‘Merely unfaithful’: Meghan Markle takes on way of life queen Martha Stewart, 85, over bombshell banquet declare as Sussexes accused of extraordinary swipe

Stewart, 85, sparked headlines final week when she revealed she had crossed paths with Meghan, 45, at an intimate gathering – and claimed the Duchess had been boasting about her latest journey to the UK.

“I had dinner with Meghan Markle the other night. We were both guests at a dinner party in California. And she had just gotten back from the palace,” the home doyenne stated, referring to Meghan’s latest journey to the UK with Prince Harry and their two youngsters.

“I didn’t talk to her really more than to say a couple of words, but I know she was talking about it,” Stewart added.

But the declare was swiftly challenged by a Sussex supply, who advised the identical publication Stewart’s model of occasions was “simply untrue”.

“I sat next to Meghan at the dinner party, and this account of what happened is simply untrue,” the supply, who reportedly hosted the occasion, advised People, including: “Meghan didn’t talk about her European vacation other than to say the family had a great time.”

“Meghan has always been a fan of Martha’s and enjoyed getting to meet her briefly at the dinner,” the supply added.

The unusually pointed rebuttal has since raised eyebrows, with revered royal reporter Tom Sykes claiming the Sussex camp’s response had landed “very very badly” and risked showing to query the octogenarian’s competence.

“They are now pushing back against the story and are casting aspersions on Martha’s mental competence, saying that she must be confused- which is landing very, very, very badly because she’s 85, and it looks like they’re saying she’s a doddery old woman who didn’t understand what was going on,” he said on his YouTube channel on Sunday.

Sykes stated he had approached the Sussex camp for an official off-the-record response and was advised “absolutely not”  however claimed it was clear they have been “not happy about it, to say the least”.

He additionally questioned the knowledge of turning into embroiled in a public spat with one of many greatest names within the way of life business.

“But the idea that Meghan Markle, whose lifestyle career has really, really gone incredibly badly, is now going to start a fight with Martha Stewart… I think Meghan is incredibly poorly advised.”

The dinner-party declare is especially delicate given the secrecy surrounding Harry and Meghan’s temporary reunion with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House final month.

Before the assembly, which Daily Mail reporter Alison Boshoff claimed had been at the very least a yr within the making, Buckingham Palace reportedly laid down strict situations to make sure the reunion remained non-public.

Those tips have been stated to incorporate “no cameras, no subsequent Instagram posts, and no revelations in interviews afterwards”.

Another supply advised New Idea that the Queen had beforehand warned Meghan of great penalties if particulars of the assembly emerged: “If there were any leaks about their meeting, the door would be closed forever.”

Sykes argued that Stewart’s declare may subsequently show problematic for the Sussexes, given the significance reportedly positioned on protecting their royal discussions behind closed doorways.

“These comments were potentially damaging towards Meghan and Harry, because the whole point of this ongoing peace process was total omerta- nobody is supposed to discuss it.”

Adding one other layer to the brewing row, Stewart additionally delivered a less-than-glowing evaluation of Meghan’s transfer into the approach to life area throughout her People interview.

Asked for her ideas on the Duchess coming into the cooking and homemaking world together with her Netflix collection, With Love, Meghan, Stewart questioned Meghan’s unconventional profession trajectory.

“If you’re an actress, it’s hard to then transition to a princess and then from a princess into a homemaking guru on a television show,” Stewart stated.

“It doesn’t sort of follow. So go from there.”

Unpacking the remarks, Sykes argued Stewart had put her finger on a broader downside dealing with Meghan as she makes an attempt to determine herself as a severe way of life entrepreneur.

“What I think Martha Stewart is talking about is the insubstantiality of the edifice of Brand Sussex- it’s just not convincing.

“And that is coming from a lady who’s America’s first self-made feminine billionaire who principally invented the trendy way of life empire.”

It is not the first time Stewart has publicly cast doubt on Meghan’s lifestyle ambitions.

During a 2025 interview with Yahoo, Stewart appeared sceptical about the Duchess’ venture while stressing the importance of credibility and expertise in the industry.

“Meghan, I do not actually know very effectively, and I hope she is aware of what she’s speaking about,” Stewart said.

“Authenticity, to me, is every part, and to be genuine and educated about your subject material is extraordinarily vital.”

In the same interview, Stewart was far more complimentary of actress-turned-businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow, whose Goop lifestyle brand has grown into a global business.

“Gwyneth has been very profitable,” she said.

“She created fairly an fascinating physique of companies. She’s admired. She received an Oscar for heaven’s sake as an actress! She’s fairly highly effective.”

Stewart is but to publicly reply to the Sussex camp’s denial of her dinner-party account.

News24.com.au has contacted each Sussex representatives and Stewart for remark.