Meghan Markle recently shared a rather unexpected and personal moment on her Instagram—to celebrate her daughter Princess Lilibet’s 4th birthday. Instead of the typical heartfelt birthday message you might expect, she posted a throwback video showing herself dancing, even twerking a bit, in the hospital room before Lilibet’s birth. Markle was wearing a black dress, and the video included Prince Harry joining in the dance. She explained the backstory in her caption, saying that both of their children were overdue by a week, and when food, walking, and acupuncture didn’t work, that dance was the last resort.
Now, I have to admit, watching that video, I felt a bit of joy—there’s something refreshingly human about seeing someone let loose in such a vulnerable moment. But clearly, not everyone saw it that way. The video touched off a storm online, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with many critics accusing Markle of “classless behavior.” One comment stood out, bluntly saying, “Kate would never. She has class,” putting the Duchess of Cambridge on a pedestal by contrast.
The Shadow of Kate Middleton
This backlash drew immediate comparisons to Kate Middleton, a familiar royal standard. Fans of the Princess of Wales rushed to say they’d never seen Kate dance or act quite so openly during such a moment. One commenter suggested that if Kate had done something similar, it would have been kept under wraps. Another user took the critique even further, using the video as “proof” that Meghan Markle just doesn’t fit into the royal lifestyle they imagine.
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Honestly, the comparisons between Meghan and Kate are almost a feast for the internet—it’s like a royal-sideways glance contest that goes on and on. But isn’t this kind of double standard tiring? When you see footage of Kate cradling her baby bump with the same affection Meghan did, people barely blink. Yet, the smallest gesture from Meghan can ignite a firestorm of judgment. So, why is that? Perhaps it’s the old story of princesses and pop culture, or maybe just social media’s love of drama.
The Never-Ending Pregnancy Scrutiny
Markle’s pregnancies have often been a lightning rod for gossip and disbelief. Remember when she posted a blurry photo of her baby bump and suddenly a whole Reddit thread exploded with claims that she wasn’t even pregnant? Yes, really. Some said the bump looked “fake,” with one user describing it as “a waxy belly attached” rather than a real baby bump.
And then, there was the criticism for how Meghan held her bump during official events. Some commenters found it “tiring” that she constantly touched her belly, presumably interpreting it as attention-seeking. But of course, many women naturally hold or cradle their baby bump as a comforting gesture, so it’s no surprise at all.
When a side-by-side photo of Kate holding her bump came up, there was a sudden chorus pointing out how Meghan’s actions were mirrored by Kate without similar outcry. It’s striking how the same behavior can be viewed so differently depending on who’s doing it.
— It makes me think, maybe the issue isn’t really about what Meghan does in those moments. Maybe it’s more about what people want to believe about her or the story they expect royal women to tell. Sometimes, it feels like being a royal means walking a fine line between human and untouchable icon, and Meghan is just trying to slide along that wire without losing herself.
It’s easy to see why Meghan Markle wanted to hide her baby bump from the world. She was pregnant twice, having given birth to Prince Archie in 2019 and Princess Lilibet in 2021. Although Markle’s second pregnancy was easier than her first, she dealt with heavy scrutiny and gossip both times. Some even doubted Markle was pregnant back in the day. When she posted a blurry image of herself and her baby bump on Instagram, this only fueled the rumors. On Reddit, commenters felt the rather obscure picture was proof that there was something fishy going on with her pregnancy. “Nope never pregnant. Bump looks fake,” one Reddit user wrote. Meanwhile, another commenter was convinced even more that Markle wasn’t expecting. “But I really did think she was pregnant for real. She killed that thought with this blurry image that LITERALLY looks like she has a FAKE waxen belly attached to her abdomen,” they said.
When she was pregnant with her firstborn, she even drew criticism for the way she was seen holding her baby bump. “Yes, all that baby bump-overdoing thing is tiring,” a poster wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Why can’t she just stand normally, in particular at official occasions?”
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However, not everyone agreed with this take. Others online felt that Markle cupping her baby bump was a natural reaction and instinct that many women experienced during pregnancy. In fact, the controversy inspired comparisons of Markle and Kate Middleton again. A picture was posted on X of Middleton holding her baby bump while pregnant, practically the same way Markle did. This highlighted the possible different standards to which both royal women are held. “Yeah, how come no one said anything about Kate doing the same thing?” Jennifer Smith posted.
