You know how sometimes a single Instagram post can basically set the entire internet on fire? That’s exactly what happened when the latest Meghan Markle St. Patrick's Day photos hit social media. Honestly, it wasn't even a red carpet moment or a royal appearance. It was a breakfast. Specifically, a plate of green waffles.
People are still arguing about whether she actually cooked them or if they were store-bought. It sounds silly, right? Why are we debating breakfast? But for the Duchess of Sussex, every pixel is a message. Whether she’s at her Montecito home or a gala, the way she presents her life—and the inevitable "wafflegate" that follows—says a lot about the weird space she occupies between "relatable mom" and "global icon."
The Waffle Iron Controversy You Might Have Missed
Last year, Meghan took to her Instagram Stories to share a glimpse of her family’s St. Patrick's Day. She posted a video of her whisking green batter and pouring it into a high-end Cuisinart Waring Pro waffle maker. The caption was simple: "About this morning..."
Then came the "money shot." A photo of the finished product. Two round, green waffles decorated with fruit faces for Archie and Lilibet. Cute, right?
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Well, the internet's "waffle sleuths" weren't having it. They noticed a pretty glaring inconsistency. The waffle iron she showed in the video has deep, square ridges that divide the waffle into four sections. But the waffles on the kids' plates? They were flat and perfectly round, looking suspiciously like Kellogg's green apple "Dragon Waffles" or just standard frozen ones.
- The Drama: Critics called it a "staged" moment.
- The Defense: Fans argued she might have just used a different iron for the kids or was showing the process of cooking while also using a backup.
- The Reality: Honestly, what mom hasn't started a "from scratch" project only to realize they're out of time and reach for the freezer? But when you're Meghan Markle, that's not just a kitchen fail; it's a headline.
Why the Waffle Maker is Actually a Royal Easter Egg
If you’re a real royal watcher, you know the waffle maker isn’t just a random appliance. During that famous 2021 interview with James Corden on The Late Late Show, Prince Harry revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth II actually gifted Archie that specific waffle maker for Christmas.
Harry told Corden, "Meg makes up a beautiful organic mix in the waffle maker, out it comes, he loves it."
So, by including the appliance in the Meghan Markle St. Patrick's Day photos, she was likely sending a subtle nod to her late grandmother-in-law. It’s a way of saying, "We still use her gifts. We’re still connected." It’s these tiny, "if you know, you know" details that make her content so fascinating to analyze.
The "Mama Meals" Philosophy
Beyond the controversy, Meghan used the holiday to lean into her "lifestyle guru" persona. She’s been vocal about food being her love language. She even called these traditions "Mama Meals."
She shared shots of her own breakfast too—stacked green waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, paired with what looked like a matcha latte. The vibe was very Pinterest, very curated. She’s clearly positioning herself as the queen of the domestic "theme."
"Even before I was a mom, I loved being able to nurture in that way," she previously told People. "Some of my favorite childhood moments are the meals that my mom would make."
But here’s the thing: because the Sussexes have stepped back from official royal duties, we don't get the "official" Meghan Markle St. Patrick's Day photos we used to. We don't see her handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards alongside Kate Middleton. Instead, we get these intimate, slightly grainy, and highly debated snippets of her private life. It’s a huge shift in how her "brand" works.
A Quick History of Meghan in Green
While she doesn't do the official parade anymore, green has always been one of her "power colors." Think back to:
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- The forest green Givenchy blouse and skirt she wore for the 2018 visit to Dublin.
- The emerald Emilia Wickstead cape dress at the 2020 Commonwealth Day service (her final royal hurrah).
- The monochromatic olive green look for Prince Louis’s christening.
She knows how to use color to signal respect for a culture or a country. Even if it's just green food coloring in a bowl of batter, the intent is there.
The Disconnect: Why People Get So Heated
The reason the Meghan Markle St. Patrick's Day photos caused such a stir—and let's be real, "Wafflegate" was a bit over the top—is the perceived lack of authenticity.
The internet is obsessed with "catching" people in a lie. If the waffles don't match the iron, the immediate reaction is: She's a scammer. But the nuance is often lost. She’s trying to bridge the gap between being a high-level producer of content and a busy mom of two. Sometimes those two things clash.
On one hand, you have the "Sussex Squad" who see a beautiful, festive tradition. On the other, you have the critics who see a staged PR stunt. The truth? It’s probably somewhere in the middle. She likely did make some waffles, maybe used some store-bought ones to speed things up, and definitely wanted to show off the Queen's gift.
What This Means for Her Future Brand
Meghan is reportedly moving more into the lifestyle and cooking space (rumors of a Netflix cooking show and her American Riviera Orchard brand have been swirling for a while). These St. Patrick's Day posts are basically a pilot for that.
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She's testing the waters. Can she sell a "perfectly imperfect" lifestyle? Or does the public demand absolute transparency when she’s in the kitchen?
The Meghan Markle St. Patrick's Day photos prove that even the most mundane holiday activities are under a microscope. If she wants to succeed as a lifestyle mogul, she’s going to have to navigate the "Wafflegate" energy with a bit more precision—or just lean into the chaos of being a mom.
Your "Mama Meal" Next Steps
If you want to recreate the "Duchess Vibe" without the internet drama, here’s how to do it right:
- The "Organic Mix": Harry mentioned she uses an organic mix. Skip the box and go for a recipe using oat flour and spinach juice (it’s a natural dye that actually tastes okay).
- The Detail: If you're going to post it, make sure your waffle iron matches your waffles. It saves you about 48 hours of Twitter (X) discourse.
- The Sentiment: Use the pieces you’ve been gifted. Whether it’s a waffle maker from a grandmother or a vintage plate, those stories add depth to the meal.
Whether you love her or think the whole thing was staged, you can't deny that Meghan Markle knows how to keep people talking. Even with just a plate of green breakfast food.
Actionable Insight: When sharing lifestyle content on social media, focus on the "why" behind the photo—like the sentimental gift from a family member—to build a deeper connection with your audience, but be mindful of visual consistency to avoid "authenticity" traps.