanthropic endeavors for justice and resiliency. During the interview, Andrew mentioned news reports highlighting the fact that Prince Harry and Meghan attended separate events and the inferences drawn from that about their marriage.
Andrew then asked Prince Harry how he feels about the intense public scrutiny that he and Meghan Markle are regularly bombarded with, questioning if he views it as a “good thing.”
“No, that’s definitely not a good thing,” answered Prince Harry, who then recounted the ridiculous rumors about them moving “ten/twelve times,” divorcing and leading separate lives.
“It’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls […] But, yes, I have no doubt that everything we’ve spoken about today, in the last […] 25 minutes, will be spun or twisted somehow against me, and maybe you yourself will be trolled relentlessly,” shared the Prince.
Concluding his statement, the Duke of Sussex quipped, “And for that, I can only apologize, but you did invite me, so it’s not my fault.”