The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stepped into the glittering world of Hollywood elite when they attended Kris Jenner’s star-studded 70th birthday celebration in November 2025. Held at the opulent Beverly Hills estate of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, the James Bond-themed extravaganza drew an A-list crowd, including Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, and the Kardashian-Jenner family. Dressed to impress—Meghan in an elegant black wrap dress and Harry looking sharp—the couple was captured mingling, dancing, and posing with hosts, moments that briefly lit up social media before vanishing in a puff of controversy.
What started as innocent party snapshots quickly spiraled into what the Kardashians dubbed “Photogate.” Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner initially shared carousel posts featuring the Sussexes: one showed Meghan cozying up to Kris, another captured Harry on the dance floor. But within hours—or days, depending on accounts—the images were scrubbed from their Instagram feeds without explanation, sparking wild speculation across tabloids and royal watchers.
Kim Kardashian finally broke her silence in late January 2026 on her sister Khloé’s podcast, “Khloé In Wonder Land.” She described the situation as “really innocent” and “so crazy and ridiculous,” insisting the family is always respectful about permissions. According to Kim, the photos were posted only after getting the green light from the Sussex camp. However, post-upload, concerns surfaced about timing: the party fell on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, a solemn UK commemoration honoring fallen service members. The couple reportedly worried that images of them partying and dancing could clash with the day’s respectful tone, especially after attending a charity gala earlier that evening.
Kim noted the distinction—charity events were “fine,” but “partying on the dance floor” might not look right. She added that Harry and Meghan later realized their request was “silly,” yet the photos came down anyway to show respect. Khloé chimed in, emphasizing the Kardashians’ courtesy in handling the matter.
The incident highlighted tensions between Hollywood’s reality TV royalty and the former working royals. Rumors swirled about whether the Sussexes had signed (or not signed) photo consent forms—some sources claimed no such forms existed, while others suggested initial approvals turned into panicked reversals. Body language experts even analyzed the podcast clip, detecting frustration in the sisters’ tones when discussing the overreaction.
For Harry and Meghan, the episode underscored their delicate balancing act: maintaining privacy while navigating high-profile social circles post-royal exit. Critics pointed out the irony—photographed freely at the earlier Baby2Baby Gala, yet sensitive about fun moments at a private bash. The Kardashians, meanwhile, downplayed any lasting rift, framing it as a minor hiccup blown out of proportion.
In the end, “Photogate” became yet another chapter in the Sussexes’ ongoing saga of public scrutiny, reminding everyone that even in celebrity land, a single Instagram post can ignite a firestorm. As one insider put it, what seemed like harmless fun turned into a reminder that royal protocol and Hollywood glamour don’t always mix seamlessly.
