Cast your minds back to February when Duchess Meghan jetted across the pond for her lavish New York City baby shower.
While we’re still curious as to why we didn’t get an invitation, details have emerged of Meghan’s privately-funded visit to the Big Apple after newly released official documents were published by the Mail Online after a Freedom of Information request to the US State Department.
But rather than face the press, it was the Duchess of Sussex who decided she wanted to leave the five-star Mark Hotel where the baby shower was hosted, by leaving through a side entrance.
“The VIP [Meghan] explained that her intent was to change the literal optics of the departure, making it appear that she was at least attempting to sneak out of the hotel in photos rather than exiting through the main entrance and giving the potential impression that she was enjoying the media attention,” the report reads.
Meghan in New York City pictured with friend Abigail Spencer.
(Image: Getty Images)
The official documents also revealed that the then-pregnant Duchess Meghan originally wanted to eat at Flora Bar at the Met Museum but changed her mind at the last minute due to the restaurant’s large glass ceiling where both the public and the press would be able to look through.
Instead, she opted for Cafe Boulud at The Surrey Hotel where she was able to eat in relative privacy.
Indeed, the Duchess of Sussex has kept many details of her and Prince Harry’s son private. Since Archie was welcomed to the world in May, he has only made three public appearances one of which was his christening. And in a royal first, the identity of Archie’s godparents has been kept a secret.
Duchess Meghan opted for a more private location when she went out for lunch in the Big Apple.
(Image: Getty Images)Duchess Meghan’s baby shower was most certainly a star-studded event with her A-list friends including Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, CBS anchor Gayle King and her best friend Jessica Mulroney all in attendance.
It was human rights lawyer Amal who reportedly footed the $200,000 bill for the event and according to the Daily Mail, she even flew the royal mum-to-be back to the UK on a private jet owned by a US company with the same name as one registered to the same Los Angeles address as two of husband George Clooney’s film companies.
WATCH: Gayle King spills on Meghan Markle’s NYC baby shower. Post continues after video…
Traditionally, royal expectant mothers do not host baby showers as they are seen as highly inappropriate due to the fact that they can go out and buy whatever is needed themselves.
However a source from Vanity Fair revealed at the time of the shower that the event was a nod to her American roots.
“As an American, she was very excited to have a baby shower thrown for her. I think she’d have felt she was missing out if she didn’t have one,” the source revealed.
“It’s been such a fun time for her, she is with her oldest friends in the city she loves and really enjoying herself.”
