Meghan Markle had to ask for an invite to her catwalk debut on her polarising Paris trip, Balenciaga’s top designer has sensationally revealed.

The Duchess of Sussex said the visit to Fashion Week in the French capital was ‘the culmination of many years of…friendship’ with Pierpaolo Piccioli.

But Mr Piccioli has been rather more muted in his response, suggesting that their friendship is one of casual texting.

In a new interview the celebrated clothing designer revealed that Meghan had asked him if she could attend – rather than him sending her an invite.

But Mr Piccioli did say it was a ‘beautiful surprise’ and had helped keep her Paris visit to his show secret.

When questioned about Meghan’s visit and the two ensembles she donned, he mentioned, ‘Meghan and I got acquainted some years back, and we’ve been keeping in touch via text ever since. She reached out expressing her desire to attend the show.’

He added: ‘There was no strategy or big orchestration.’

According to Piccioli, Meghan’s spontaneous decision to make the extensive 10,000-mile journey to Paris Fashion Week was unexpected, and he assisted in maintaining its secrecy.

Meghan Markle shared an awkward moment with Italian fashion designer Pierpaolo Piccioli during her surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week, which he helped facilitate.

The Duchess of Sussex made an appearance at the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show in Paris, wearing an all-white outfit, excluding her black shoes and clutch.

Meghan later looked elegant in all black in another Balenciaga outfit in Paris on October 4

‘I kept her visit under wraps to ensure it remained a surprise. Genuine surprises in the fashion world are infrequent, and this one was truly delightful,’ Piccioli remarked to New York magazine The Cut.

There has been some skepticism among royal observers regarding the depth of Meghan’s relationship with Pierpaolo, particularly after their awkward exchange and accidental bumping of heads during a greeting. 

The Duchess of Sussex’s Paris mission – and outfits – made headlines around the world as she made her debut at one of the ‘Big Four’ fashion weeks amid rumours London could be next, in the spring.

But there were a number of controversial moments.

Last week a video emerged of the duchess appearing to laugh as a model took a tumble on the Balenciaga catwalk, next to her stony-faced friend.

Footage from behind the scenes also captures the moment she appears to attempt to make conversation with British actress and Slow Horses star Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who was seen turning away from her, leaving her awkwardly hanging.

She was watching the fashion show from the front row, sitting next to her close friend, Marcus Anderson, Soho House brand’s creative director.

At one point, the duchess was seen reacting with amusement, firstly gasping with horror before giggling behind her hands and turning to chat to Marcus, who remained stony-faced.

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle steps out in a beige coat and black trousers on a rainy day in New York City after visiting Gloria Steinem

Meghan stopped by and then was swept away in a waiting Cadillac Escalade SUV

The Duchess has been criticised after a widely circulated video online showed her laughing while sat on the front row during the Balenciaga show. Her spokesman said that she was not laughing at a model stumbling

In the clip, Meghan could be seen avidly watching the fashion show from the front row, sitting next to her close friend, Marcus Anderson

‘She did seem quite poised, but she did seem a little bit nervous there.’

It has not been confirmed that a model fell over, and Meghan may have simply been sharing a moment of laughter with her friend.

Nonetheless, royal fans were left baffled that she was the ‘only one laughing’ – seeming at odds with the rest of the audience, who watched the show in silence and with neutral expressions.

A representative for Meghan said she wasn’t laughing at the model.  

Meghan was also mocked for her ‘Zoolander’ walk, as observers noticed the Duchess of Sussex appeared to be sashaying as she left the Balenciaga show in Paris. 

The first video posted to her Instagram story on Saturday evening was a teaser of her £745 Balenciaga ‘Knife’ heels as she strutted out of the £2,210-per-night Plaza Athénée hotel.

But critics today likened the Duchess to Zoolander – the dim-witted character made famous by Ben Stiller in the 2001 hit comedy.

‘Meghan Markle trying to give Zoolander a run for his supermodel walk,’ one said. 

Meghan walks in her full-white outfit and black heels at Paris Fashion Week 

It appears Meghan had her own model moment as she strutted in front of numerous cameras while exiting the star-studded Balenciaga show in Paris this weekend – and she was compared to Zoolander

Other commenters ridiculed ‘self-obsessed’ Meghan for appearing to make the show all about her.

‘Meghan, you’re not a model, they’re simply just walking you to your seat! Meghan walking with her cape like she’s the second coming of the Messiah,’ one wrote. 

However, others complimented the duchess and said: ‘Love that energy. Channel your inner princess,’ and another said: ‘She is so elegant and has always had style.’ 

Meghan cut an elegant figure in a stylish white oversized button-through ensemble with an incorporated cape and, according to some observers at least, certainly had the strut of a fashionista. 

Appearing among high-profile celebrity guests such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, FKA Twigs and Anne Hathaway, Meghan had her own catwalk moment as she channelled her inner supermodel in front of numerous cameras while exiting the star-studded show.

With her lips slightly parted, the duchess struck her best pose as she confidently exited the venue with her entourage.

She then paused before getting into her blacked out minivan. 

One person commented on the video: ‘Why is she walking like that?’

Another replied: ‘Thought the same thing. That’s the “I’m very important you know” walk.’

A fourth said waspishly: ‘She’s trying way too hard. It almost looks like parody.’

A short clip showed her putting her feet up while being driven through the French capital, near to where Princess Diana died

Critics noted that after she passed Paris’s Pont Alexandre III bridge (pictured), she was heading towards nearby Pont d’Alma – close to where Princess Diana died in 1997

Meghan was also condemned over the ‘insensitive’ clip which showed her feet resting on the leather seats of a minivan as she was driven away from the event in the French capital. 

The clip, which appeared to be taken by Meghan, showed she took the parallel route to that of her mother-in-law Diana before she died. 

Commentators were quick to criticise the duchess for the ‘disrespectful’ video, branding it ‘beyond stupid’ and ‘insensitive beyond belief’.

But Meghan appeared to have brushed off the criticism with a new video showcasing behind-the-scenes highlights from her luxurious Parisian stay.

The clip shows the duchess being driven past the Arc de Triomphe, staying within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and snacking on French food. 

She also shows herself munching on ‘frites’ while sampling lipstick and getting ready with best friend and make-up artist Daniel Martin. 

The controversial clip of her journey back from the event was notably absent from the new video, which was finished off with the song ‘Minuit’ by Clementine and Oscar Anton. 

Critics questioned whether Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018, realised she had posted a parallel journey – separated by the flowing waters of the Seine – to that followed by her husband’s mother on her final evening in August 1997.