Martha Stewart, the lifestyle and homemaking icon, stated that Meghan Markle discussed her family’s recent trip to the United Kingdom at a dinner party in California, while a source close to the Duchess of Sussex denied any such conversation took place. The exchange highlights a disagreement over what was said during a private gathering attended by both women in early July 2025.
Martha Stewart’s account
Stewart, 85, told People magazine that she had recently attended a dinner party in California where she briefly spoke with Meghan Markle. According to Stewart, Markle was "talking about" her family’s visit to the United Kingdom, including a stop at Highgrove House, the private residence of King Charles and Queen Camilla, where the Sussexes met with the royal couple. Stewart described their interaction as brief, noting they exchanged only a few words. The meeting followed the Sussexes’ four-year absence from Britain, during which they traveled to the UK in June 2025 for a private family reunion at Highgrove.
Meghan Markle’s response
A source close to the Duchess of Sussex denied that Markle discussed the UK trip at the dinner party. The insider told the Daily Mail that Markle had only made a general comment about enjoying a recent holiday in Europe and did not mention the visit to Highgrove or King Charles. The source suggested that Stewart may have been mistaken about the conversation, stating, "I think she must have been confused." The source added that Markle remains a "fan" of Stewart despite the discrepancy.
Background to the dispute
The disagreement centers on a private dinner held in California shortly after the Sussexes returned from their UK trip. The family’s visit to Highgrove was conducted under an agreement with King Charles that no photographs would be shared and no public statements would be made about the meeting. While Meghan Markle posted on Instagram about the trip, sharing family moments, none of the images were taken at Highgrove. The Sussexes have since relocated to California, where Meghan has expanded her career into media, business, and lifestyle ventures, including her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025.
Context on the participants
Martha Stewart, a longtime figure in the lifestyle and homemaking space, has publicly questioned Meghan Markle’s transition from actress to royal to television host. In her remarks to People, Stewart suggested that Markle’s career path "doesn’t sort of follow," raising questions about her qualifications as a homemaking guru. Meghan Markle, meanwhile, has continued to build her brand in the lifestyle sector, despite the recent end of her multi-year partnership with Netflix.