Full cost of Meghan Markle's baby shower revealed, and people need to get over the hate
This week saw one of the most controversial Royal event of the year — something that media outlets and the general public hasn't been able to stop talking about, both in publications and on social media platforms. What happened was actually quite simple, and to most Americans would seem like no big deal. The Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, attended a private event with her close friends and spent the trip catching up with them, some casual lunches, and a little shopping here and there.
But the reason it has become such a massive talking deal is that the event was Meghan's baby shower — something that has barely happened in the Royal family before — and it was all paid for by her close friends like Serena Williams and Amal Clooney. The biggest talking point? Her close friends got her a private jet from the UK to New York which cost around $250,000!
Ever since the news broke out, a lot of people have taken to social media and several news outlets, to express their expert comments on the heavily pregnant royal using a private jet with amped up carbon footprint, especially after she claims to be and speaks so vocally about being an environmentalist. What a lot of other people have also seemingly had a problem with, is the splurging done by her close friends on something as common as a baby shower. And both of these grievances — as a lot of seemingly sane people have pointed out to — can have their coffins nailed by the simple fact that Meghan Markle, a former successful actress, has rich friends. Big deal. Get over it.
Yet that would be a wish worth the ideal world. In our world, of course, Meghan Markle has to be chided for enjoying something as common as a baby shower, all paid for by her extremely rich friends, because she is a Royal. But this isn't the first time a member of the Royal family has openly accepted over-the-top expensive gifts, neither is this the first time a Royal has had a baby shower.
While Meghan's father in law, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla are quite known for their fondness and openness for extravagant gifts, it was actually Meghan's sister-in-law Catherine who was actually the first Royal to have indulged in the mainstream American tradition.
However, Meghan has always been a bigger favorite when it comes to public scrutiny. So it's not all that surprising that somewhere along the line, her splurges — or at least, an active interest in being gifted generously — and making extravagant travel arrangements has been compared to those of the true 'people's princess', and her late mother-in-law, Diana.
For starters, the private jet Meghan took from UK to New York, even though paid for by the Clooneys, cost $250,000 for the round trip. The venue of the shower, The Mark Hotel Grand Penthouse Suite, was booked for $150,000 for the entire duration of their stay, and five nights in a one-bedroom suite at The Mark Hotel came up to $9,982.05.
As for the other expenses included in the trip Meghan took for her baby shower, there was dinner for five at The Polo Bar that came up to approximately $420, a lunch at Cafe Bolud that was around $78, and an afternoon tea for two at Laduree — around $45. Of course, Meghan was placed with tight security throughout her trip, and the two Royal Protection officers cost $14,213. Her baby shower had harp player Erin Hill whose performance fee was $625, among other expenses like 17 carry-on suitcases for $3,825, gifts such as Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib for $379, a 10ft mandarin tree for around $140, Lady Fleur NYC roses for around $399.95, a trek bicycle for approximately $609.99 and also a Carnival King cotton candy machine for $199.99. Other expenses for her shower included JZ Events who charged $50,000, and Lewis Miller for a sum of $20,000.
All of that is over and the Duchess came right back to work the very next day, busying herself in Morocco in a high-profile official visit where she and her husband, the Duke, promoted diplomatic relations, to boost UK's interest and support in humanitarian causes, but it still doesn't seem to be enough for her obsessive critics. While some believe by indulging in these luxuries she is putting the Royal family's reputation in a predicament similar to those Princess Diana's interests had caused, others claim she is being hypocritical by flying in private jets and indulging in expenses despite claiming to be all for the burning social causes afflicting the contemporary world.
Here's what they are missing though: Meghan has rich friends and is allowed to indulge in extravagance, just as much as the Queen is allowed to speak to the world while sitting on a golden chair, surrounded by the metal's glitz and dazzle in abundance. And as long as it's not impacting what Meghan is doing for the world as a member of the Royal family, it really may be nobody else's business.