Designer Clarifies She Absolutely Does Not Think Meghan Markle's Dress Was a Rip-Off, Nothing But Love Here 

Last week, the Daily Mail featured quotes from designer Emilia Wickstead in which she seemed to suggest that she thought Meghan Markle’s wedding dress rather close to her own label’s work and also Markle’s wispy ’do was wrong for the regal occasion. Now, Wickstead has released a statement saying that she sees no rip-offs here and she has nothing but admiration for the Duchess of Sussex.

People points to her response, via Instagram:

“I am extremely saddened by commentary that has appeared in the press and online over the past few days,” Wickstead said in a statement posted on her Instagram account Sunday. “Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex looked absolutely beautiful on her wedding day and I have the utmost admiration and respect for her.”

She continued, “I do not think that her wedding dress was a copy of any of our designs. I have the greatest respect for Clare Waight Keller and the House of Givenchy—a huge source of inspiration to me. I wish Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a wonderful, happy and love filled life together.

Some digging reveals how this probably happened. Over the weekend, the Daily Mail columnist who ran the original report, Sebastian Shakespeare, produced a followup (noting that the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV which delivered Meghan and her mother to the wedding carried Wallis Simpson to the Duke of Windsor’s funeral and suggesting it was a cruel joke—a stretch so big it’s lucky he didn’t pull a hamstring). The piece contained the revealing line: “Top fashion designer Emilia Wickstead has felt the need to issue a grovelling apology after mentioning to me at a party last week that Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was ‘identical’ to one she had created.”

If I did any business whatsoever with the royal family I would avoid every reporter who’s ever even been seen spotted in the vicinity of the Daily Mail offices as though they were carrying the bubonic plague. If you’re in Tesco, just drop your crisps and flee.