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Meghan Markle’s 2016 Throwback Post Called Out For Lying After Fans Notice Key Detail
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embracing outdoors near water in a warm setting related to Meghan Markle 2016 throwback post.

Netizens Slam Meghan Markle’s “Bizarre” Clip Over Details Drawing Comparisons To Kate Middleton

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As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appeared to participate in a viral nostalgia trend with a throwback-style video, the internet wasted no time tearing it apart over certain suspicious details.

The post, shared on Saturday, January 17, to Meghan’s Instagram account, featured the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and quickly led viewers to accuse her of attempting to “manufacture authenticity” amid months of similar criticism.

Highlights
  • Meghan Markle’s nostalgic throwback video sparked backlash after fans zeroed in on details they say don’t add up with her claims.
  • Viewers questioned whether the intimate moment was truly “authentic” or spontaneous, with critics scrutinizing the video’s timing.
  • The post reignited comparisons to the Duchess of Sussex’s sister-in-law, Princess Catherine, as people noticed an “odd” pattern of similarities in their social media activity.

“I think MM is trying to sell ‘authenticity’ since so much of the criticism she receives is that she/they aren’t authentic,” reacted one social media user.

RELATED:

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s viral throwback-style dance video slammed over “bizarre” claims involving their 4-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet

    Meghan Markle smiling at event in beige suit and white shirt with long brown hair, posing against branded backdrop.

    Image credits: Craig Barritt/Getty Images

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    In the now-viral post, Meghan Markle shared a romantic black-and-white video of herself and Prince Harry dancing barefoot on their lawn on a sunny day, set to Olivia Dean’s 2025 track So Easy (To Fall in Love).

    The clip showed the couple sharing a kiss, with Harry playfully lifting Meghan at the end.

    Meghan also shared a photo from her and her husband’s 2016 trip to Botswana, which they have described as their third official date.

    A family spending time outdoors on a small wooden bridge surrounded by greenery, highlighting Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback.

    Image credits: meghan

    The video was shared as part of the viral 2016 social media nostalgia trend, a nod to the year the couple first began dating nearly a decade ago.

    The two famously met in July 2016 on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend at Soho House’s Dean Street Townhouse in London.

    Markle captioned the post, “When 2026 feels just like 2016… you had to be there.”

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    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embracing while standing in water during outdoor adventure, highlighting Meghan Markle throwback post.

    Image credits: meghan

    Tweet criticizing Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post, highlighting fans calling out a key detail and accusing dishonesty.

    Image credits: Cristi97332051

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    However, what didn’t sit well with social media users was the line that followed, “cred: our daughter,” implying that Princess Lilibet filmed the video.

    Skeptics also questioned the steadiness and professional quality of the clip, with many suggesting that a professional videographer or at least a grown adult was likely involved, rather than the couple’s 4-year-old daughter.

    “Notice how they always hide behind a ‘child detail’ to disarm criticism. It’s not wholesome, it’s strategic,” expressed one furious netizen

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    Couple embracing in a park setting in a black and white photo related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

    Image credits: meghan

    One critic commented on X, “There’s no way in one million years that their four-year-old is taking a video, when I was four-years-old I was playing with dolls, not recording my parents dancing with each other.”

    Another X user, with the handle @XOQueenEsther, bluntly added, “A four year old does not film like an adult… A four year old filming a video is usually chaotic. The camera shakes. The framing is random. Someone’s head gets cut off. There is movement, sudden tilting, giggling, wandering, fingers covering the lens, accidental zooming…”

    Couple embracing outdoors on green grass with trees in background, related to Meghan Markle 2016 throwback post controversy.

    Image credits: meghan

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    “What we got instead looked steady, controlled, and perfectly placed. Not ‘kid with a phone for five seconds’ energy. More like ‘adult set the phone/camera & pressed record’ energy.”

    Calling the post a “lie,” the user speculated that the Suits alum “did not need to mention who filmed it at all,” but chose to do so in order to make the moment “feel intimate and authentic.”

    “Saying the child filmed it attempts to do three things at once. First, it sells innocence. It makes the moment sound spontaneous and family warm. Second, it shields it from criticism… Third, it forces the audience to picture the child witnessing the whole performance, which is exactly the emotional hook they want.”

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    Screenshot of a tweet calling out Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post for misleading fans about a key detail.

    Image credits: jenzie17

    Screenshot of a social media reply discussing attention span, related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

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    Image credits: Wedge4576423176

    The same user doubled down in the comments, writing, “A 4 year old doesn’t film like a trained cameraman with zero wobble. That was propped up on something, tripod or shelf, and they still had to toss in the ‘Lili took it’ lie for the fake wholesome points. Clowns.”

    The former actress’s decision to credit her daughter also sparked comparisons to her sister-in-law Princess Catherine of Wales’ ‘Mother Nature’ post from February last year, shared to mark World Cancer Day, where Catherine credited Prince Louis for taking the photograph.

    The “cringe” and “awkward” clip was dragged online, with many viewers drawing comparisons to Princess Catherine’s post crediting her 7-year-old son, Prince Louis

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    In the image, Catherine was seen standing on a log in what appeared to be a forested area, her arms outstretched as she looked into the camera.

    “Because Catherine shared a photo taken by Louis, so of course Meghan had to try to one up it by claiming Lili filmed the video,” wrote one suspicious netizen.

