Meghan Markle Stepped Out for Dinner With a Friend in NYC, Causing a Stir - Photo

The recent outing comes over a month after the duchess revealed the emotional toll she quietly endured following Queen Elizabeth II's death.

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, the Duchess of Sussex was spotted stepping out in style in New York City, where she dined with a friend. According to People magazine, Meghan Markle exuded a radiant glow as she made her exit from a venue.

However, many online viewers believe the luminescence has less to do with her natural beauty and is more a result of cosmetic procedures. Meanwhile, others couldn't look past what the businesswoman did with one of her hands.

'You Glow, Girl!': Meghan Markle Turns Heads with Her Radiant Appearance

The duchess's look for the evening was nothing short of effortless elegance. Meghan stepped out in a sleek black jumpsuit, layered beneath a tailored beige blazer — a minimalist ensemble that exuded quiet confidence. Her long brunette hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, keeping the focus on her glowing complexion and delicate gold accessories.

Completing the look, Meghan, who donned a soft smile and tucked one hand in her pocket, carried a black leather clutch with a chain strap. "You glow, girl! ✨ Meghan Markle showed off her signature glow," reads People's caption in part. The outlet shared these words alongside a photo of the duchess.

The Internet Reacts: 'What's with the Hand in the Pocket Now!' & 'Cosplaying Victoria Again'

Despite the glowing praise from mainstream media, the response across social platforms was far more divided. Several netizens fixated on one particular detail: Meghan's choice to walk with one hand tucked into her pocket. "What's with the one hand in the pocket now!" asserted one person.

"Who walks through a door with a hand in their pocket? Weird," wrote another. "The hand in her pocket is really weird!" echoed a third, while a fellow observer noted, "Interesting too, one of Victoria Beckham's signature brand moves is striking a pose with one hand in her pocket.🤔."

Some went even further, continuing to draw parallels between Meghan and the former Spice Girl. "Cosplaying Victoria again, even down to the hand in the pocket! 🙄😂," opined someone else, suggesting the duchess was deliberately channeling the designer's fashion persona.

'It's Called Botox and Fillers': Critics Slam Meghan Markle's Glow as 'Plastic'

Meanwhile, others focused less on Meghan's posture and more on her appearance, casting doubt on the so-called natural glow.

"Kinda looks plastic, not glow [sic]," one person claimed. "It's called Botox and fillers," alleged another. "Looks like a facelift?" added someone else, joining the chorus of speculation surrounding the duchess's looks.

Her widely-discussed appearance in New York City comes over a month after she opened up about a personal chapter — one marked by grief, reflection, and quiet resilience.

During an August episode of her show, "With Love, Meghan," Meghan Markle spoke candidly about the emotional toll she endured in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, offering a rare glimpse into the private pain behind her composed public image.

A Cozy Scene Turns Emotional

The intimate moment unfolded in Episode 3 of Season 2, released on August 26, 2025. While chatting, Meghan and her guest, British fashion designer Tan France, appeared to enjoy a lighthearted activity — hand-painting aprons for their families and reminiscing about childhood. But beneath the playful surface, a raw and vulnerable moment emerged.

"You know what's funny? When parents are like, 'Oh, I just can't wait for them to go to college and be out,' I'm like, I never want my children to leave," Tan admitted, partially joking. "They're not allowed to get married. Not allowed to leave my house."

Meghan chimed in with warm agreement, expressing a mother's yearning to hold onto every moment, even while supporting her children's independence.

Suffering in Royal Shadows

As their conversation deepened, Tan shared that he would "die" without his kids, and not seeing them even for a couple of days can be difficult.

Then came Meghan's quiet bombshell. "Oh, I know," she said, nodding solemnly. "The longest I went without being around our kids was almost three weeks. I was...not well."

Though she never specified the reason for her absence, the timeline seemingly points to the days surrounding the queen's funeral. The monarch died on September 8, 2022, and the state funeral at Westminster Abbey was held on September 19.

During those somber days away from her kids, Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, were seen attending multiple memorial events, often alongside Prince William and Princess Catherine.

This separation is only one of several complications they've faced since moving to the United States. As previously reported, they had to deal with prolonged difficulties in securing U.K. passports for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — issues they believed may have involved royal interference, according to The Guardian.

Titles Caused Trouble

A source close to the couple disclosed, "Harry was at a point where British passports for his children with their updated Sussex surnames (since the death of Queen Elizabeth II) were being blocked with a string of excuses over the course of five months."

Although standard processing takes around three weeks, the Sussexes reportedly waited nearly six months. After receiving repeated explanations citing technical issues, they reapplied through the U.K.'s expedited 24-hour service. That appointment was later canceled due to a "systems failure."

The Name Game

The applications included the titles His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) and the use of the surname Sussex, which the family adopted publicly in 2023. Until then, Archie held a passport under the name Mountbatten-Windsor. "There was clear reluctance to issue passports for the kids," a source opined.

Legal representatives for the couple eventually threatened to file a data subject access request — a move that could have revealed internal government communications related to the delays.

The passports were issued shortly afterward. Another source noted that King Charles III "hadn't wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH," and the British passports would be the only legal document bearing proof of their names.

Who Was Involved?

The Guardian reported that both the Home Office and Buckingham Palace were asked whether royal advisors were involved in the process. The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace also declined to comment on private matters but denied having offered guidance or objections concerning the HRH titles.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said, "We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children."

Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, Harry's uncle and the brother of the late Princess Diana, was reportedly contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

Legal Blow and Family Frustration

In a separate development, Harry lost a legal challenge in May regarding his entitlement to taxpayer-funded security while in the U.K. He is expected to appeal the decision.

Around the same period, he also expressed frustration over the handling of his children's documentation and consulted his uncle Charles, saying, "My family are supposed to have the same name and they're stopping that from happening because the kids are legally HRH, so if push comes to shove, if this blows up and they won't let the kids be called Sussex, then can we use Spencer as a surname?"

The report also stated that Harry wishes to retain his children's HRH titles so they can decide for themselves, later in life, whether to assume royal responsibilities. Additionally, he and Meghan agreed to stop using their own HRH styling in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties under an arrangement with the late queen.

The couple was reportedly angered by a recent Mail on Sunday article claiming Charles advised against changing the children's names due to legal complications. A source close to the Sussexes rejected the report as "completely untrue."

Social Media Response

Online responses ranged from criticism to calls for reconciliation. One commenter wrote, "He is a bitter king [sic]." Another questioned the motive, "They need to just stop! Why would King Charles do that, they are his grandchildren [sic]."

Meanwhile, a different commenter defended the monarch, "Oh please give me a break...stop lying on the King who's suffering from cancer." Someone else reflected on the family dynamics, "It's sad that they can't all mend fences so the kids can get to know the other part of their family."

Another typed, "Just another excuse to not take the kids to see their Grandfather. Archie already has a passport since flew out of U.K. years ago [sic]." One netizen remarked, "These two need to make up their minds what those poor kids [sic] surname is, you can't keep changing children's surnames."

A critical voice added, "They always blame Charles instead of looking at their part in the situation. This keeps the children in hiding still. That's what narcissists do. They aren't liked in either country."

One person expressed disbelief, "What a disgrace, if it's true, that the King of England won't permit his own grandchildren to use their legally sanctioned title on their passports!"

Another argued, "This is pathetic!!! The King does NOT have those powers & Hazbeen [sic] knows it 🙄." On the other hand, someone else commented dismissively, "Just let it go already 🙄."