“Four years ago today, this also happened.” – Meghan Markle

😱 ROYAL SHOCKWAVE! 😱 Meghan Markle’s throwback video of her TWERKING in a hospital room while pregnant with Princess Lilibet has the internet in a FRENZY! 🏥💃 Meant to celebrate her daughter’s 4th birthday, the clip with Prince Harry busting moves has sparked a storm—some call it “cringe,” others say it’s a bold clapback at pregnancy rumors! 👶 Is this Meghan owning her narrative or a privacy paradox? The drama’s HOT, and the world’s watching! 🌍 Share your take and dive deeper into this royal saga!

Meghan Markle’s Viral Twerking Video: Celebration or Controversy?

On June 4, 2025, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, shared a throwback video on Instagram to mark her daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday. The 80-second clip, filmed in a hospital room at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 2021, shows a heavily pregnant Meghan twerking and dancing to Starrkeisha’s “The Baby Momma Dance” alongside Prince Harry, who joins in with playful moves. Captioned with a lighthearted note about failed attempts to induce labor—“spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work”—the video was meant to be a joyful reflection of a candid moment. Instead, it ignited a firestorm of controversy, with reactions ranging from admiration to outrage. Dubbed “cringe” by critics and a defiant statement by supporters, the video has reopened debates about Meghan’s pregnancies, her quest for privacy, and her public persona. What led to this backlash, and what does it reveal about the Sussexes’ complex relationship with fame?

The Video: A Playful Moment Goes Viral

The clip begins with Meghan, dressed in a black maternity dress, cradling her bump as she grooves to the viral TikTok hit “The Baby Momma Dance,” a 2018 trend popularized by celebrities like Ashley Tisdale and Shay Mitchell. She sways her hips, twerks, and even drops low, all while sporting a cannula in her arm, signaling she was in the final stages of pregnancy. Prince Harry, in a hoodie and jeans, shimmies into the frame, performing what some have called “dad-dancing” before syncing with Meghan for a synchronized squat. The video ends with Meghan glancing at the camera, ensuring it’s recording, adding a knowing touch to the performance.

Meghan’s caption explained the context: both of her children, Lilibet and Archie, were a week overdue, prompting the couple to try unconventional methods to kickstart labor. In his memoir Spare, Harry recounted the scene, noting they ate In-N-Out burgers and fajitas before dancing around the hospital room, filled with “nothing but joy and love.” The video, paired with black-and-white photos of Meghan and Lilibet, was meant to celebrate the “sweetest bond” between Harry and his daughter, whom Meghan called “Daddy’s little girl and favorite adventurer.”

The Backlash: “Cringe” and “Unroyal”

The video’s release, viewed 21.6 million times in 24 hours, sparked immediate division. Critics labeled it “crass,” “vulgar,” and “unroyal,” arguing it clashed with the Sussexes’ long-standing demands for privacy. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have pursued legal battles against the British press, emphasizing their desire for a private life. Sharing intimate hospital footage with millions seemed, to some, a contradiction. Royal commentator Sarah Vine, writing for the Daily Mail, called Meghan the “Duchess of Privacy” with biting sarcasm, questioning what she aimed to achieve with such a “bizarre” post. Others, like GB News, argued it undermined their credibility on media boundaries.

Social media amplified the criticism. Posts on X branded the video “disgusting” and “attention-seeking,” with some users demanding the couple’s royal titles be stripped. One commenter wrote, “Get the vomit bag, Meghan Markle just posted herself twerking in labour and delivery. Have some dignity.” The Daily Express echoed this sentiment, with assistant editor Mieka Smiles calling the clip “uncouth” and urging Meghan to “pick a lane” on privacy or ditch her titles. For detractors, the video was less about celebrating Lilibet and more about Meghan’s relentless pursuit of public relevance, especially amid her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her lifestyle brand.

The Conspiracy Theories: Reigniting Old Rumors

The video also reignited a persistent conspiracy theory: that Meghan faked her pregnancies with Archie (born 2019) and Lilibet (born 2021). Since Archie’s birth, online trolls have speculated that the Sussexes used a surrogate, pointing to their decision to forgo the traditional royal hospital photoshoot and delays in presenting their newborns. The Telegraph noted that Meghan’s secrecy around Archie’s birth, even from Buckingham Palace, fueled rumors, with some claiming she wore a prosthetic “moonbump.” The twerking video, showing Meghan moving energetically at nine months pregnant, poured fuel on these claims. Critics on X wrote, “A heavily pregnant woman cannot move that way. The surrogacy theory just got another boost,” while others alleged her bump looked “poorly stuffed.”

