By Molly Claire Goddard
2:34pm PST, Feb 19, 2026
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Meghan Markle stunned in a long white custom
gown by
Charles Harbison as she walked the red carpet at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala in Los Angeles, Calif., alongside celebrities like
Beyoncé,
Emma Grede and
Aurora James. The evening honored the
Suits actress' friend
Tina Knowles.
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Social media users claimed Meghan Markle crashed the lavish gathering. "Meghan Markle, Emma Grede's plus one. How embarrassing. I guess the charity does not consider her as a black owned business, hence why she wasn't personally invited by the charity," one X user wrote.
"What is she doing there?" a second asked.
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Fortunately, many fans came to Meghan Markle's defense. "As if Miss Tina [Knowles] wouldn't invite Meghan! Meghan and Doria Ragland [Meghan's mom] hang with Tina and her famous daughter [Beyoncé], [they] all are very tight buddies!" one X user pointed out.
"Obviously [she was] invited. But now away from Palace. No leaks," a second chimed in.
"Meghan would be an obvious invite for this event! She doesn't have to make some kind of PR announcement ahead of time," a third added.
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The designer of Meghan Markle's dress even spoke out about her appearance at the event. "Meghan wore a custom Quanta gown in champagne duchess satin with a black velvet trim at the neckline. No extra seaming: just clean and perfectly sewn. I thought it would be lovely with a soft silk velvet robe and the proportions were an ode to
Zelda Wynn Valdez, as she requested," Charles Harbison said via
Daily Express.
