Kate the Huntress Strikes Again as Meghan’s Fashion Secrets Resurface

Tessa Dunlop hails the Princess of Wales as “the huntress” — poised, deliberate, and untouchable — while reports reveal her new meditation practice and William’s rare burst of humor inside Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, Meghan’s old fashion drama returns, from that infamous Tonga tag to claims she borrowed designer looks under royal protocol. Add a monogrammed “D.S.” travel bag in D.C., and it’s clear both duchesses are still playing very different games.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calarogu Shark Media. He hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue.
I am your host, Mark Francis. In The Independent Tesla
Dunlop tells us about Kate the Huntress. Dunlop writes, how
does she do it against the odds while all around
her lose their heads? The Princess of Wales consistently manages

(00:25):
to square the royal circle and showcase the quiet qualities
of industry intent and englishness with masterful precision. In the
wake of last year's cancer scare, her Royal Highness doubled
down on their streamlined Royal brand. These days she is sharper,
more exquisitely elegant, less demure, and more deliberate. There will

(00:45):
be no more talk of designer labels. Her family deserves
better than mid range Adelaide Cottage. Forest Lodge is a
sizeable upgrade, as for also Ran Royal's Kater's absolutely no
truck with the Windsor's unseemly stragglers. Weeks before Fergie was
exposed hillatiously obsequious, money grabbing member of the Epstein entourage,
untouchable Kate gracefully rebuffed the then Duchess of York's advances

(01:09):
on the steps of Westminster Cathedral and the Duchess of
Kent's funeral, the flagrantly entitled Fergie sculpt behind the impregnable Princess,
She had no chance. The sharp contrast between the two
women was eye popping. Kate's arch face are fitting repast
to the already somber day dubbed the protective Huntress by

(01:29):
one royal watcher. Once more, the Windsor's meticulous player has
fended off danger her poison ice queen exterior. The alchemy
that has led to this new alpha epitaph Huntress Kate,
the untouchable royal charm, silently signaling that enough is enough.
Yards away, on the same step, William mirrored his wife's
behavior in the face of Andrew's buffoonery. Dunlop reminds us

(01:54):
that back in twenty thirteen, Hillary man Tell described Kate
as a jointed dole on which certain rags are a
shop window maniquin, with no personality of her own. Mantel
wrote that Kate appeared to have been designed by committee
and built by craftsmen. Dunlop writes it write down to
her beautifully manicured fingertips. There is nothing accidental about Kate

(02:16):
see it into the nation's story. In William's childhood narrative
was the demise of his late great mother Diana, the
most hunted person of the modern age. It can't be
a coincidence that the Prince's wife has subsequently been dubbed
Diana's polar opposite, a huntress. As Mantell observed, she appears
precision made so different from Diana, whose human awkwardness and

(02:36):
emotional incontinence showed in her every gesture. Kate may be
juggling a demanding royal diary, but it appears she's found
a new way to unwind through meditation. According to the
Male on Sunday, Kate has been learning the practice from
none other than British contemporary artist Chris Levigne, famed for

(02:57):
his ethereal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II titled Likeness of Being.
Levine's two thousand and four image of the late Queen,
eyes closed in a moment of stillness between shots, has
become one of the most iconic royal portraits of the
modern era. This shot was actually an outtake. Levin told
Hello a couple of years later, I was looking through
the work and thought, well, that's pretty powerful. It's the

(03:18):
most evocative image of a royal by any artist, and
it's become a historic work. It's that very image which
is said to have inspired Catherine to explore meditation herself.
Meditation joins a list of hobbies the Princess of Wales
has long pursued for personal well being. She remains an
avid tennis player and passionate supporter of the sport through
her role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis

(03:40):
and Croquet Club. In twenty twenty three, she shared on
Mike Tindall's The Good, The Bad and the Rugby podcast
that her matches with Prince William often come with a
competitive edge, where the couple tried to outmntle each other
on the court. Prince William offered a glimpse of royal
humor and a touch of nostalgia while showing actor Eugene
Levy around wid Castle. As the pair explored the historic halls,

(04:02):
The Prince of Wales shared one of his favorite anecdotes
about a particularly confused tourist. The tour GUIDs get to
hear some funny stories, he said, we heard back one
time that I won't name the nationality of the tourists.
They were looking around the castle, going Wow, this place
is incredible, but why do they have to build the
castle so close to Heathrow Airport. William laughed, adding I
know my history is bad, but that's another level for context.

