On November 8, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves at the center of a social media frenzy after attending Kris Jenner’s lavish James Bond-themed 70th birthday party in Beverly Hills. What followed was a quiet request to remove photos of the royal couple from Instagram posts. It was a move that left the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who are all about social media, publicly scratching their heads, according to the Daily Mail.
Harry and Meghan Made a Surprise Appearance at Kris Jenner’s Bday
Harry and Meghan had quite the Saturday night, attending two star-studded parties. The first was the Baby2Baby Gala, where they posed with Serena Williams, and the second was Kris Jenner’s birthday party, which was hosted by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
Meghan opted for a sleek black wrap skirt with a dark blue turtleneck sweater. Harry looked dapper in a classic tuxedo topped with a Remembrance poppy, a symbolic gesture honoring the British armed forces personnel.
GettyThe Unusual Photo Request
From Jenner’s Instagram account, the couple was featured alongside other A-list guests, including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Kathy, Paris and, Nicky Hilton, and Martha Stewart; it was basically a Who’s Who of Hollywood. However, just a few hours later, all traces of Harry and Meghan had been scrubbed from Jenner’s feed and Kim Kardashian’s as well, according to the New York Post.
A source close to the event clarified that, contrary to circulating reports, neither Meghan Markle nor Prince Harry was presented with photo-consent forms, according to People.
Other insiders told News.com.au that Harry and Meghan asked Jenner and Kardashian to take down the photos so as to avoid conflicting with Remembrance Day observances in the UK, given Harry’s military service and visible poppy.
Kim Kardashian reaction
For Jenner and Kardashian, the removal of the photos has both puzzled them and stirred some frustration. An insider told the New York Post that Kim felt the request was unreasonable, especially considering Meghan and Harry had already appeared at the Baby2Baby Gala that same evening, and had no problem with those photos.
The Tension Between Media-Savvy Worlds
The tension is a clash between two media-savvy worlds: Hollywood celebrity photo culture and the Sussexes’ increasingly careful image management. Beyond that, the incident points to a broader balancing act faced by Harry and Meghan: How will they continue to navigate high-profile celebrity events and the expectations of the royal family back in the U.K.?
As the deletions become an internet talking point, both sides are likely assessing the damage, and one thing is clear: in the world of celebrity photo-ops, even a low-key request can generate big headlines.
