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Yes, Meghan Markle did in fact invite herself to Paris fashion week last month.

The former actress fessed up to her request after Balenciaga designer Pierpaolo Piccioli revealed the Duchess of Sussex, 44, put herself on his guest list.

“I was excited for him,” Markle explained to Harper’s Bazaar in an interview published on Wednesday. “I reached out and I said, ‘Happy to come and support you.’ We kept it a secret, and it was really fun.”


  Meghan Markle on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. Malick Bodian Meghan Markle on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. Malick Bodian

  Meghan Markle on the cover of the magazine’s December 2025/January 2026 Art Issue. Malick Bodian Meghan Markle on the cover of the magazine’s December 2025/January 2026 Art Issue. Malick Bodian

After his show, Piccioli, 58, told The Cut: “Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since. She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show.”

“There was no strategy or big orchestration,” he added. “I didn’t tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise. In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”

The “Suits” alum, who tied the knot with Prince Harry in 2018, told Harper’s Bazaar she enjoys being able to have both a professional and personal life.


  Meghan Markle at the Balenciaga fashion show during Paris fashion week on Oct. 4. Best Image / BACKGRID Meghan Markle at the Balenciaga fashion show during Paris fashion week on Oct. 4. Best Image / BACKGRID

“I love being able to do both,” Markle gushed, “to play in the sandbox with my kids and to play in the front row at a show. I think the moment that you start making all of your personal decisions based on external judgment, then you lose your authenticity.”

Markle has son Prince Archie, 6, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 4, with the Duke of Sussex, 41.

“He loves me so boldly, fully, and he also has a different perspective because he sees media that I wouldn’t,” Markle said. “No one in the world loves me more than him, so I know he’s always going to make sure that he has my back.”


  Meghan Markle and Balenciaga director Pierpaolo Piccioli at Paris fashion week. @saintleon/TikTok Meghan Markle and Balenciaga director Pierpaolo Piccioli at Paris fashion week. @saintleon/TikTok

“You have someone who just has this childlike wonder and playfulness,” she went on. “I was so drawn to that, and he brought that out in me. That’s translated into every part of our life. Even in business, I want us to play and have fun and explore and be creative.”

In order to balance her work life with being a mom, Markle’s “office is right by the kitchen.”

“I love that I can work from home,” she said. “It’s a great luxury.”

Markle added that Lilibet, “comes and sits on my lap when I’m in the middle of the meeting, whether it’s about P and L for my brand or it’s about something creative.”


  Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in the trailer for her Netflix holiday special. Netflix Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in the trailer for her Netflix holiday special. Netflix

“I hope they see the value of being brave,” she noted about her kids. “They saw it when the jam was just a pot on the stove, bubbling. When you’re young, I think you are a little bit more fearless. As we get older, we lose some of that.”

“As a child, I was very much an old soul,” she mused. “That’s been part of my wiring. My mom would say I was just born that way.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Markle noted how her perseverance extends through all areas of her life.


  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their kids, celebrating Lilibet’s birthday at Disneyland. meghan/Instagram Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their kids, celebrating Lilibet’s birthday at Disneyland. meghan/Instagram

“When people start to see your work ethic and really understand how dedicated you are to things—how you are in one place, I believe, is how you are in other places,” the former podcaster added.

“So for me, that’s how I show up when I do potlucks at my kids’ school, that’s how I show up when putting a party together for my friend who just had a baby, that’s how I show up in my business,” Markle said.

“I’m a mom with kids at that age where they are constantly learning something new. I watch them face things that feel completely insurmountable every day,” she added.

“But you can remember and say, ‘I know it seems really hard right now, but trust me, that’s going to come so easily soon.’ I can give myself the same grace as a founder. There’s no such thing as perfect. I, too, get to make mistakes,” Markle said.

She added: “There’s also not a lot of fun in trying to be perfect. So why try to do that if you want to have fun?”


  Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party on Nov. 8. The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party on Nov. 8. The Hollywood JR / BACKGRID

  Meghan Markle arriving at Sugaar restaurant in Paris during fashion week. Best Image / BACKGRID Meghan Markle arriving at Sugaar restaurant in Paris during fashion week. Best Image / BACKGRID

Markle’s close pal, Serena Williams, chimed in with her perspective of the former royal.

“We love a good mimosa,” the former tennis pro, 44, told the outlet. “We could talk for a hundred hours, and it feels like 10 minutes go by, and it’s like we never stop smiling.”

“We both definitely have a dry sense of humor. I think that’s why we hit it off for no reason at this silly football thing. We were just like, ‘Why are we here? To meet you?’ Apparently, and we’ve been lifelong friends ever since.”

In addition to her Harper’s Bazaar’s interview, Markle dropped the trailer for her Netflix holiday special, “With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration,” on Wednesday.

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