Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of a social media storm. Her latest Harper’s Bazaar photoshoot — part of the magazine’s December 2025/January 2026 Art Issue — drew immediate comparisons to Princess Diana. And this time, the backlash was swift.

A Photoshoot Overshadowed by Comparisons

In her new feature, the 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex sat down with writer Kaitlyn Greenidge for a wide-ranging conversation about marriage, life in the UK, and her transition out of royal duties.

But it wasn’t the interview that grabbed people’s attention. It was one photo in particular: a black-and-white portrait of Meghan sitting barefoot on the floor, legs crossed, gazing directly into the camera.

For many viewers, the image felt eerily familiar. The pose strikingly resembled Princess Diana’s iconic 1991 Vogue portrait, captured by Patrick Demarchelier — also shot in black and white, also barefoot and cross-legged.

Side-by-side images quickly flooded the internet, and within hours, accusations of mimicry followed.

The Internet Reacts: “She Needs to Stop”

Social media erupted with criticism, some of it blunt, some of it harsh.

“Again?! She’s been copying Diana’s looks for years,” one commenter complained.
Another wrote, “She really does need to stop.”

A few reactions were even more extreme, questioning Meghan’s intentions and accusing her of having an unhealthy fascination with her late mother-in-law.

“The juxtaposition between the two is the best part,” one person wrote. “One is the most beloved princess ever… and then there’s Meghan.”
Another declared, “There will never be another Diana.”

Long-Standing Claims of Diana Imitation

This isn’t the first time Meghan’s styling has drawn comparisons to Princess Diana. Over the years, fans and critics have pointed to similarities in outfits, poses, and public messaging.

Author Andrew Morton, in his 2018 biography Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, wrote that Meghan had been “fascinated by Diana” since childhood — not only for her fashion, but for her humanitarian work. Morton also shared claims from Meghan’s childhood friends who said she cried watching Diana’s funeral and studied the royal family closely growing up.

One childhood friend, Ninaki Priddy, famously claimed Meghan wanted to be “Princess Diana 2.0” — a remark that resurfaced after this latest controversy.

Even Harry Has Drawn Parallels

Prince Harry himself has compared Meghan to his mother. In the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, he said Meghan shared Diana’s compassion, warmth, and confidence.

But those parallels, when echoed publicly, only intensify scrutiny — and any moment that feels even slightly reminiscent of Diana is now magnified by critics.

Fresh Criticism After Paris Video

If driving towards Princess Diana’s death scene is a message to Prince William then Meghan Markle is the devil. pic.twitter.com/HBZPSArwrj

— Stephanie Sidley (@StephanieSidley) October 5, 2025

The photoshoot dispute comes just weeks after Meghan was criticized for a video she shared from her Paris Fashion Week trip. In the clip, she rode through the city with her feet propped up near an area close to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel — the site of the 1997 crash that killed Princess Diana.

Commentators called the video “insensitive” and questioned her judgment.
“No adviser would ever suggest doing something like this,” a royal expert told the Daily Mail.

A Debate That Won’t Die Down

For better or worse, Meghan Markle’s every public move is still filtered through the lens of Princess Diana’s legacy.
Sometimes the comparisons feel affectionate.
Sometimes they feel deliberate.
And sometimes — like now — they spark a full-scale online firestorm.

Whether the Harper’s Bazaar image was intentional homage or simply an artistic coincidence, one thing is clear: any echo of Diana, no matter how small, is enough to ignite the internet.