Prince Andrew’s latest downfall has triggered an unexpected and vicious aftershock aimed not at the disgraced duke himself but at Meghan Markle who has once again become the internet’s favorite punching bag in the aftermath of the royal crisis. The wave of hostility erupted online immediately after Andrew surrendered his royal titles following the leak of his alleged emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Instead of focusing solely on Andrew’s collapse some social media accounts redirected the narrative toward the Duchess of Sussex with recycled false claims accusing her of once being a so called yacht girl. The timing has fueled anger among Meghan’s supporters who say the renewed smear campaign proves that whenever any member of the royal family is disgraced Meghan becomes the scapegoat.
Old photographs resurfaced online claiming to show Meghan aboard a yacht with Prince Andrew. The implication pushed by hostile users was that she had ties to the disgraced royal long before meeting Prince Harry. The images were quickly seized upon by anti Meghan commenters who began spreading the narrative as if it were fact.
Credible reports and past coverage quickly disproved the claim. The woman in the pictures taken in 2010 was confirmed to be model Alexandra Escat not Meghan Markle. The Express had previously reported on the photos more than a decade ago and even included Escat’s recollection that Andrew had taken her hands and told her she was lovely.
Despite the correction from sources and reporters the false claim continued circulating online. Fact checkers have stressed repeatedly that no verified photographs or documentation have ever linked Meghan to yacht parties or to Prince Andrew prior to her entry into the royal family.
Royal correspondents noted that the so called yacht girl allegation has been a persistent online conspiracy used to demean Meghan long before the Epstein related scandals erupted. Each time royal news turns dark especially when Prince Andrew is involved the narrative appears to be weaponized again.
Supporters of Prince Harry and Meghan argue this pattern reflects the scale of online abuse directed at the Duchess of Sussex. They believe the attacks have less to do with facts and more to do with the continuing resentment toward the couple since Megxit reshaped the monarchy’s public image.
Read More: Prince Andrew Hit With Devastating Final Blow That Erases What Little Was Left of His Public Life
Observers say the renewed fixation on Meghan instead of Andrew illustrates how the public conversation around royal scandals often shifts away from accountability and toward character assassination of figures who already attract hostility. Meghan remains one of the most polarizing public figures connected to the monarchy and that makes her a convenient diversion.
Commentators have also pointed out that Prince Harry’s absence from royal life intensifies rage toward Meghan each time the monarchy experiences turbulence. Some see her as the wedge that separated the Prince from royal duty and so she becomes the proxy target whenever the Crown is embarrassed.
While Andrew faces political calls to have his titles removed by parliament and King Charles reportedly pushes for stricter distancing Meghan is battling narrative war rather than institutional action. Her reputation is attacked each time the monarchy attempts damage control elsewhere.
Fact checkers warn that repetition of disproven claims is part of a long term strategy of discrediting Meghan through volume rather than evidence. The aim is not persuasion but fatigue making falsehoods feel familiar enough to be believed.
The latest smear cycle unfolded not because of anything Meghan did but because Andrew’s scandal reignited global attention on royal misconduct. Instead of the outrage focusing solely on the royal accused of Epstein ties online culture turned to the royal most hated.
The episode shows once again that Meghan Markle can be absent silent and unrelated to the controversy and still become headline collateral in royal implosions driven by others. The internet chose her as the lightning rod and that pattern may continue for as long as the monarchy remains under scrutiny.