(04:26):
Windsor Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in
the eleventh century, some nine centuries before he throw opened
as a small airfield in nineteen thirty, while guiding Levy
through Saint George's Hall, William wilse We reflected on childhood
memories at Windsor. My cousins and I and the family
would chase each other up and down here and do
silly games. He recalled, I remember these carpets weren't here,

(04:47):
and there were a couple of spots where he used
to have to watch out because you'd get a massive splinter.
It was really dark, wooden oak floor. The prince revealed
that he's kept the family tradition alive with his own children,
saying we come in after hours and check each other
around sometimes. Fortunately, he added with a grin, it's a
lot easier now. My children don't realize how lucky they
are more palace in just a moment. During her brief

(05:14):
time as a working royal, Megan Markle's style underwent a
dramatic transformation from Hollywood glamour to polished palace sophistication. But
a long standing fashion mystery still follows her. Did that
infamous label mishap in Tonga suggest she was borrowing designer
outfits to meet royal fashion expectations. The incident dates back
to October twenty eighteen, when the newly married Duke and

(05:35):
Duchess of Sussex landed in Tonga during their first overseas tour.
Meghan stepped off the plane in a three hundred and
eighty pounds self portrait dress and with its tag still
visibly fluttering in the breeze. While many chalked it up
to a simple oversight, others speculated it pointed to a
deeper reality that many of Megan's outfits during her royal
tenure were on loan from luxury designers. Accepting free clothing

(05:59):
as strictly under royal protocol, but borrowing pieces temporarily from
fashion houses is permitted. Celebrity stylist Martin Alexander told The
Demi Mail that such an arrangement would have been entirely
plausible if Meghan was working with a stylist. If Meghan
was working with a stylist, they may well have contacted
pr companies or brands directly to ask if they can
borrow pieces. The practice is common in the fashion world,

(06:22):
where stars wear loaned pieces before returning them, but it
becomes more complicated for a royal, especially one newly navigating
palace etiquette. Fashion expert Jane Tippett described the Tonga tag
moment as a sloppy mistake in a sign that she
was a new working royal who didn't yet have her
ducks in a row. Further evidence, some stylists say, lies

(06:43):
in Meghan's rarely repeated outfits. While Princess Catherine is known
for re wearing favorite ensembles, Meghan has been seen in
many items only once, suggesting they may not have been
hers to keep. Celebrity stylist Rachelle White also noted that
Meghan's long, wide leg trousers, such as the beige Saint
Agne pear she wore in the Hamptons earlier this year,

(07:04):
could indicate unautered loaned pieces designed for taller models. The
duchess could be working with a designer or stylist where
it's not possible to have alterations done, either because the
pieces have to be returned or because they belong to
the brand, she explained. Experts agree the approach would have
been both practical and economical. Tippet added, a smart way
to handle wardrobe expectations, it allows Meghan to look the

(07:25):
part without having to purchase every piece. Since stepping back
from royal life, Megan's fashion freedom has expanded, though not
without criticism. Her post palace wardrobe, including luxury pieces from Dior,
Caroline Herrera and Ola Johnson, has been valued in the
tens of thousands, reigniting debate over her image. Public relations
expert Ryan McCormick told Daily Mail, Wearing that kind of

(07:47):
expensive jewelry communicates I am in the upper class. It's
a conflicting message that makes it difficult for some people
to connect with her. Still, others argue that borrowing designer
fashion remains one of Megan's most strategic moves, a blend
of practicality, sustainability and style. Marketing expert Estelle Keeper put
it succinctly, designers gained exposure and Megan maintains her polished

(08:10):
image while championing the idea of rewearing or borrowing instead
of buying. It's a when when, during her recent trip
to Washington, d C. For the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit,
the Duchess was spotted with a sleek Long Champ travel
bag that quickly caught the attention of fans online. In
footage shared on Instagram, The Eagle Einne, followers noticed the

(08:32):
bag was monogrammed with DS, a subtle nod to her
royal title, the Duchess of Sussex. The design comes from
Long Champ's My Pillage signature range, known for its customizable options.
Shoppers can choose from fourteen canvas colours, a variety of
prints and motives, and finishes in either silver or gold hardware.
Megan's version featured a minimalist natural palace and personalized embossing,

(08:56):
offering both sophistication and practicality. Crafted from one hundred percent
recycled polyester with Russian leather trim, the bag balances sustainability
with style. Its generous size makes it ideal for travel,
easily accommodating essential for a short getaway. A removable adjustable
strap allows it to be worn cross body or carried
by hand, while a zip and snap closure keep everything secure.

(09:19):
Our bag, says PI on it. There you have it.
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if you're enjoying the show and my Francis my thanks
to John McDermott, This is Palace Intrigue and Good Dams