Meghan Markle hits back after Martha Stewart said duchess dropped dinner party gossip about trip to King Charles – as insider claims cooking star ‘must have been confused’

Meghan Markle has denied claims by Martha Stewart that she discussed her recent reunion with King Charles at a private dinner party in California, with a source close to the Duchess of Sussex saying Stewart "must have been confused". The disagreement matters because it highlights ongoing tension between the pair, with some suggesting Meghan is seeking to rival Stewart's status as America's leading lifestyle guru, and it comes amid continued scrutiny of the Sussexes' efforts to keep details of their reconciliation with the King private.

Stewart told People magazine she had dined with Meghan shortly after the duchess returned "from the palace" and that she was "talking about it", though she admitted the pair barely spoke directly. A Sussex insider countered that Meghan and Stewart were not seated near each other and that Meghan had merely told another guest she'd enjoyed a "nice" European holiday. The spat follows the Sussexes' low-key family reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove last month, details of which Harry reportedly agreed not to publicise. Stewart also commented on Meghan's move into the cooking world via her show With Love, Meghan, questioning the transition from actress to "homemaking guru", while the source insisted Meghan remains a "fan" of Stewart despite the disagreement.