Jessica Mulroney’s Regret: Reflecting on Her Friendship with Meghan Markle
Once inseparable from Meghan Markle, Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney now reportedly views their friendship as a “dark cloud” that contributed to significant personal and professional losses, including the end of her 16-year marriage to Ben Mulroney. The two women, who met in 2011 while Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto, shared a bond that propelled them into the global spotlight, culminating in Jessica’s prominent role at Meghan’s 2018 royal wedding to Prince Harry. However, a 2020 controversy involving accusations of racial insensitivity severed their friendship and sparked a chain of events that Jessica now regrets. This article explores the rise and fall of their relationship, the reasons behind Jessica’s regret, and the broader implications of their fallout, drawing on recent reports and public sentiment.
The Rise of a High-Profile Friendship
Meghan Markle and Jessica Mulroney’s friendship began in Toronto, where Meghan, then an actress on Suits, connected with Jessica, a prominent stylist and television personality. Their shared interests in fashion, fitness, and female empowerment fostered a close bond, with Jessica introducing Meghan to Toronto’s elite social circles, including then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and Soho House executive Markus Anderson. As gossip columnist Shinan Govani told the Daily Mail, “The Jessica Mulroney relationship was key in that it opened up Meghan’s world,” transforming her from a working actress into a sophisticated figure with influential connections.
The duo’s friendship was publicly celebrated, with Instagram posts showcasing their adventures, including a 2015 “fake honeymoon” trip to Europe, where Jessica captioned images with “Happy wife happy life.” Their bond deepened as Meghan began dating Prince Harry in 2016, with the couple spending time at the Mulroneys’ home to avoid public scrutiny. According to Finding Freedom, Harry and Meghan “hid out” at the Mulroney residence, where Harry charmed Jessica’s children—twin sons Brian and John, and daughter Ivy—with small gifts, offering Meghan a glimpse of his potential as a father.
Jessica’s role in Meghan’s life peaked during the 2018 royal wedding at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. She was widely regarded as Meghan’s unofficial maid of honor, with her children serving as page boys and a bridesmaid alongside Princess Charlotte. Jessica helped coordinate the wedding, including Meghan’s iconic Givenchy dress, and joined the couple on their 2018 royal tour of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Tonga. She also attended Meghan’s lavish 2019 New York baby shower for Prince Archie, alongside celebrities like Serena Williams and Amal Clooney. At the time, their friendship appeared unbreakable, with Jessica describing Meghan as family.
The 2020 Controversy: A Turning Point
The turning point came in June 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. Canadian influencer Sasha Exeter accused Jessica of exhibiting “textbook white privilege” and “problematic behavior” after a dispute over a social media post. Exeter had shared a call to action urging public figures to support Black-owned businesses, which Jessica misinterpreted as a personal attack. In private messages, Jessica allegedly threatened Exeter with legal action for libel, escalating the situation. Exeter publicly shared these messages in an 11-minute Instagram video, stating, “What happened next was a series of very problematic behaviour and antics that ultimately resulted in [Mulroney] sending me a threat in writing.”
Jessica issued three public apologies, acknowledging her privilege and expressing regret, but referenced her “closest friend” (implied to be Meghan) in one apology, stating, “I have lived a very public and personal experience with my closest friend where race was front and centre.” This name-dropping infuriated Meghan, who, as a vocal advocate for racial justice, felt dragged into the controversy without consent. A source told Us Weekly that Meghan found this “hugely offensive” and considered it the “deciding factor” in ending their friendship. The fallout was swift: Jessica’s television show I Do, Redo was canceled by CTV, she lost her regular appearances on Good Morning America, and brands dropped her as a collaborator.
Meghan reportedly distanced herself permanently, with sources claiming she felt Jessica had been “trying to make a career out of the friendship” even before the scandal. Jessica initially insisted their bond remained strong, posting in September 2020, “Meghan and I are family. She is the kindest friend and has checked up on me every day.” In March 2021, she shared a photo of flowers from Meghan on her 41st birthday, captioned “LUCKIEST FRIEND XXXX, THX MM.” However, by 2022, cryptic Instagram posts about losing friends and reflecting on “problematic” relationships signaled a permanent rift. Jessica’s absence from Meghan’s Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan (2022) and her failure to follow Meghan’s new Instagram account, launched in January 2025, further confirmed the end of their friendship.
