It’s rare to catch a glimpse of a member of the royal family with their guard down behind-the-scenes at an organised event. So when the Duchess of Sussex was pictured posing in an impromptu photobooth video backstage at the British Fashion Awards, she sent her fans into a complete frenzy.
Meghan was pictured smiling alongside Givenchy director Clare Waight Keller, who famously designed her wedding dress, and actress Rosamund Pike at the prostigious bash, having made a surprise appearance on stage to present Keller with the award for British Womenswear Designer of the Year.
The video showed Meghan proudly cradling the top and bottom of her growing baby bump, as the camera slowly panned round them. It was a very candid moment for the royal, who appeared completely natural and at ease in the fashionable shot.
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It was uploaded by the British Fashion Council’s Instagram page after first being uploaded by event photographer Yvan Fabing, and unsurprisingly, it quickly went viral as thousands of fans reposted it on their own pages.
However, it was later deleted from both the council’s page and Fabing’s, without explanation.
According to multiple reports, it was likely down to the strict royal protocol surrounding social media for the royal family, and a video that may not have been approved by Meghan or her team first would likely have broken the rules.
The royals are required to follow strict protocol when out on official engagements and outings, and while Meghan has pushed many boundaries during her short time in the fold – even choosing to opt for dark nail varnish at this event, instead of the expected nude or bare – she’s likely still required to adhere to rules surrounding social media posts.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on the duchess’ growing baby bump which she cradled as she stood on stage at the event, dressed in a fitted black one-shoulder velvet gown by Givenchy, with her hair pulled back in a sleek bun.
The duchess delivered an impassioned speech about women’s empowerment to the audience, which was filled with the who’s who of Britain’s fashion set, including her own wedding guests, David and Victoria Beckham.
“It’s so nice to see so many familiar faces,” the 37-year-old told the crowd, news.com.au reported.
“As all of you in this room know, we have a deep connection to what we wear. Sometimes it’s very personal, sometimes it’s emotional. But for me this connection is rooted in, really, being able to understand that it’s about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women.”
While accepting her award, Keller, 44, thanked the duchess personally in her acceptance speech, describing her as “amazing”.
“This woman is so amazing. I got to know Meghan on such a personal level. To have someone like that trust you on such a personal moment in their life … I can’t thank you enough because it was the most beautiful moment.”
The designer created the beautiful silk wedding gown that Meghan wore to marry Harry at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May.