Royal wedding dress embroiderer says Meghan Markle ‘misjudged the role’

Embroiderer Chloe Savage, who helped make Meghan Markle’s wedding dress, says she believes the Duchess of Sussex wasn’t prepared for her role as a member of the royal family.

In 2018, Meghan married Prince Harry while wearing a Givenchy gown by Clare Waight Keller. She paired the dress with a long, silk tulle veil, which featured hand-embroidered flowers from every Commonwealth country.

However, less than two years after the royal wedding, the couple announced their intention to step down from their roles as senior members of the royal family and relocate to North America, to the shock of many royal fans.

According to Savage, who was responsible for hand-stitching a variety of flowers onto Meghan’s veil, the decision was not surprising considering she believes that the duchess “misjudged” the role she was marrying into.

"I think she misjudged the role," Savage told Insider. "The royal family has broken people before. Kate had plenty of time to adapt and adjust to it. They gave her time, whereas Meghan sort of dived in headfirst."

The embroider alleged that it was the “rules and regulations” of the royal family that ultimately influenced the couple’s decision, with Savage adding the requirements that come with being a royal “virtually broke” the late Princess Diana as well as Sarah Ferguson.  

“It has broken people before,” she continued. “I know it's looser now than it used to be, but even then, I don't think she was prepared for the things she could and couldn't do, say, and wear."

According to Savage, one of the hardest parts for the duchess may have been losing the ability to do what she wanted.

"She could have carved herself an outstanding role, but I think she found the whole thing very difficult,” she told the outlet. “She's always been able to do as she's pleased when she's pleased, and unfortunately, with the royal family, granny rules – quite simply."

Both Meghan and Harry have spoken extensively about the public abuse the duchess faced as a member of the royal family.

Prior to their departure, Meghan had revealed that she had been advised against marrying Harry by her friends, who warned her that British tabloids would “destroy” her life.

The duchess made the comments in the documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, which followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their royal tour of southern Africa.

After finding herself the subject of intense public scrutiny, Meghan said she tried to adopt a “British sensibility of a stiff upper lip” in order to cope with the pressure, but admitted that the attempt was “probably really damaging”.

“In all honesty I have said for a long time to H – that’s what I call him – it’s not enough to just survive something, that’s not the point of life. You have got to thrive. You have got to feel happy,” she said at the time.  

The couple, along with their son Archie, have since relocated to California, where they have begun working on various charitable and business ventures.

Savage, who also helped embroider Kate Middleton’s royal wedding gown, made the comments after previously revealing that she has faced homelessness after jobs became scarce and she was forced to shut down her Chloe Savage Embroidery studio amid the pandemic.

"It's been horrific,” she told People last month. "We've had all our work literally dry up.”

The Independent has contacted a representative for the Sussexes for comment.