Just when you thought you’d never hear about the story of Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress and who made who cry again is the drama of what happened behind the scenes between Meghan Markle and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) played, again there the news. That’s because it’s one of the topics Prince Harry discusses in his newly released memoir, Spare.
Now Charlotte’s tailor is finally breaking his silence about the drama that arose between the women.
Kate Middleton with Princess Charlotte in her bridesmaid dress outside St George’s Chapel after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding | Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images
Meghan previously denied claims she made Kate cry
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal wedding in 2018, reports surfaced that Meghan was making Kate cry over something to do with Charlotte’s dress. But during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former Suits star said it was the other way around and Kate made her cry.
“A few days before the wedding [Kate] was upset about something … and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings,” Meghan told Oprah.
The infamous dress story was reported by royal expert and Associate Editor of the Telegraph, Camilla Tominey. After Meghan offered her version of what happened, Tominey stuck with her original story. She insisted two royal insiders gave her the information she was reporting, which is that Kate was the one crying, not Meghan.
Months later, royal biographer Tom Bower wrote about the incident in his book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors. He claimed Meghan would not allow the then 3-year-old princess’ hemline to be altered and refused to let Charlotte wear tights, a decision that left Kate in tears.
Oprah Winfrey interviews Meghan Markle for CBS Primetime Special | Harpo Productions, Joe Pugliese via Getty Images
Prince Harry wrote his version of events in ‘Spare’
In his memoirs, Harry admitted that there was a rift and reported what happened. He claimed Kate texted Meghan four days before his wedding telling her that Princess Charlotte was crying because her dress was “too big, too long, too baggy”.
A tense exchange ensued, according to Harry, and Meghan told Kate she had a tailor named Ajay [Mirpuri]was standing by at Kensington Palace to make adjustments and Kate to take Charlotte there to have the dress altered.
Kate then reportedly let Meghan know that “all the dresses will have to be remade”. Meghan responded by repeating that Charlotte should go to Ajay about this, to which Kate is said to have replied, “Fine.”
Harry went on to say that he found Meghan sobbing on the floor following their exchange, claiming: “I was horrified to see [Meghan] so excited but I didn’t think so [was] a disaster. Emotions were running high, of course… Kate wasn’t mean, I told her.” The prince added that his sister-in-law came by the next day with flowers and a card and apologized.
Bridesmaid dress tailor breaks silence on drama
Bridesmaid Princess Charlotte looks on after attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding ceremony | BRIAN LAWLESS/AFP via Getty Images
Now that his name is out there, tailor Ajay Mirpuri is speaking out on all the drama.
“If something happened in the background, it didn’t happen in front of me,” Mirpuri explained via the Chron. “But yes, weddings are stressful at the best of times – and especially one at this high level; you have to respect that. They faced a problem that everyone faces at a wedding, with last-minute problems.
“I can understand why people get upset when the clothes don’t fit – it’s nerve-wracking. I feel for all of you because you don’t want the kids walking out on a big stage in an ill-fitting dress – and they were. All six bridesmaid dresses needed repairs and we did it. I am a royalist and wanted to do whatever I could with my small business to serve the royal family.”
Mirpuri continued, “I have no idea what measurements Givenchy was given, but with our experience and knowledge we could immediately see that all six bridesmaid dresses needed repairs as they would not fit.”
He added that he was disappointed that the coverage had focused on the rift between Kate and Meghan and not “the fact that [the bridesmaids] looked fabulous.”