Meghan’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, has previously fanned these flames, claiming in a 2024 interview with Dan Wootton that Meghan used frozen eggs and a surrogate for Archie. She argued the couple’s secrecy was to maintain their children’s place in the line of succession, a baseless claim given no evidence supports it. Medical experts, like Dr. Charlsie Celestine, have countered that pregnancy experiences vary widely, and energetic movement late in pregnancy, while uncommon, is possible for some women. Meghan herself revealed on her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder that she gained 65 pounds during both pregnancies, a detail skeptics dismissed as inconsistent with her appearance in the video.

Supporters: A Defiant Clapback

Not all reactions were negative. Supporters praised Meghan’s authenticity, seeing the video as a relatable glimpse into the chaos of overdue pregnancies. On X, user Drea Humphrey wrote, “I did this exact same thing to the same song,” defending Meghan’s choice. Christopher Bouzy, founder of Bot Sentinel, mocked detractors, saying, “Y’all crashing out over a pregnant woman dancing is why y’all are not serious people.” Royal historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop told The Mirror that the video was “Instagram magic,” showcasing Meghan’s ability to surprise and outmaneuver critics. She argued it embodied “leadership of a different kind,” unapologetically human and defiant of royal norms.

Some viewed the video as a deliberate response to the pregnancy rumors. The Telegraph suggested Meghan, aware of the “hurtful trolls” who mocked her bump-cradling during pregnancy, used the clip as a “two-fingered salute” to skeptics. By showing herself dancing with a prominent bump, cannula in place, she appeared to counter claims of faking her pregnancy. Fans on Instagram echoed this, with one writing, “I’m loving Meghan’s Instagram. Such a cute and funny video,” while another insisted, “I see nothing wrong with this.”

The Privacy Paradox

The video’s release highlights a tension in the Sussexes’ public strategy. Their quest for privacy has always been selective, balancing personal boundaries with curated revelations. Their Netflix docuseries, Harry’s memoir, and Meghan’s social media posts share intimate details, yet they sue tabloids for intrusions. The Independent noted that while Meghan may regret the video’s backlash, it aligns with her goal of connecting with audiences on her terms. However, the outlet warned that “flogging her jam” through such stunts risks further damaging the monarchy’s reputation.

Royal fans and critics alike question where the Sussexes draw the line. The video, described by Newsweek as sparking “strong feelings,” has intensified scrutiny of Meghan’s motives. Some speculate, as TMZ did, that she aimed to humanize herself amid declining popularity in the U.S., where neighbors reportedly mock her. Others, like Stu Burguiere on The Megyn Kelly Show, suggested it felt like a contrived PR move, lacking authenticity. The Times Now reported calls to strip their titles, reflecting a sentiment that Meghan’s actions mock royal decorum.

Cultural and Personal Context

The video also touches on broader cultural issues. The Telegraph pointed out that conspiracy theories about Meghan’s pregnancies echo similar trolling faced by women of color, like Beyoncé, due to underrepresentation of diverse pregnancy experiences in media. This lack of familiarity, coupled with Meghan’s high-profile status, amplifies scrutiny. Her decision to share the video may reflect a desire to reclaim her narrative, especially after revealing mental health struggles during her pregnancies, exacerbated by media attacks.

On a personal level, the video captures a moment of levity in a challenging time. Harry’s Spare describes the joy of Lilibet’s birth, with him guiding her delivery and feeling “pure liquid silence” at her arrival. Meghan’s posts, including photos of Harry with Lilibet, emphasize their family’s bond, a stark contrast to their strained royal ties. Naming Lilibet after Queen Elizabeth II’s nickname, though controversial, underscores their attempt to honor tradition while forging a new path.

Conclusion

Meghan Markle’s twerking video, meant to celebrate Lilibet’s birth, has instead become a lightning rod for debate. It encapsulates the Sussexes’ paradox: a couple craving privacy yet thriving on public engagement. While supporters see it as a bold, humanizing move, critics view it as a misstep that fuels distrust and conspiracy theories. As the Sussexes navigate their post-royal life, the video underscores the challenges of controlling their narrative in a polarized world. Whether a miscalculation or a defiant stand, it’s a reminder that every move they make is scrutinized, leaving the public to decide what’s authentic and what’s performance.