Meghan Markle’s friendship with Victoria Beckham reportedly ended due to the Duchess of Sussex’s irritation over the Beckhams’ display of wealth.
But while their relationship may have changed, the two continue to exhibit a strikingly similar fashion sense, frequently photographed in almost identical outfits.
And beyond their style choices, Meghan and Victoria have another thing in common: their mutual love for high heels has resulted in both women suffering from bunions.
Meghan’s painful condition became apparent in 2010, allegedly leading her to undergo surgery to remove a bunion from her left foot, while Victoria’s penchant for stilettos has led to a similar issue.
Meghan Markle has been suffering from painful bunions since 2010 (pictured at an event in LA)
Though Meghan no longer endorses the Victoria Beckham brand, she certainly appears to be channelling the former Spice Girl’s style.
At her red carpet appearance at the 2023 Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles, Meghan radiated glamour in a floor-length Proenza Schouler dress.
The draped, off-the-shoulder design closely resembled a look that featured on the Victoria Beckham runway a few years earlier.
Both women are also fond of trouser suits. At the 2022 Invictus Games, Meghan sported a white two-piece by Valentino, comprising an oversized double-breasted blazer and wide-leg trousers.
A similar ensemble featured in Victoria Beckham’s recent collaboration with high street retailer Mango.
Showcased by the designer herself, the outfit incorporated a longline wrap blazer and flared trousers, which were just as lengthy as Meghan’s.
Though Meghan no longer endorses the Victoria Beckham brand, she certainly appears to be channelling the former Spice Girl’s style. Pictured, right: A dress from a Victoria Beckham catwalk show
At the 2022 Invictus Games, Meghan sported a white two-piece by Valentino, comprising an oversized double-breasted blazer and wide-leg trousers. A similar ensemble featured in Victoria Beckham’s recent collaboration with high street retailer Mango
In 2021, Meghan embraced tonal dressing with a navy ensemble, featuring a Giuliva Heritage roll neck jumper and Emporio Armani flared trousers. Not long after, Victoria wore a strikingly similar outfit from her own collection
Back in 2021, Meghan embraced tonal dressing with a navy ensemble, featuring a Giuliva Heritage roll-neck jumper and Emporio Armani flared trousers.
Not long after, Victoria wore a strikingly similar outfit from her own collection. The resemblance was unmistakable.
Their roles reversed when the former Suits actress wore a breezy linen co-ord by St Agni at the G9 Ventures Summer Summit, held in the Hamptons in July.
Three years prior, Victoria had worn indistinguishable trousers, also featuring front pleats and an exaggerated silhouette.
Demonstrating their affinity for wide-leg styles, both women donned camel trousers with a high-rise belted waist in 2023, with Victoria taking the lead.
The American actress wore a breezy linen co-ord by St Agni at the G9 Ventures Summer Summit held in the Hamptons in July. Three years prior, Victoria had worn indistinguishable trousers, also featuring front pleats and an exaggerated silhouette
The pair stepped out wearing lookalike camel trousers in the summer of 2023
Meghan wowed in a floor-length white dress ten years after Victoria walked the red carpet in her own design
The duchess’s foot problems became particularly noticeable during her first royal tour in 2018, where she carried out 76 engagements over 16 days.
She was only seen in flats seven times throughout her 41 outfit changes, preferring to stick to her sky-high stilettos – but it seems as though she has paid the price.
During a traditional welcome ceremony in Rotorua, New Zealand, Meghan took off her shoes, as is customary in Māori culture, revealing a bunion on her right foot and a possible scar from previous surgery on her left.
At the time, podiatrist Robert Duff told Femail: ‘On the right foot, there appears to be a bunion and some exostosis, or bony growth.
‘Wearing heels excessively can definitely lead to the development of bunions. This may be the cause in Meghan’s case.’
‘Wearing heels excessively can definitely lead to the development of bunions,’ Podiatrist Robert Duff told Femail
As well as bunions, a sign of excessive wearing of high heels appears on the sole of the foot, where an expert would look for callus build-up on the ball.
‘Wearing heels can lead to calluses and bunions as it places too much pressure on the ball of the foot,’ Robert explained.
‘It can cause issues at the big toe joint due to the hyperextension of the joint from the unnatural toe position in these kinds of shoes.’
Meghan’s fondness for heels has been apparent since she began attending engagements with Prince Harry.
Before the royal tour, she was never seen in flats during official outings – even on sporty occasions, such as visiting Dublin’s Croke Park.
In Victoria’s case, at one point friends reported that the singer was in such pain she resorted to icing her feet and doing daily exercises in a desperate attempt to avoid the bunionectomy surgeries recommended by her doctors.
Victoria Beckham produced a custom-made white coat and dress for Meghan in 2020 which she wore during her last appearance at Westminster Abbey in March that year (pictured)
Most notably, Meghan wowed in a £950 turquoise figure-hugging Victoria Beckham dress as she made her first post-Megxit appearance at the Endeavour Awards in London alongside Prince Harry
According to royal author Tom Bower’s latest book, The House of Beckham, Meghan had ‘longed to be posh’ like the former Spice Girl, which played a part in the breakdown of their friendship.
Bower also claimed that the duchess grew frustrated when Victoria was reluctant to provide her with free clothes and accessories from her label, despite such requests being against Palace rules.
In 2018, Victoria lent the royal a coat for the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.
Appearing on American talk show Live With Kelly And Ryan, she described Meghan’s decision to choose her designs as an honour.
The mother-of-four said: ‘She looked so beautiful. It was such a lovely surprise to wake up to on Christmas morning.’
The designer also created a custom-made coat and dress for Meghan in 2020, which she wore during her last appearance at Westminster Abbey in March that year.
However, Mr Bower alleged that this appearance had little effect on sales.
Most notably, Meghan stunned in a Victoria Beckham turquoise figure-hugging dress, priced at £950, for her first post-Megxit outing at the Endeavour Awards in London alongside Prince Harry.
