When Meghan Markle faced a barrage of camera flashes during her appearance in front of the press, fans were left in awe, calling it “insane” on social media.
The Duchess of Sussex garnered a lot of attention when she inaugurated the “Oceania” exhibition at the Royal Academy on her first solo royal engagement.
Although Meghan had been carrying out royal duties since the previous December, it wasn’t until September 25, 2018, that she made a public appearance on behalf of the monarchy without another royal by her side, usually Prince Harry.
A viral clip of the moment amassed 4,000 likes and was viewed 30,000 times on TikTok, with the caption “aura” accompanied by the message “insane.”
Fans expressed their adoration, with one stating “literally love her,” another praising Meghan’s beauty, and a third marveling at the flashes as she turned around.
During this significant moment for Meghan, she was well-liked by the public but privately dealing with tensions within the royal family.
Prior to Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry, there were reported issues with Princess Kate, and Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, had been publicly critical. By August, Meghan had raised concerns about media attacks to palace officials.
The working environment in the shared office with Prince William and Kate was also strained, as detailed in Harry’s book Spare.
Despite the underlying tensions, Meghan’s appearance at the Royal Academy was preparation for her successful tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in October 2018, aligned with the Oceania theme of the exhibition.
The exhibition, a significant cultural event showcasing Oceanic art, earned Meghan positive publicity for her role in its opening.
However, by November and December of that year, the simmering tensions boiled over into public disputes, fueled by unfavorable stories from anonymous sources.