Prince Harry Reportedly “Hurt” and “Upset” Over Meghan Markle’s Paris Car Video After Critics Claimed It Evoked Princess Diana’s Final Moments
Prince Harry is said to be deeply affected by the backlash surrounding Meghan Markle’s recent trip to Paris, where a video captured her leaving an event in a car — a moment that quickly drew comparisons to the tragic final images of his late mother, Princess Diana. According to sources close to the Duke of Sussex, the reactions online and in the press have left him “hurt, upset, and frustrated” by how history seems to be repeating itself in the way the media treats the women in his life.
The controversy began when Meghan was filmed stepping into a waiting car after attending a private event in Paris. The footage, though ordinary by most standards, went viral after critics claimed the imagery — the flashing cameras, the Paris backdrop, the black vehicle — was eerily reminiscent of Princess Diana’s final night in 1997. Social media users drew parallels that many felt were unfair, with some accusing Meghan of “recreating” or “referencing” the tragic moment, while others defended her, saying the claims were not only insensitive but deeply invasive.
For Harry, those comparisons cut painfully deep. Friends of the couple have revealed that he found the commentary “cruel” and “disturbing,” as it reopened old wounds connected to his mother’s death — one of the most defining and heartbreaking events of his life. “Harry’s biggest fear has always been that Meghan would go through what his mother endured,” a source reportedly said. “Seeing people twist a simple video into something dark reminded him exactly why he stepped back from royal life in the first place.”
Since stepping away from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have worked to maintain boundaries between their public and private lives, but moments like this show how difficult that balance can be. Meghan’s trip to Paris, meant to spotlight women’s empowerment projects and charitable partnerships, quickly turned into another media frenzy, leaving the couple shaken. Supporters flooded social media with messages of encouragement, pointing out that Meghan cannot control the way photographers capture her movements or how others choose to interpret them.
Observers familiar with the royal family’s history noted that the comparisons were inevitable given the emotional weight Princess Diana’s story still holds, especially for Harry. For him, Paris is not just another city — it’s the place where he lost his mother, and any mention of her final moments is bound to stir emotions. One insider shared that Harry feels “protective and defensive” whenever Meghan becomes the subject of that kind of speculation. “He understands that people will always connect Meghan and Diana, but that doesn’t make it easier to live through,” the source added.
For Meghan, the situation has reportedly been handled with grace and calm. Those close to her say she has tried to reassure Harry that she is fine and focused on their family and upcoming projects. Despite the criticism, she has chosen to stay quiet publicly, believing that dignity and silence are sometimes the strongest responses to noise.
Both Harry and Meghan have spoken before about the toll that media scrutiny takes on their mental health and relationship. This latest wave of commentary, however, seems to have reminded Harry of the very pressures he hoped to protect his family from. As one source put it, “The world may have moved on from 1997, but for Harry, the pain of losing his mother — and the fear of seeing it happen again — never truly fades.”
While neither Harry nor Meghan has commented publicly on the incident, their circle suggests they are focusing on the positive — their children, their work, and continuing to build a life far from the royal spotlight. Still, moments like this serve as a powerful reminder that for Harry, the ghosts of the past are never too far away.
