Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s fashion ‘feud’ and how Erdem became a pawn in it

It has been reported the rift between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex deepened because the former was prioritised by the fashion house Erdem. Kate Middleton’s most recent look was called a “swipe” aimed at Meghan Markle. How exactly has this luxury British brand become part of the well-publicised so-called “feud” between the royal women?

Erdem Moralıoğlu is a Britsh fashion designer. He was born in Canada to a Turkish father and an English mother. His eponymous brand describes itself as an “independent house of bold fashion”, creating clothes that are “poetic and rigorous, ageless and timeless, powerful and versatile.”

So it’s no surprise a host of A-list celebrity women have flocked to the brand. It’s been worn by the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley, Meghan’s fellow UN women alum Emma Watson, and of course the two Duchesses.

And it’s popular with more than just the two royals. Sophie Countess of Wessex and Princess Eugenie have both worn the designer too.

Both Meghan and Kate have worn the designer for many years. The former was wearing his looks long before she met Prince Harry. But, when Meghan joined the Royal Family it’s claimed Kate was given priority, despite the fact both women were longtime customers and the fact Meghan appeared to have some kind of relationship with the brand.

The Telegraph reported “Kate always appeared to get first dibs on designers” including on Erdem which was “one of Meghan’s absolute favourites”.

It appears Meghan had a relationship with the designer, as she attended a wedding with Harry in Jamaica in 2017 in a dress from the “Pre-Fall” collection, which was not available to the public yet.

Meghan is reported by the Telegraph to have fumed when her sister-in-law received the latest designs first, even after the former-actress married into the Royal Family.

Now, because of these reports, Kate’s wearing of Erdem is being perceived as a sartorial “swipe” at the Duchess of Sussex. After the Princess wore a controversial Erdem look on Commonwealth Day this month, headlines asked: “Was Kate’s Commonwealth outfit a subtle swipe at Meghan?” Others claimed “Kate Middleton Shades Meghan Markle By Wearing Erdem.”

Kate, who works with stylist Natasha Archer, wore a “polarising” blue skirt suit from the brand, which costs a cool £3,000. Royal commenter and stylist Amanda Holder called the outfit “just too much” and “overdone.”

Regardless, the look drew attention once again to the supposed feud between the two women, and it’s highly unlikely Kate’s reminders of the feud will go away any time soon.

Erdem himself has an MBE, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, awarded for prominent national or regional achievement by the Royal Family itself. With this royal seal of approval, it’s likely the Princess will continue to stock her wardrobe with Erdem in the coming years.

And the MBE is just one of the ways the brand is an ideal fit for the royal. Kate is known for choosing British designers, alongside Archer, to highlight British talent and bolster the UK fashion industry.

Royals throwing their weight behind British designers, as Kate has done with Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, is not just diplomacy, but business too. Through this public display of support for British brands, royals have the ability to make fashion careers and put money in the companies coffers.

What’s more, Edrem’s latest collection, its Pre-Fall 2023 from which Kate’s latest suit skirt look was taken, is reminiscent of the signature style Kate and Archer created together over the past five years.

It is full of feminine floral prints, white lace shirt dresses, and smartly tailored coats, all of which have appeared in the royal’s wardrobe regularly recently.

Kate has worn Erdem for public walkabouts and state events alike. She wore a whimsical Erdem summer dress to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.

She’s also worn Erdem evening looks, including a stunning red white a blue dress to the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala in 2015 and a gold floral dress to an official dinner at the British ambassador’s residence in Sweden in 2018.

Meghan, too, has worn Erdem for some of her biggest fashion moments. She notably wore the Erdem Larkin beaded green coat in 2019 while pregnant.

Express has approached Erdem for comment.

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