TV presenter Lizzie Cundy was disappointed to discover the Duchess of Sussex wore a dress similar to hers to the LA Children’s Hospital Gala last weekend.
The Duchess of Sussex swapped her usual sleek hairstyle for a more wavy look as she attended the event on Saturday evening, opting for minimal jewelry and subtler makeup.
Wearing a red dress that she wore for the first time in 2021, Meghan joked to a boy at the gala that “it’s definitely time for bed.” Then she said to his mother, ‘How old are they? Oh, so close to our children.’ Harry and Meghan’s son Archie is five and daughter Lilibet is three.
When the Duchess wore Carolina Herrera’s dress to a 2021 gala, she had heavy eye makeup.
Saturday’s solo appearance, which saw the train removed from her $5,990 (£4,568) dress for a simpler look, came as Harry embarked on a two-week ‘quasi-royal tour’ without her.
Lizzie told the Mail: ‘I would have worn a different one if I’d known,’ said Lizzie, 56, who wore a £259 Pia Michi dress.
“There wasn’t a lot of warmth from people when she arrived,” Lizzie says. “She wasn’t there long, she seemed to be there for the pictures.”
Lizzie Cundy was disappointed to see the Duchess of Sussex wearing a similar dress to hers at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala last weekend
Meghan swapped her usual sleek hairstyle for a more wavy look as she attended the event on Saturday night
Lizzie, 56, wore a £259 Pia Michi dress, while Meghan, 43, wore a £4,500 Carolina Herrera dress
Lizzie was one of those Meghan was friends with before she met Prince Harry
Lizzie, who was formerly a friend of King Charles’ daughter-in-law, added: ‘Meghan needs LA more than LA needs her. LA people feel like they’ve been played by her.”
She explains: ‘Harry and Meghan were loved because they were part of the royal family, but they have bad mouthed the royals, who are loved in LA. It’s a shame because charity work is where she and Harry do great things.’
Lizzie was one of those Meghan was friends with before she met Prince Harry.
Looking back in 2021, she said: ‘We have a clip where she says: ‘I want to be a London girl, I love London men and I love everything to do with London.’
‘I was asked to look after Meghan when she came here. She wanted to meet someone.”
But the presenter claimed Meghan later cut off all contact with her, adding: ‘She ghosted me when the engagement happened.
The former senior working royal was seen holding hands with her Kelly McKee Zajfen and seemingly wanting to step away from the cameras as quickly as possible
Meghan then greeted Paul Viviano, a healthcare leader and national advocate for children’s healthcare
“She’s obviously ghosted a lot of people, including her family, so I’m not the worst person she’s ghosted.”
It’s understood Harry didn’t spend his 40th birthday with Meghan, 43, last month, but instead went for a walk with friends.
The couple’s separate engagements have sparked speculation, although sources close to the Sussexes claim it was Meghan who booked the walking tour for Harry.
Contacts in California told the Mail they believe the new ‘solo Harry’ is his idea. “I think he wants space,” said one.
A London source said: ‘This definitely feels like he is taking his game to the next level to cement his position as a serious player on the international stage.
“He’s always been desperate to be taken seriously.”
