Friends are the family we choose. Or, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves until a public scandal and a cross-continental move turn a decades-long bond into a ghost story.
If you’ve spent any time looking at old photos of the Duchess of Sussex, you’ve seen her. The tall, polished brunette standing just behind her at the Invictus Games or holding the train of her gown at St. George’s Chapel. That was Jessica Mulroney. For years, she wasn't just a stylist; she was the architect of the "Meghan look" and the keeper of the royal secrets.
But then, the silence became deafening.
The Toronto Years: Where it All Began
They met in 2011. Meghan was in Toronto filming Suits, playing Rachel Zane and trying to navigate a new city. Jessica was already Canadian royalty, married to Ben Mulroney, the son of a former Prime Minister. Honestly, they were a match made in networking heaven.
They did everything together. Yoga sessions? Check. European vacations with matching wine glasses? Absolutely. Jessica even helped Meghan pick out the wedding dress her character wore on Suits.
When Prince Harry entered the picture, it was Jessica’s house that became their safe haven. They hid from the paparazzi in the Mulroneys' living room. At the 2018 royal wedding, Jessica’s three children—twins Brian and John, and daughter Ivy—were the stars of the show as page boys and a bridesmaid. One of the twins even gave us that iconic, toothless grin behind Meghan as she entered the chapel.
It looked like a friendship for the history books.
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The Sasha Exeter Controversy: The Turning Point
Everything changed in June 2020. This wasn't some slow drift. It was a high-speed collision with reality.
Canadian influencer Sasha Exeter posted a general call to action for public figures to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Jessica took it personally. What followed was a series of private messages where Jessica allegedly threatened Sasha’s livelihood, mentioning she had spoken to "companies and people."
Sasha went public with the receipts.
The fallout was instant. Jessica lost her show, I Do, Redo, and her contributor spot on Good Morning America. But the biggest blow wasn't professional. It was the report that Meghan had officially "ghosted" her.
Insiders at the time claimed Meghan felt she could no longer be associated with Jessica. The narrative shifted. Suddenly, people were saying Meghan felt Jessica had been "using" the friendship to build her own brand.
"Meghan is absolutely done with Jessica," a source told Page Six at the time. "She cannot be associated with her after this."
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Where Are They Now?
It’s 2026, and the bridge appears to be completely burned.
Recently, Jessica has been going through her own major life changes. Reports surfaced in late 2025 that she and Ben Mulroney have separated after 16 years of marriage. While Jessica once posted that "Meghan and I are family," her recent social media activity tells a different story. She doesn't follow Meghan’s new ventures, and she was noticeably absent from the With Love, Meghan Netflix series.
There’s even talk of a tell-all book. Rumors suggest Jessica has been offered a massive seven-figure sum to finally tell her side of the story.
Whether she’ll actually sign the contract is the million-dollar question. Some say she’s "biding her time," still hurt by being cut off during her darkest hour. Others think she’s too afraid of the legal repercussions from the Sussex camp.
Why This Friendship Still Matters
The story of Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle is more than just gossip. It’s a case study in how the pressures of the global spotlight can make or break a private bond.
It also highlights a pattern critics of the Duchess often point to: the "ghosting" of people who no longer fit the brand. From her father, Thomas Markle, to childhood friends and socialites like Lizzie Cundy, the list of those left behind is long.
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But there’s another side to it.
If you’re a woman of color in the most scrutinized family on earth, can you really afford to have a best friend who uses "textbook white privilege" to threaten another Black woman? Probably not. It was a PR nightmare that Meghan simply couldn't afford to navigate.
The Actionable Takeaway: Lessons in Loyalty
So, what can we actually learn from this wreckage?
- Public and Private Identities Clash: When your best friend becomes a global icon, your private disagreements are no longer private.
- The Power of Association: Who you hang out with defines you. In the age of social media, one "bad look" from a friend can sink your own ship.
- Communication is Everything: Most reports suggest the "ghosting" happened without a final, sit-down conversation. If a relationship matters, it deserves a post-mortem, even if it's painful.
If you’re looking to follow the latest updates on the Sussexes' inner circle, keep an eye on Jessica's Instagram. The cryptic quotes she posts are often the only window we get into the "dark cloud" she now says hangs over her royal memories.
Watch for any movement on the rumored memoir—that will be the true "final word" on this defunct friendship.