    Others echoed similar sentiments, with one comment reading, “Let’s face it the only reason she has the credit for the kid filming it is because C [Catherine] credited her son for her photo.”

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    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding hands on wedding day, highlighting Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

    Image credits: Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post and fans pointing out a key detail.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post and fans pointing out a key detail.

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    They hate each other. It is hard to feign romantic when you would rather be anywhere else.”

    As the backlash intensified over the weekend, Meghan reposted the same dancing clip on her Instagram Story on Saturday, January 18.

    Meghan and Harry shared the Instagram post amid months of “bad PR,” following several controversies and reports that multiple key staff members quit their team

    Meghan Markle with family outdoors wearing Minnie Mouse ears hat in a candid moment linked to 2016 throwback post controversy

    Image credits: princeharryofengland

    This time, aside from the music playing, a faint giggle believed to be from Lilibet could be heard in the background.

    Some speculated the clip was reshared with the child’s voice included to suggest that the video had, in fact, been filmed by Lilibet.

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    However, critics labeled the move “ridiculous,” with one person strongly reacting, “You have to do better than that, Markle. We still don’t believe a 4 yr old filmed that, and if you’d let a child film you straddling your husband, that’s weird. The Prove It Game? Again? Yet it proves nothing.”

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    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry holding hands and spinning in a sunny outdoor park with trees in the background.

    Image credits: meghan

    The renewed backlash followed what many online have deemed a “bad PR year” for the Sussexes.

    Meghan and Prince Harry topped Ranker’s list of the most disliked celebrities of 2025, with Markle ranking No. 1.

    The couple also lost several key staff members last year, including their chief communications officer, Meredith Maines.

    Reports claim that at least 11 publicists or senior communications professionals have exited the non-working royals’ employment since their move to the U.S. in 2020, including Maines’ departure.

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    According to reports, Meghan has since rehired the PR firm Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis (SSML) to manage her publicity, the same firm she previously worked with during her acting career.

    “How utterly ridiculous… That claim was only thrown in to make it sound ‘cute’ and spontaneous when it was obviously staged,” commented one social media user

    Comment by Carolyn Ferguson questioning children using technology, highlighting Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

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    Comment by Jean Taylor questioning if there was music during an unrehearsed dance in a social media post.

    Comment by Polly Finders questioning why a garden lacks children's toys, related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

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    A social media comment from Wendy Walker discussing family dancing memories, related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post.

    Social media comment questioning authenticity in Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post, highlighting fans' reactions.

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    Screenshot of a social media comment criticizing Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post for being misleading.

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    Screenshot of a Facebook comment accusing Meghan Markle of lying in a 2016 throwback post.

    Social media comment by Kathleen Bollinger Perkins criticizing Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post as staged.

    Comment by Lola Harris saying all show because it’s all an act, referencing Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

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    Comment from Carol Chalmers questioning the authenticity of Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post after fans spot key detail.

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    Comment by Kasey Barton criticizing Hollywood influencers, related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

    Comment on social media by user Cel Pirotta calling someone Wannabe the Beckhams, related to Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post controversy.

    Comment on Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post discussing fans calling out a key detail for lying.

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    Comment on Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post with fans calling out a key detail that questions the post's truthfulness.

    Social media comment criticizing Meghan Markle's 2016 throwback post with fans noticing a key detail.

    Screenshot of a social media comment mentioning Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post before her wedding.

    Screenshot of a social media comment criticizing Meghan Markle’s 2016 throwback post for inconsistencies.

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    Amita Kumari

    Amita Kumari

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Meowzers!
    Community Member
    4 hours ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Who cares? Really? Why do the people who hate them so much feel the need to follow their socials and read their books and watch their programmes, just to post hate comments? Surely if you hate someone that much you'd just ignore them and not feel the need to comment on every aspect of their lives? Just ignore them. I dont care about them or what they do, but I dont feel the need to comment on their posts to tell them that either. Each hate comment is the same as any other. They're still getting paid for the interactions so they still win.

    SaladSpinnerDeux
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @Meowzers here, have an upvote from me.

    Julie Buck
    Community Member
    8 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rip her to shreads why don't you, Making stupid posts just to spread hatred

    Apatheist
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do people go to the extra effort of putting apostrophes in plurals?

    meeeeeeeeeeee
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Daily Mail 2.0. Really makes me think Megan and Harry refuse to join the peado rings the rest of the super famous ppl are in, and that's why Rupert Murdock and the like won't f**k up about them.

    Meowzers!
    Community Member
    4 hours ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Who cares? Really? Why do the people who hate them so much feel the need to follow their socials and read their books and watch their programmes, just to post hate comments? Surely if you hate someone that much you'd just ignore them and not feel the need to comment on every aspect of their lives? Just ignore them. I dont care about them or what they do, but I dont feel the need to comment on their posts to tell them that either. Each hate comment is the same as any other. They're still getting paid for the interactions so they still win.

    SaladSpinnerDeux
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @Meowzers here, have an upvote from me.

    Julie Buck
    Community Member
    8 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rip her to shreads why don't you, Making stupid posts just to spread hatred

    Apatheist
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do people go to the extra effort of putting apostrophes in plurals?

    meeeeeeeeeeee
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Daily Mail 2.0. Really makes me think Megan and Harry refuse to join the peado rings the rest of the super famous ppl are in, and that's why Rupert Murdock and the like won't f**k up about them.

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