Meghan Markle's poverty plea mocked as Duchess 'draped in £25,000 of jewellery'

Meghan Markle made a virtual speech for the Global Citizen's VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World last weekend, where she discussed how women were disproportionately affected by the Covid pandemic. During her minute-long speech, the Duchess of Sussex called for vaccine equity and for the world to create "a successful, equitable, compassionate tomorrow". But despite being heavily praised for delivering her message, a commentator has suggested her speech could have been more effective if she had opted for inexpensive jewellery.

Andrew Pierce, a political journalist at the Daily Mail, wrote on Twitter: "A nice appeal on TV by Meghan Markle to counter world poverty.

"Would have probably been more effective if she wasn't draped in £25,000 of jewellery."

The commentator was referencing the accessories she wore during the pre-recorded video.

She wore a gold necklace named the Woman Power Charm Necklace, which retails at £102.

The necklace, designed by three-time cancer survivor Jill Johnson, aims to show support of female empowerment.

It features a gold charm showing a raised first with a purple amethyst.

Twenty percent of each sale is donated to charity.

Meghan also wore a Cartier Tank Francaise watch, which used to belong to Harry's late mother.

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The watch was a gift from Princess Diana’s father for her 21st birthday, and is thought to have been bought for £17,800 at the time.

Meghan completed her look with a pair of gold earrings and another Cartier piece, a yellow gold Love bracelet which cost- thousands of pounds.

It is not known how Mr Pierce reached the sum of £25,000, but her jewellery collection worn in the video appears to be around that region - though this is unconfirmed.

Several people responded to the journalist's tweet and agreed that the jewellery seemed unnecessary.

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One person wrote: "The hypocrisy of her wearing expensive jewellery whilst making that appeal is a bit galling."

Another person said: "So tiring when you see the ‘do as I say and not as I do’ brigade waxing lyrical isn’t it."

But other people leaped to Meghan's defence, and pointed out the Queen and other female royals often wear expensive jewellery to events and speeches.

One person said: "World poverty has nothing to do with personal wealth and all about world wide governments not doing enough.

"Meanwhile the Queen is draped in jewellery with thousand of food banks up and down the country, double standards."

Another person wrote: "May I remind you of the bling that HRH has to wear to Parliament."

A third wrote: "So basically none of the royal family can ever talk about world poverty or any charitable things then. Give yourself and us a break!"