Critics Call Out "Misleading" Photograph in Meghan Markle’s Netflix Documentary

Published 06/09/2026, 2:28 PM CDT

via Imago

Meghan Markle has again wandered into the headlines, and not for the right reasons. Markle has already been in the news regarding a reported Hollywood boycott moving silently against the Duchess. The reason behind the movement is said to be uncertainty among the Los Angeles elites about her intentions. She has also been accused of using her royal title for financial gain and fame, which seems like a misuse of something that she has already denounced. 

Now, she faces fresh accusations of using a misleading photograph in her Netflix documentary.

Controversy surrounds imagery in Meghan Markle’s Netflix series

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In a widely shared TikTok post, Meghan Markle has been accused of falsely claiming that a picture of herself cooking fish was captured the night she first met Prince William and Princess Kate, per a report by Newsweek. Although there is proof that the picture was shot before Markle and Prince Harry started dating, neither the Duchess nor Netflix has ever stated that it was taken during that dinner.

For the December 2022 biopic Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex granted access to their personal photo albums and cell phone videos to a Netflix documentary team. In the second episode of the show, Markle was shown casually wearing a gray vest and baseball cap while discussing hosting Prince William and Princess Kate for dinner at Nottingham Cottage, the couple's old Kensington Palace residence. The documentary did not specifically identify the image as being from the dinner, even though it was shown when she talked about that evening.

On social media, where specific videos are frequently reexamined and shared without regard to their original context, claims about the veracity of Harry & Meghan continue to draw criticism. This time, the dissatisfaction was expressed in a TikTok post that went viral after receiving 26,700 likes and 1.7 million views. However, the post itself makes an assertion that is unsubstantiated by facts.  

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But there must be some merit to the video and its accusations against the actress who is also facing backlash from Hollywood A-Listers right now, that it got so much attention.

What makes sense in the video

The TikTok post started with a still photo of Meghan Markle leaning over a chopping block, seemingly preparing fresh fish, while wearing a gray vest and a blue and white Toronto Blue Jays cap. "This is the photo Meghan gave Netflix showing the night she cooked fish tacos for her first meeting with William and Catherine," an on-screen caption stated. However, there is not a single piece of evidence that suggests that Markle informed the Netflix production staff that the photo was from that evening.

After that, the video goes to a black screen with the words "there's only one problem," and then it cuts back to a screenshot of the Duchess' previous Instagram account, which has since been deleted. The emphasized date seems to indicate that she uploaded it in 2013 - three years prior to meeting Prince Harry and four years prior to meeting Prince William and Princess Kate for the first time. 

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The information is difficult to authenticate since the account does not exist now. But in April 2018, the Canadian lifestyle magazine Chatelaine's website featured an Instagram screenshot of the same post. The picture featured the August 10, 2013, publishing date of the social media post. Regarding the image's history, the TikTok video seems to be accurate, yet it is only half the story. The image's presentation in the show is as significant to the argument being made. Now, who is at fault here remains a mystery, but we can conclude that the accusation feels pretty solid. 

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What do you think regarding the authenticity of these allegations? Share your thoughts.

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Harshit Kumar

425 articles

With nearly two years of experience in content writing, primarily in sports, Harshit has now ventured into the alluring alleys of Hollywood at NetflixJunkie. A true pop-culture fanatic and a certified cheat code for movie trivia night, he brings infectious enthusiasm to every conversation. He has strong opinions about everything from uplifting superhero spectacles to gripping psychological crime dramas, and he is never shy about backing them up.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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