The Met Gala in New York City, one of the biggest celebrity events of the year. However, it appears there was some behind-the-scenes drama involving Meghan Markle. Sources have revealed that Vogue editor-in-chief and Gala chair Anna Wintour had to take a firm stance to prevent Meghan from attempting to crash the event.
We all know that the Met Gala’s guest list is notoriously exclusive, and Anna is the one who makes the final decisions about who gets in. Apparently, Meghan was not on the invite list but still wanted to attend to support her friend Serena Williams, one of the celebrity hosts this year.
Typically, celebrities can bring a plus one, but Anna had already approved all attendees and was steadfast about not allowing any additional guests, even for the hosts. Reports indicate that Meghan attempted to leverage her royal title when reaching out to Anna’s team to gain approval, but Anna was unyielding. She has been particularly diligent about keeping the guest list aligned with the year’s theme, which this time was *In America: A Lexicon of Fashion*. The focus was on contributions to fashion and pop culture, not personal connections or titles.
While Meghan has certainly made a splash in the fashion world since marrying Prince Harry, she lacks the extensive career history that Anna expects from attendees. It’s reported that Anna believed allowing Meghan to crash the event would set a precedent for other celebrities to try and use their connections to gain entry. The Met Gala is about maintaining exclusivity and celebrating fashion, not about clout chasing or mingling with other famous faces.
Some sources claim that when Anna informed Meghan she wouldn’t be added to the guest list, there was an argument on Meghan’s end. She reiterated the significance of her royal status and argued that her presence would provide a great promotional opportunity for Vogue, but Anna remained resolute, insisting that Meghan did not meet the theme requirements and that her decision was final. While Anna wasn’t rude, she didn’t waver in her stance.
This latest incident adds to the ongoing tension between Meghan and Anna, which has been complicated since Meghan and Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah. During that interview, Meghan spoke out against the treatment she received from the royals, leading to speculation that Anna was displeased with her for essentially tarnishing the monarchy’s image on a global scale. Although Anna hasn’t openly criticized Meghan’s comments, she has navigated a careful balance in her public support for the royal institution.
Sources suggest that Anna has even refrained from featuring Meghan on any Vogue covers out of respect for the Queen, despite Meghan appearing on multiple magazine covers after the Oprah interview. This has been interpreted as Anna’s subtle disapproval of Meghan’s actions and their impact on the Crown’s reputation.
The recent Met Gala snub is seen by some as Anna acting out of loyalty to the royals, especially following months of negative PR stemming from Meghan’s revelations. It’s important to note, however, that representatives for both Meghan and Anna have denied any drama surrounding the Met Gala guest list, claiming that Anna simply evaluated all attendees based on her high standards for the event.
Despite this, the fact remains that while Harry and several other royal family members have attended the Gala in the past, this was Meghan’s first significant opportunity to join, and her absence was notable, especially considering her ties to Serena. For Meghan, it must be particularly painful to feel blacklisted from what is considered the biggest night in fashion, especially due to lingering associations with the royal scandal she helped bring to light.
Having built a budding career in Hollywood focused on couture brands and philanthropic causes like gender equality, the Met Gala represents a chance for many designers to showcase their work on prominent celebrities, significantly boosting their profiles in the industry. While we may never know the exact conversations that occurred between Meghan and Anna’s teams behind closed doors, it’s clear that Meghan was effectively turned away from one of the most star-studded events of the year, associated with the fashion authority she aims to feature in.
For someone striving to distance herself from palace constraints, it must feel like yet another setback to have that same establishment potentially undermine her efforts in the fashion world through the influence of someone like Anna. If this is true, it also highlights a bold power move by Anna to uphold her protocols, even when faced with pressure from royal connections. She clearly sees herself as above any celebrity’s influence, maintaining strict control over the event to elevate fashion. This situation solidifies her position at the pinnacle of the fashion world, where she has the power to grant or deny Met Gala invitations based on each individual’s contributions to the industry.
