Meghan Markle took to social media to share a sweet anniversary tribute she received from a British Airways flight crew, sparking speculation that she and Prince Harry had secretly “returned” to the UK. However, the rumors have since been dispelled, with sources clarifying the story behind the note.
Harry and Meghan celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary on Tuesday, May 19, with the Duchess of Sussex sharing photos from their special day, notably without any members of his family featured.
The post comes amid online backlash Meghan recently faced following her trip to Switzerland, where many accused her of trying to “upstage” Kate Middleton, who had just completed a working trip to Italy.
Meghan Markle Receives Sweet Note From British Airways Crew
Meghan took to her Instagram Story to share a sweet note she received from a British Airways flight crew in honor of her eighth wedding anniversary with Harry.
The letter, which seemingly featured several signatures and aliases from crew members, read, “Dearest Harry and Meghan, Wishing you a wonderful wedding anniversary, With love, The whole British Airways family.”
The flight crew signed off with the flight number “BA269” and the date May 18. In the accompanying caption, the former “Suits” actress thanked the crew for “all your memories and kind words,” while tagging the company’s account.
Meghan’s Post Sparks UK Return Speculation
However, Meghan’s post sparked quiet suspicion that she and Harry had returned to the UK for their anniversary celebration.
That speculation turned out to be far from the actual events. A source clarified to PEOPLE that Meghan received the note on her flight back from Geneva, Switzerland, where she had delivered a speech at the Lock Screen Memorial calling on authorities to do more to protect children online.
“Meghan’s flight crew was so lovely on her way back from Geneva. They all came to say happy anniversary and shared their memories of where they were on the day,” a source told the news outlet, adding that the crew also gave treats to her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
In another photo, she shared a throwback of the two of them in penguin-themed costumes, standing side by side.
Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton’s Rift Resurfaces
The last eight years have come with their fair share of ups and downs for Harry and Meghan, who relocated to California following their alleged fallout with members of the royal family.
One of the most talked-about tensions reportedly involved the Netflix star and her estranged sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. Claims surfaced that a 2018 disagreement over bridesmaid dresses left the Princess of Wales in tears ahead of Meghan’s wedding to Harry.
Meghan has previously claimed that Kate later apologized over the incident. However, sources have alleged that the damage had already been done and that Meghan’s frosty relationship with the future queen took a negative toll on her time inside the palace, especially as Kate was often viewed as the more favored of the two.
Meghan Accused Of Trying To Upstage Kate
Meghan recently faced accusations of trying to upstage and outshine Kate on the global stage after she delivered an address in Switzerland calling for more action to stop rising online child exploitation and digital violence.
Before Meghan’s trip, Kate had traveled to Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for a two-day visit to learn about the region’s famous approach to early childhood development and promote her work on the subject, which has often been described as her “life’s work.”
Some internet users alleged that Meghan’s appearance at the event was staged, citing photos that appeared to show her speaking to a near-empty audience. Others claimed the trip was arranged by her PR team to “counter the Princess of Wales.”
Harry And Meghan Markle Questioned For ‘Half In, Half Out’ Approach
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have sparked renewed interest in their “half in, half out” royal arrangement, with experts suggesting the setup has shown they remain popular, even as it continues to leave palace higher-ups unsettled.
“There is a huge difference between what the monarchy has to offer and what Harry and Meghan are currently doing,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. “This was underlined by King Charles’ highly successful state visit to the United States and Princess Catherine’s two-day visit to Italy, her first official trip in over three years.”
“However, in attempting to have something similar to the ‘half-in, half-out’ position within the royal family, which Queen Elizabeth rejected, the Sussexes have shown that their brand still gets huge amounts of publicity,” he added.