Before moving to the UK to be with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle counted stylist Jessica Mulroney among her closest friends.
While still based in Toronto, the Duchess of Sussex, 41, was regularly pictured at glamorous events with the Canadian mother-of-three, whom she met on the set of Suits.
As well as sharing gushing posts about each other on Instagram, Meghan also gushed about her best friend on her defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.
Earlier this week, another of Meghan’s old blog posts resurfaced online, in which she revealed that she dreams of being a “royal rebel” rather than a “Cinderella”.
In a December 2015 resurfaced post, the Duchess said that “the room stops” when her friend “shows up at an event.”
Meghan Markle and Jessica Mulroney met on the set of Suits and became close friends while the actress was living in Toronto and starring in Suits. Pictured together in March 2016
In a resurfaced 2015 blog post, Meghan described Jessica as “va va va voom pritaaaay” and had the ability to “stop time.”
Referring to the 1980s US sitcom Out of This World, Meghan compared Jessica to the series’ heroine, Evie (played by Maureen Flannigan), who has the ability to freeze time.
Meghan gushed over the effect Jessica has on people, describing her as “savvy and fashionable and very cool, and also va va va voom pritaaaay” in a post on a fan-run archive site for The Tig.
She continued, “And here’s the other thing – she’s also an incredible stylist, dressing the likes of Canada’s First Lady, Sophie Trudeau.”
The purpose of the post was to give Meghan’s readers some fashion advice on what to wear in the upcoming festive season.
She continued, “So when I asked her what to wear to Christmas parties and New York soirees, I thought you might like the same wise and chic advice. You are very welcome, darling!’
In her recent Netflix documentary, Meghan shared footage of the night Prince Harry proposed in 2017 – in which she FaceTimed her friend “Jess” around the grounds of Kensington Palace.
The following year, Meghan then asked Jessica’s three children, John, Brian and Isabel, to attend their wedding reception – while the stylist was given a starring role as she entered St George’s Chapel alongside the Princess of Wales.
On the royal wedding day, Jessica shared snaps with the caption: “Proud boyfriend. Proud mother.’
Jessica pictured arriving at St George’s Chapel with her daughter Isabel for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte
Meghan also described Jessica as “savvy and fashionable and very cool” in an exuberant blog post in early December 2015.
Jessica’s holiday style tips as shared by friend Meghan in 2015
1. Do not delay the shine
2. Add some velvet
3. Try a cool pant suit instead of a little black dress
4. Don’t be afraid of red
5. Appropriate heels, ladies
6. The coat is just as important as the outfit!
However, it seems like the Duchess of Sussex’s friendship with the Toronto-based stylist has cooled in recent years.
Despite playing a major role on their wedding day and publicly supporting Meghan as she adjusts to life as royal, Jessica was noticeably absent from the Duke and Duchess’ six-hour Netflix series, which landed on the streaming platform in December 2022.
It seems the couple became distant in 2020, when Jessica Mulroney became involved in a “white privilege” spat with lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter.
Following the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, Sasha posted to her Instagram Stories, encouraging her followers and other influencers to speak out about the Black Lives Matter movement.
However, the blogger claims Jessica was “offended” by her “overall call to action.”
In a follow-up video, Sasha said: “What happened next was a series of very problematic behaviors and antics […]
The former close friends were photographed together on vacation before Meghan Markle deactivated her Instagram account in 2017
It seems the Duchess of Sussex’s friendship with the Toronto-based stylist has cooled in recent years. The couple were pictured together before Meghan moved to the UK
“I’m not calling Jess a racist by any means, but what I do want to say is this: She is keenly aware of her wealth, her perceived power and her privilege because of the color of her skin, and that, my friends, gave her the momentary confidence for my living.” to come in writing. Really textbook white privilege, in my personal opinion.
According to the blogger’s claims, Jessica publicly apologized three times, but still faced consequences and was dropped by numerous TV networks.
exclusively announced that ABC has cut ties with her and confirmed Jessica would not be returning to her occasional role as a fashion contributor on Good Morning America.
Canadian television network CTV also severed ties with the stylist, revealing he would pull all episodes of her wedding-themed reality TV show I Do Redo from its platform.
Toronto-based influencer Sasha Exeter said she was “paralyzed with fear” and “stayed up days and nights” and worried about what Jessica (right) “might have to say about my existing brand partners, potential work, potential livelihood.” . The pair had a falling out over racism and Mulroney apparently didn’t use her voice enough in a private exchange believed to have taken place via Instagram direct messages
Since then, Jessica has not commented on the rumors of her split from Meghan.
As backlash against Jessica mounted, Meghan has remained quiet and distant on the matter and has not spoken publicly about her friend in years.
A source told the Chron their friendship isn’t “what it used to be,” adding that it was because the pair “just grew apart” and not because of Jessica and Sasha’s arguments.
The insider added: “Obviously Meghan was worried about Jess. She will always have love for her.’
Last month, however, Jessica broke her silence by sharing a black-and-white photo of her attending the royal wedding on Instagram – which noticeably didn’t show either Harry or Meghan.
Jessica shared the picture on her Instagram with no caption and disabled comments on the post in a cryptic move.
Jessica Mulroney shared a picture of her at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding, acknowledging the couple’s Netflix docuseries, which mentions her by name for the first time ever. Pictured left to right: Jessica with Suits actress Abigail Spencer and other friends at the wedding reception
The couple’s Netflix special is full of personal moments – including Harry and Meghan’s engagement, where the former TV star called Jessica before Harry proposed and told her “it’s happening”.
It’s the first time the stylist has acknowledged Harry and Meghan’s documentaries in which she was mentioned by name.
Just before Prince Harry popped the question in Kensington Palace’s Walled Garden, the former Suits star appeared to have Jessica, who lives in Toronto.
Approaching the set, Meghan said: “Oh my god Jess, it’s happening. He told me not to look.’
She has not commented on Prince Harry’s all-encompassing memoir, Spare, which was released last month and does not feature her name – although she has reportedly played a key role in helping the royals with their Megxit plans.
A palace insider had previously hinted to the Mail on Sunday that Meghan confided in the stylist frequently as she and Harry began to solidify their plans to step down as royals.
The source said: “Jessica had more of an impact on ‘Megxit’ than anyone really thought.”
Following the announcement that Harry and Meghan were leaving the royal family, Jessica said: “A strong woman faces a challenge and winks.”