Now Reading: Royal Fallout: Harry and Meghan’s ‘Photogate’ Infuriates Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner
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Royal Fallout: Harry and Meghan’s ‘Photogate’ Infuriates Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner
Royal Fallout: Harry and Meghan’s ‘Photogate’ Infuriates Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner
A major scandal erupted following the mysterious disappearance of photos featuring Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party, an incident that has reportedly “annoyed the Kardashians”. Sources suggest that the dramatic fallout, dubbed “Harry and Meghan’s photogate”, has left the Kardashian-Jenner clan feeling “disconcerted and angry”.
The conflict pits the Duke and Duchess of Sussex—who have often sought privacy—against the most publicized family in reality television, sparking intense speculation about why the images were scrubbed from social media.
The Night, The Deletion, and The Drama
The incident unfolded following a lavish James Bond-themed party thrown for Kris Jenner in Beverly Hills on a Saturday night. Photographs from the celebration captured the Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoying themselves. Specifically, the Duchess was seen looking very affectionate with the birthday celebrant, while Prince Harry was photographed “very happy” and approaching Jenner “with garbo on the dance floor”.
The images, which showcased the Sussexes engaging casually with Hollywood royalty, were initially posted online by the party’s hosts. Kris Jenner, the ‘momager,’ shared a carousel of photos on Instagram following the party, which included multiple shots of her posing with the royal couple. Furthermore, her daughter, Kim Kardashian, shared a picture of herself posing with Meghan.
However, only hours after being shared with their millions of Instagram followers, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian “mysteriously deleted” the photos of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The swift and sudden removal immediately fueled widespread questions and speculation about the motives behind the move.
The deletion has resulted in significant “KRAMA” (drama) and left the host family reportedly furious.
Theory 1: The Demand for Digital Privacy
One prominent theory regarding the deletion centers on an alleged demand made by the Sussexes themselves. According to People magazine—a publication described in the source as the “preferred medium” of the Sussexes in the States—Meghan and Harry requested that photographs of them taken inside the James Bond-themed party should not be published.
The publication claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had allegedly marked the “no” box on a photo consent form. If true, this action would have directly led to the hosts deleting the images from Instagram.
However, this explanation was immediately and energetically disputed by other insiders. A source near the event told the Daily Mail that “there were no consent forms,” which strongly contradicts the initial report from the Sussex-aligned outlet. The refutation of the consent form theory only intensified speculation about the true reasons behind the images’ disappearance.
Theory 2: The Kardashian Rage Over Perceived Hypocrisy
Regardless of whose decision it was to delete the images, the resulting scandal has reportedly left the Kardashian family reeling. A source close to the Kardashian environment confirmed that the family is both “disconcerted and angry” by the incident.
The source claimed that the Kardashians are especially upset because they perceive a deep hypocrisy in the Sussexes’ demand for privacy at Jenner’s party. Just hours before attending Kris Jenner’s celebration, Harry and Meghan had attended the Baby2Baby gala, where they had appeared “delighted to be photographed”. At the charity event, they openly posed for photos with their friend, Serena Williams.
This contradiction allegedly triggered a furious response from Kim Kardashian. A source reported that Kim confronted the couple, stating something akin to, “you were photographed outside and you were at the Baby2Baby event that same night, where you were photographed like Meghan Trainor and Paris Hilton, what is the problem?”. This conversation only compounded the belief among insiders that “Kim is furious”.
Despite these widespread reports of anger, there is conflicting information, as a source close to Kim claimed that the information alleging her fury is not true.
The Risk of Losing Hollywood Support
The incident has raised concerns that the Sussexes are alienating the influential figures they moved to California to befriend. One expert suggested that by engaging in this kind of demanding behavior, Harry and Meghan have risked losing the support of major Hollywood stars—support they “need now more than ever”.
The issue, according to critics, is that the couple appears to be attempting to navigate the complex world of A-list Hollywood status without fully embracing the necessary compromises.
Critics argue that Meghan and Harry “have a problem admitting that they are now part of Hollywood society,” which is precisely what Meghan sought. This internal conflict manifests in two contradictory behaviors:
- On one hand, they utilize their star power for good, attending beneficial charitable events.
- On the other hand, they demand exclusion from coverage at social events they do not wish to be seen supporting.
This inconsistent behavior—using their star status selectively—is predicted to backfire on them. The need for continuous backing from Hollywood is crucial for their ventures.
Conflicting Agendas: Bezos and the Environmental Image
Another layer of speculation suggests that the purpose of the Sussexes’ attendance at Kris Jenner’s party was primarily strategic: to “congratiate themselves with Bezos”. This theory posits that their appearance was intended to foster connections with the billionaire, whose production company is currently creating a movie starring Meghan.
However, this strategic move inadvertently angered the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Furthermore, critics noted that pursuing a friendship with a major billionaire creates a new dilemma for the couple, arguing that such an association “goes against the discourse of support for the environment and mental health” that Harry and Meghan champion publicly. This means that the quest for Hollywood relevance through powerful connections potentially undermines their carefully curated public image.
Commenters also picked up on this perceived duality. One observer suggested that the theory of deliberate deletion is plausible because the Sussexes may wish to enjoy “Hollywood and these types of luxurious-celebrity events in secret” while continuing to project an image of being “environmentalists, humble, and beneficial to the public”.
Alternative Theories: Messy Photos and Outshining the Hosts
The intense drama surrounding the deletion led to several alternative, less diplomatic theories about why the photos truly disappeared.
- The Attention Theory: Some observers suggested the photos were deleted simply because Harry and Meghan were drawing more attention than the hosts, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.
- The Appearance Theory: A more critical assessment claimed the photos were deleted because they were universally unflattering. According to this theory, “The photos were a mess. Neither Harry nor Meghan looked good.”. In fact, the source added that Kris Jenner, at 70 years old, “looked more youthful than either of them”.
The Price of Privacy in a Public World
The controversy highlights the difficulty the Duke and Duchess face in balancing their desire for celebrity life with their demand for privacy.
One public commenter pointed out that if the hosts were genuinely forced to delete the pictures, their anger is justified, as they invited the “dukes” to the birthday party primarily to “showcase” them as close associates. The commenter argued that if Meghan and Harry do not want their photos public “for whatever reason, don’t go to a Kardashian birthday”. This family is globally known for displaying “every detail of their life”.
The source noted that Meghan had supposedly convinced Harry to move to America intending to make them “more relevant,” yet they are sometimes invited to events deemed “very inferior”.
Ultimately, whether the photos were deleted due to an enforced demand for privacy, or because they were simply unflattering, the “KRAMA” (drama) generated by the scandal has proven to be highly marketable.
The situation serves as a stark metaphor for the Sussexes’ transition to Hollywood: they want to be part of the show, but only when they get to control the camera angles. However, in the vast, overexposed landscape of celebrity, demanding control over the lens can often mean the difference between having support and being entirely shut out.
