The Paris video posted by Meghan Markle close to the spot where Princess Diana died might cost her dearly, experts reveal, and could threaten to derail any reconciliation between Harry and the royals

The backlash from the Duchess of Sussex’s Paris video – filmed near the spot where Princess Diana died – has become the latest event to overshadow any positive talk of a royal family reconciliation, reports OK!. Meghan, 44, videoed her view of the city from the backseat of her car shortly after attending the Balenciaga fashion show on Saturday 4 October.

Her footage included the Pont de l’Alma bridge, which leads to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, the site of the car crash that killed Diana, her partner Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul in August 1997. The video, which ended with a blurry shot of Meghan’s stiletto-clad feet on the seat of the car, trended on social media shortly after going live, with many commentators slamming the former Suits actress as “insensitive”.

Meghan Markle

Meghan was in Paris for the Balenciaga fashion show(Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle Paris video Pont de l’Alma

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Her video included a shot of the Pont de l’Alma bridge, close to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel crash site(Image: meghan/Instagram)

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says while Meghan simply made a genuine mistake, it’s unlikely the clip and subsequent fallout has gone down well at home. “I suspect Harry will be horrified and extremely angry, because the video links to the most traumatic period of his life,” he told OK!. “He would be aghast, because even though it wasn’t intentional, it was a very bad mistake.”

“Meghan simply cannot afford to behave like that, because of who she is and the fact she has made herself into a brand. Her airily filming part of Paris, while it wasn’t intended to offend anybody and was clearly a mistake, was grossly insensitive, and these mistakes hold weight.”

Meghan’s solo visit to the French capital was her first trip to Europe in two years, while Prince Harry remained at home in California with Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

She was there to support her friend, Balenciaga’s new creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, and was photographed mingling with Vogue icon Dame Anna Wintour, as well as film director Baz Luhrmann.

Meghan was supporting Balenciaga’s new creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli

Meghan was supporting Balenciaga’s new creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli

But it was the video she posted after the glitzy fashion show that became the talk of her trip online. One person wrote on X, “I’m speechless. This doesn’t show love or respect for Harry. I feel for Prince William. This is beyond insensitive”. Others called her post “tasteless”, suggesting she had “disrespected” Diana’s memory.

The video also reportedly went down badly with Harry’s relatives. One source was widely quoted as saying Prince William, 43, was “livid beyond words”.