Meghan Markle attended the LA Children’s Hospital Gala last Saturday, but a former friend, British socialite Lizzie Cundy, claimed that Meghan seemed to be there “just for the photographs.” Cundy, who was also at the event, commented that there wasn’t much warmth toward Meghan when she arrived, and her stay at the gala was brief.
Meghan wore a red Carolina Herrera dress, the same one she had previously worn at a 2021 gala, though this time she sported a simpler look with the train removed, minimal jewelry, and subtle makeup. She also joked with a young boy at the event about staying up past his bedtime and engaged with his mother about their children.
Meanwhile, Cundy, wearing a $339 Pia Michi dress, remarked that LA’s social circles feel “played” by Meghan, suggesting that Meghan may need LA’s attention more than LA needs her.
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Lizzie Cundy was disappointed to find the Duchess of Sussex (pictured) wearing a similar dress to hers at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala at the weekend
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Meghan swapped her usual slicked-back hairstyle for a more wavy look as she attended the event on Saturday night
Meghan and Kelly McKee Zajfen share laughs at Children’s Hospital gala
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Lizzie, 56, who wore a £259 Pia Michi dress while Meghan, 43, donned a £4,500 Carolina Herrera gown
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Lizzie was among those befriended by Meghan before she met Prince Harry
Meghan talks about being a mother at Children’s Hospital LA Gala
Ms Cundy and the Duchess were previously friends after they met at a charity gala back in 2013. However, Meghan went on to ‘ghost’ Ms Cundy after she met Prince Harry.
Ms Cundy added: ‘Harry and Meghan were loved because they’re part of the Royal Family, but they’ve bad-mouthed the royals, who are loved in LA.
‘It’s a shame, because charity work is where her and Harry do great things.’
She was also disappointed to find that the Duchess of Sussex wore a similar dress to hers and said: ‘I’d have worn a different one if I’d known.’
Speaking back in 2021, she said: ‘We have a clip of her saying, ‘I want to be a London girl, I love London men and I love everything to do with London.’
‘I was asked to look after Meghan when she came over here. She wanted to meet someone.’
But the socialite claimed Meghan later cut all contact with her, adding: ‘She ghosted me once the engagement hit.
‘She’s ghosted quite a lot of people, obviously, including her family, so I’m not the worst person she’s ghosted.’
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Meghan shares Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, with the Duke of Sussex
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The former senior working royal was seen holding her Kelly McKee Zajfen’s hand and seemingly wanted to step away from the cameras as soon as she could
Meghan Markle hugs Paul S Viviano at Children’s Hospital gala
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Meghan then greeted Paul Viviano, a health care leader and a national children’s health care advocate
Meghan with model pal Kelly McKee Zajfen at Children’s Hospital gala
At the event last week, Meghan was joined on the carpet by Kelly McKee Zajfen, the co-founder for the Alliance of Moms, an LA ‘community of philanthropists who support pregnant and parenting teens in LA’s foster care system.’
After taking a picture with Kelly, Meghan met Paul Viviano, a health care leader and national advocate for children’s health care, and gave him a warm hug.
It is also known that Harry did not spend his 40th birthday night with Meghan, 43, last month. Instead, he went hiking with friends.
Different engagements for the two have led to a lot of talk, but people close to the Sussexes say Meghan booked Harry’s hiking trip.