Even by Hollywood standards, Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday was an exercise in spectacle.
Hosted at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Beverly Hills mansion, the black-tie, Bond-themed affair gathered an almost comically A-list crowd, from Adele, Justin Bieber and Oprah to Mariah Carey and Mark Zuckerberg. But it was the surprise appearance of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry that truly set social media alight.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed arriving hand in hand, exuding their signature, polished ease. Meghan embodied modern Bond girl allure in a sculptural black halter gown with a dramatic thigh-high split, while Harry complemented her with a classic tuxedo, punctuated by a red poppy for Remembrance Day.
Inside, the pair mingled among Hollywood’s elite, pausing for photos with Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner that, for a brief moment, made their way to Instagram.
Then, just as swiftly, those images vanished.
Fans were quick to notice that both Kim and Kris had quietly deleted the photos featuring the Sussexes within hours of posting.
Kim’s carousel, which had originally included a shot of her and Meghan side by side with Harry chatting nearby, was discreetly edited to remove the photo with Meghan, while Kris’ own post was pared back without explanation.
The internet, predictably, filled in the blanks. Some suggested the move was a matter of royal optics — a cautious effort to avoid tabloid headlines linking the couple too closely with the Kardashian-Jenner publicity sphere.
Others pointed to timing, noting that the Beverly Hills celebration coincided with Remembrance weekend in the UK, when the royal family were engaged in solemn commemorations.
Earlier that evening, Meghan and Harry had attended the Baby2Baby Gala at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center, honouring Serena Williams, a long-time friend and this year’s award recipient.
Meghan’s latest outings coincide with her quiet return to the screen, after she was photographed on the Los Angeles set of Close Personal Friends, the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film featuring Lily Collins and Brie Larson.
In a self-referential twist, the Duchess will reportedly play herself — her first acting credit since her days as Suits’ sharp and ambitious paralegal, Rachel Zane.