Jessica’s Regret: A “Dark Cloud” Over Her Life
In August 2025, reports emerged that Jessica Mulroney regrets her friendship with Meghan, viewing it as a catalyst for her personal and professional downfall. According to a Daily Mail source, Jessica believes the global exposure from her association with Meghan amplified the 2020 controversy, stating, “While she enjoyed all the exposure it brought her at the time, that same exposure is what caused her social media rift to blow up in the way it did and led to the end of her friendship with Meghan and her marriage.” She reportedly sees her role in the 2018 royal wedding as a “dark cloud,” with one insider claiming, “If she could go back, a part of her wishes she was never part of that wedding.”
Jessica’s regret coincides with her separation from Ben Mulroney, announced in July 2025 after 16 years of marriage. The couple, parents to twins Brian and John (14) and daughter Ivy (12), were a Toronto power couple, with Ben, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, a prominent TV host. The 2020 scandal reportedly caused tensions in their marriage, exacerbated when Ben stepped down from his role at eTalk to support Jessica. A source told Page Six that Jessica shared news of the split at a Toronto wedding, appearing “sad, but also relieved.” The Indian Express noted that Jessica believes the media scrutiny from her Meghan connection “blew the controversy out of proportion,” contributing to her marital breakdown.
Public sentiment, reflected on X, has been mixed. A post by @AndisMom4 urged Jessica to “spill the beans,” suggesting lingering resentment, while @longsally called her marriage “Markled,” implying Meghan’s influence was toxic. Conversely, SheKnows argued that Meghan should not bear the weight of Jessica’s regrets, as the controversy was Jessica’s own doing.
Critical Analysis: Who Bears Responsibility?
Jessica’s regret raises questions about accountability and the dynamics of high-profile friendships. Her claim that the royal wedding’s fame amplified her 2020 scandal is plausible, as her association with Meghan placed her under intense scrutiny. However, critics argue she cannot blame Meghan for her own actions. Perez Hilton emphasized that Jessica initiated the conflict with Exeter and escalated it with legal threats, stating, “She didn’t start the controversy—Jess did.” Meghan’s decision to cut ties aligns with her public stance on racial justice, particularly as a biracial woman who faced racism within the royal family, as detailed in her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview.
The narrative of regret may also reflect Jessica’s emotional response to recent personal losses, including her marriage. A royal watcher, @JuliaUnleashed, commented on YouTube, “When a friend betrays you, when someone you went out of your way to help… dumps you and doesn’t defend you, it has some kind of psychological impact.” This suggests Jessica feels abandoned by Meghan, who did not publicly support her during the scandal. However, Meghan’s silence may have been strategic, avoiding further entanglement in a controversy that contradicted her values.
Speculation about a tell-all memoir adds another layer. Now To Love reported in 2024 that Jessica is in talks with publishers about a book detailing their friendship, which could “cause Meghan some problems” due to her role as a confidante during Meghan’s romance with Harry. A Mirror source claimed Meghan fears such a book, as Jessica knows “the truth about everything—from Meghan’s divorce to her fight with Princess Kate.” While Jessica has not confirmed these plans, her cryptic social media posts, such as a 2022 quote about “losing friends and finding better ones,” suggest unresolved feelings.
The Broader Context: Fame and Fallout
Jessica’s story underscores the perils of fame by association. Her role in Meghan’s rise—from Toronto actress to global royal—brought opportunities but also vulnerabilities. The 2020 scandal, amplified by her high-profile connection, cost her career and strained her marriage, leading to her current regret. Meghan, meanwhile, has moved forward, launching her As Ever brand and Netflix series With Love, Meghan in 2025, while maintaining distance from former friends like Jessica. The Sussexes’ focus on their children, Archie and Lilibet, and their California life suggests they are not looking back.
The Camp Mystic tragedy, mentioned in unrelated search results, has no direct relevance but highlights the public’s fascination with dramatic personal stories, which may amplify interest in Jessica’s regret. As she navigates single parenthood and rebuilds her styling career, her story serves as a cautionary tale about the cost of fleeting fame. Whether her regret stems from genuine reflection or emotional turmoil, it underscores the fragility of friendships under public scrutiny.
Conclusion
Jessica Mulroney’s regret over her friendship with Meghan Markle reflects the complex interplay of fame, loyalty, and personal accountability. Once Meghan’s closest confidante, Jessica now views their bond as a catalyst for her 2020 scandal and subsequent losses, including her marriage. While her regret is understandable given the fallout, blaming Meghan overlooks Jessica’s own role in the controversy. As both women move forward—Jessica in Toronto, Meghan in Montecito—their story highlights the challenges of maintaining friendships in the glare of global attention. Whether Jessica’s regret leads to further revelations remains to be seen, but for now, it marks the end of a once-vibrant chapter that shaped both their lives.
