Meghan Markle requested an invitation to Paris Fashion Week, it has emerged.

The Duchess of Sussex made her first visit to Europe in more than two years when she stepped out with Balenciaga’s designer Pierpaolo Piccioli.

 

Meghan said that her appearance in Paris was “the culmination of many years of friendship” with the fashion designer.

However, Mr Piccioli revealed that the duchess asked him if she could attend the event rather than him sending her an invite.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle requested an invitation to Paris Fashion Week, it has emerged.

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GETTY

He described Meghan’s attendance as a “beautiful surprise” and had helped keep her Paris visit to his show secret.

Piccioli said: “Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since. She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show”.

He added: “There was no strategy or big orchestration.

“I didn’t tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise. In fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful.”

Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex made her first visit to Europe in more than two years when she stepped out with Balenciaga’s designer Pierpaolo Piccioli.

 | GETTY

Meghan Markle was recently urged against pursuing new ventures in fashion after previous “disastrous” collaborations.

The Duchess of Sussex discussed the possibility of moving into fashion or beauty with her As Ever lifestyle brand during an interview with Bloomberg in August.

Meghan said at the time: “I’m open to the possibilities of what can happen.

“Certainly, in the expansion of As Ever, I would not put beauty or fashion out of the mix. I think those are things that people associate with me and it’s categories that I really love.

“I just wanted to start with something that felt a little bit closer to home.”

Meghan Markle

Meghan said that her appearance in Paris was “the culmination of many years of friendship” with the fashion designer.

 | GETTY

However, a Sussex critic hit out at the duchess for not being aware of her strengths.

The source told the Mail: “The Bloomberg interview [in August] was odd because it felt as if Meghan had no idea what she was talking about.

“She said that everyone associates her with fashion, and that’s not the case.

“She has given quite a few print interviews in her career and more often than not they are a disaster.

“It’s not her best medium, she doesn’t tend to come across very well.”