Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of public critique, this time from renowned British columnist Tanya Gold. Writing for the London Evening Standard, Gold accused the Duchess of Sussex and other members of the global elite of embodying a disconnected and privileged lifestyle, likening Meghan to a “modern-day Marie Antoinette.”
Gold’s critique was rooted in the depiction of Meghan in the Netflix special With Love, Meghan. The journalist described scenes of the Duchess strolling through a garden filled with “tiny flowers and salad leaves” while carrying a basket. “She wanders through a garden not her own: she borrowed it, being protective of her own, real garden, and there’s an irony for you. At one point, preposterously, she dresses as a beekeeper,” Gold wrote.
Gold humorously questioned whether it was actually Meghan featured in the scenes, speculating, “At least I think it was Meghan. It could have been a minion or stunt Meghan.”
The columnist expressed concern over how traditional activities like gardening are being transformed into luxury pursuits by the wealthy, labeling the trend as “cottagecore.” She compared this aesthetic to “a modern form of Marie Antoinette syndrome,” where the wealthy romanticize simplicity while living in privilege.
“The Cotswolds is going that way,” Gold noted, recalling a visit to a farm shop that evoked the picturesque gardens favored by Meghan and her circle. She described the scene as “madness,” noting it was surrounded by Range Rovers.
Despite her sharp critique, Gold acknowledged Meghan’s recent decision to postpone her new Netflix project as a commendable act of sensitivity toward those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
The journalist concluded with a broader observation about the wealthy, stating, “If you are rich, you are good, and you have a lesson for the world. They won’t learn it, but we must.”
Meghan Markle’s lifestyle and public image continue to spark polarized opinions, with some praising her philanthropic efforts and others questioning her portrayal of a simpler, more relatable existence.
