What Meghan Markle Did on Coronation Day Got Fans Talking

While the eyes of the world were fixed on the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May – an event which countless individuals would give anything to attend – Meghan Markle was conspicuously absent.

Despite being the daughter-in-law to the newly-crowned king, she did not accompany her husband, Prince Harry. The prince published a controversial memoir just a few months before the coronation, and Meghan chose to remain home in Los Angeles.

It was initially claimed that Meghan had opted out of attending King Charles III's coronation to look after the children. However, this explanation was later revealed as a PR manoeuvre aimed at deflecting attention from another royal family scandal. This became evident when Markle posted a photograph of herself enjoying an outdoor activity.

In the picture, presumably taken on coronation day, Meghan is seen outdoors, with some lush green foliage in the background. She is striking a pose for the camera, standing with her hands on her hips and sporting a broad smile. Her attire consists of an Indiana Jones-esque hat, tinted sunglasses, a scarf, a black V-neck sleeveless top, and an armband, which many believe to be the late Princess Diana's cherished Cartier watch.

The photograph was seemingly meant to convey a casual I'm-going-hiking message. However, it stirred substantial controversy online. The reason for this was not what one might initially suspect. Meghan Markle was criticised, not for her absence at her father-in-law's coronation or for not staying home with the children as previously announced, but for her 'ridiculous' attire.

'As someone that enjoys the outdoors including walks and hikes (both groomed trails and not) in a warm weather locale similar to CA, this look is ridiculous. It reveals she is someone that does NOT go outdoors for a 'hike',' a Redditor wrote.

In particular, the hat and scarf were deemed inappropriate for hiking by critics, who quickly pointed out their impracticality. The abundant jewellery was also considered a poor choice, as the general rule for hiking is not to take anything you wouldn't want to lose. But most significant was the absence of any water in the photograph. Many questioned how anyone could embark on a hike without water, prompting further backlash after Meghan posted the picture.

The consensus was clear. Markle's attempt to portray an outdoorsy image was deemed 'laughable'. Nevertheless, the Duchess of Sussex successfully attracted some publicity, despite her absence from King Charles III's coronation.

Source: Reddit.