Why Do A-listers Reportedly Avoid Taking Pics With Meghan Markle?

Meghan Markle attended a business event where she socialized with fellow Hollywood stars. However, photos from the occasion only show her posing alongside her friends instead of other celebrities and insiders have revealed why that is.

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, was among the guests at the star-studded business summit held at the Hamptons on July 26, 2024.

Reports revealed that she arrived with a private jet along with entrepreneur, Jamie Kern Lima, after flying in from Santa Barbara, California. She was reportedly there to get tips for her next project.

Per reports, Markle’s attendance at the business event comes amid news of her plans to launch her own lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard. An insider revealed it “will reflect everything that she loves – family, cooking, entertaining and home decor.”

Aside from her ambitions, the royal’s longtime friend and makeup mogul, Bobbi Brown, detailed her experience at the G9 Ventures Summer Summit – a one-day business summit hosted by power broker Amy Griffin.

The annual event is reportedly held at Griffin’s enormous estate worth over $13 million. She shares the abode with her husband, billionaire John Griffin – who was also present.

Other well-known public figures in attendance included Reese Witherspoon (the owner of Hello Sunshine), Gwyneth Paltrow (Goop founder), Mariska Hargitay, Diane Sawyer, Naomi Watts, Katie Couric and actress, Laura Dern.

Markle’s dear friend and fashion designer Misha Nonoo also attended the summit. Brown shared a series of pictures taken at the occasion showing the three women posing together while wearing sunglasses.

The royal could be seen smiling next to her pals wearing a beige outfit consisting of a St. Agni linen helm vest and overlap waist trousers. She accessorized with some jewelry from Cartier and Ariel Gordon.

While Markle took pictures with the two women, it was noticeable that they were the only ones she posed alongside with. A source revealed why some famous women at the event decided to snub the Duchess by not taking photos with her.

“They know that if they are in a picture with (Meghan) it is a tacit approval of her that she can use to promote herself. Meghan can show up at events where they are at, move into their neighborhood (Paltrow owns a house near Markle and Harry in Montecito) but they are not friends,” disclosed the insider.

Some A-list Hollywood stars reportedly don’t want to be seen taking Markle and her husband Prince Harry’s side amid their rift with the Royal Family. Even pop star Taylor Swift has distanced herself from the Duchess more than once.

Despite being snubbed by some of her fellow stars, Markle’s non-celebrity friends still stand by her. She, Brown and Nonoo go way back. The royal once collaborated with the makeup artist on some beauty-focused social media posts.

As for Nonoo, Markle dressed up in her pal’s designs in the past. The British-Bahraini native even attended the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018.

Nonoo is also rumoured to be the one who introduced Markle to her now-spouse Prince Harry, the Duke of Duchess. When asked about that in a 2017 interview, the New York-based designer said, “I really can’t answer that.”

However, she confirmed her close relationship with Markle, saying, “[…] I love her to death. She is the coolest girl in the world.” The two women first crossed paths in Miami several years ago through a mutual friend.

Nonoo recalled the encounter sharing that they both sat next to each other at a lunch and got along “like a house on fire.” She also gushed about the Duchess and expressed her admiration for her.

“She has the most remarkable and generous spirit. I aspire to be as philanthropic as she is, and to have as much of an impact as her,” said Nonoo.

She added the royal’s greatest strength is her compassion for other people and that most of the work she does is hardly noticed by the public.

With Markle being the ambassador for World Vision Canada and an advocate for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Nonoo revealed what connected them to each other.

“We really bonded over that to begin with — and we both love dogs, too,” grins Nonoo. “We have been very close ever since,” the 39-year-old divulged.

Nonoo and Markle have a lot more in common. They both don’t have siblings and once made note that they found sisterhood in each other. While on holiday in Ibiza and Formentera, they captioned one of their posts, “When only children find sisters.”

Markle credits the immense support she has received from her friends which helped sustain her. Besides Nonoo, the Duchess has also formed close relations with some renowned celebrities and one of them is none other than former tennis star, Serena Williams.

The pair also met many years ago at the Super Bowl. When speaking about the royal, the 23-time Grand Slam champion said, “Her personality just shines.”

Markle has reportedly asked the retired athlete for advice on how to handle the overbearing effects of fame such as the paparazzi showing up at her home and tailing her. Williams revealed she told the royal to be who she is and to avoid hiding.

Another famous public figure the Duchess seems to be close with is megastar, John Travolta. The former actress and her husband Prince Harry reportedly befriended the veteran actor after having a fall out with David and Victoria Beckham.

The royal couple has spent time with Travolta, who is best known for his roles in “Pulp Fiction,” and “Grease,” at celebrity hangout The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

The trio socialized together at the said hotel’s ultra-VIP Polo Lounge and later shared food and drinks at a party for the duo’s Archewell foundation, hosted by the hotel.

An insider revealed, “They all got on extremely well.” This wasn’t the first time Travolta rubbed shoulders with members of the Royal Family. He famously danced with Princess Diana at a White House gala dinner in 1985.

They danced for 15 minutes in front of the press, including Clint Eastwood and then US President Ronald Reagan. The “Look Who’s Talking” star later said it was “one of the highlights of my life.”’

Notably, the meet-up with Hollywood’s leading man is understood to be one of the few times the Duke and Duchess have left their home for a night in LA, even after living there for over three years.

Sources revealed that the couple, who shares two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have formed new close relations with public figures like two-time Academy Award winner, Kevin Costner.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended a non-profit organization event for first responders along with the actor in September 2023. Costner, who delivered a speech, posted about the event on his Instagram and the pair could be seen pictured behind him.

In addition to their close relations with the movie star, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also regular guests at their neighbor Oprah Winfrey’s home. Those close to the royal couple revealed that they are more focused on spending time with friends and working.