When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, her best friend Jessica Mulroney was one of the most important people on the bride’s side. She arrived at St George’s Chapel in Windsor along with Princess Kate and her children were even pageboys and a bridesmaid.
Jessica was even part of Harry’s proposal to Meghan as the Duchess called her moments before it happened.
The Canadian stylist accompanied the Sussexes on their royal tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga and attended Meghan’s baby shower in New York before she gave birth to Prince Archie.
But in 2020, the same year Harry and Meghan decided to step down as working royals and relocate to the US, trouble also seemed to be brewing for Meghan’s closest friendship.
Jessica reportedly played an “influential” role in Megxit, but later on in the year as the Black Lives Matter movement became mainstream the mother-of-three was embroiled in her own online controversy.
Jessica is known for sending subtle messages through her Instagram channel suggesting her take on certain issues, as she posted a triumphant quote after Harry and Meghan left the royals.
She posted: “A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink”, however months later Jessica was called out by lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter for “taking offence” to a “generic call to action” regarding Black Lives Matter.
In a video posted afterwards Sasha explained: “I’m by no means calling Jess a racist but what I will say is this: She is very well aware of her wealth, perceived power and privilege because of the colour of her skin and that, my friends, gave her the momentary confidence to come for my livelihood in writing. Textbook white privilege really, in my personal opinion.”
Jessica issued public apologies for her words but the damage was done, as she lost TV deals and was dropped by numerous networks, as well as seemingly by Meghan.
A source told Page Six at the time that the Duchess had been looking for an excuse to cut Jessica off as she felt the stylist was “making a career out of the friendship”.
They said: “The white privilege row has really given Meghan the excuse she was waiting for to cut Jess off for good. I don’t know what the tipping point was, but Jess has been on the outs for some time.”
In September 2020 she wrote on her Instagram stories that Meghan was like “family” and “the kindest friend,”, posting a picture of flowers that the Duchess sent for her 41st birthday six months later.
By 2021 it seemed the friendship was over, as Jessica cryptically posted on her Instagram: “Life changes. You lose love. You lose friends. You lose pieces of yourself that you never imagined would be gone.
“And then, without even realizing it, those pieces come back. New love enters. Better friends come along. And a stronger, wiser you, is staring back in the mirror.”
Although Jessica and Meghan have yet to patch things up, it seems Jessica has been gradually re-entering her old professional world by forging some new charity and fashion partnerships.
PR expert Vince Ciarlo of Ciarlo Communications believes she has played it exactly right, as he told the Daily Mail: “Enough time has passed, and the world has changed since she was shamed. Like a true professional, she followed the playbook on the ‘Art of the Apology’.
“She apologised, kept out of the limelight and rebuilt her brand and reputation and now deserves the respect and attention to share her expertise on creativity.”
