Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended the Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Gala in New York on October 9. Shortly after the event, the Duchess of Sussex shared a cheerful behind-the-scenes video that has since sparked discussion online.

Inside Meghan’s New York Trip

The upbeat clip, set to Dinah Washington’s If I Were a Bell, begins with Meghan filming clouds through an airplane window before cutting to shots of cookies, including one shaped like a yellow New York taxi.

The video then moves to her hotel suite, showing an array of luxury heels neatly arranged alongside tailored pants and blazers. As she contemplates her outfit, the camera pans to Prince Harry standing barefoot in the doorway, wearing gray sweatpants and a t-shirt, smiling warmly at his wife.

The montage continues with Meghan applying makeup at her vanity, interspersed with footage from the Gala, and ends on a lighthearted note with her laughing backstage beside Harry.

Royal Expert Criticizes “Out of Touch” Display

Not everyone was impressed by the video’s tone. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams criticized what he viewed as an excessive display of luxury, arguing that it distracted from the serious cause of mental health awareness.

“Meghan’s new video seems very off-key with rows of shoes and dresses. We hear Dinah Washington’s If I Were a Bell whilst Harry lounges around barefoot,” Fitzwilliams told the Daily Express. “You feel that the allure of luxury is irresistible to her, but she should bear in mind that it would be beyond the reach of many. The trip was about a serious subject to which the Sussexes have contributed.”

He further described the clip as “juvenile, unsophisticated, and very unroyal.”

Fans Recognize Familiar Footage

Viewers also noticed that one of the moments in the video — Meghan laughing while Harry smiles in the background — had already been shared a day earlier on her Instagram Stories. At the time, she captioned it, “Happy World Mental Health Day… to the man who always keeps me laughing,” with Sylvie Vartan’s Baby, c’est vous playing in the background.

In that clip, Meghan wore a sleek black Armani suit paired with a chunky gold chain, while Harry matched her in a black suit and metallic tie. The couple later appeared on the red carpet in the same outfits, holding hands and sharing affectionate smiles for photographers.

Honored for Mental Health Advocacy

At the Project Healthy Minds Gala, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were recognized for their dedication to promoting a safer digital world for families and young people. During their acceptance speeches, both highlighted how their roles as parents inspire their advocacy work against cyberbullying and online harm.

Meghan has previously spoken candidly about her own struggles with online abuse, admitting she has been “one of the most bullied people in the world.” Her remarks have often underscored how personal experiences continue to shape her and Harry’s charitable focus on mental health and well-being.