It began, like most Meghan Markle stories, with a photograph. In this one, she’s in Paris – glowing skin, immaculate tailoring – her hand clasped in that of Markus Anderson, long-time confidant and Soho House executive. The image, shared across social media, reignited a wave of speculation: why is Anderson always there? To outsiders, it looks like friendship. But beneath the noise – the tweets, the theories, the think pieces – lies a more fascinating question about proximity, loyalty, and power in Meghan’s post-royal world.

The Inner-Circle Constant

Anderson has been part of Meghan’s orbit long before Prince Harry entered the frame. The two reportedly met in Toronto, during Meghan’s Suits era, when she was navigating the city’s social scene. He was the gatekeeper to the world she was on the brink of entering – connected, polished, and mysterious. 

When Harry and Meghan’s relationship first went public in 2016, it was said to be Anderson who helped orchestrate the logistics – safe dinners, private getaways, introductions made away from prying eyes. He was, depending on who you ask, her confidant, her PR consigliere, or her cultural passport.

Seven years later, he’s still there – appearing beside Meghan at charity galas, public appearances, and, yes, Disney trips. For those who’ve fallen out of the Sussexes’ tight circle, his enduring presence raises eyebrows.

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The Internet Reacts

The latest spark came from a set of photos – Meghan and Markus in Paris, holding hands. Cue social media meltdown. “Does no one else find it weird?” one post read. Others chimed in: Why him? Where’s Harry? Why is Markus everywhere?

On X (formerly Twitter), armchair analysts dissected body language like it was a national sport. “Harry looks like the intruder,” one wrote. Another claimed Anderson’s presence “keeps Harry in line.” Some went further, spinning theories that belong in a Netflix docuseries rather than polite conversation.

The truth – or at least the most grounded version of it – may be simpler. Anderson represents consistency. In a world that has alternately adored and vilified her, Meghan’s friendship with Markus is one of the few relationships that has endured unscathed. It’s sometimes easy to forget that celebrity life, even at royal scale, can be isolating. 

A Question of Optics

Still, there’s no denying the optics. Meghan’s every move, gesture, or friendship is dissected under a microscope – one that rarely grants her the grace of normalcy. The image of her holding Anderson’s hand, as harmless as it might seem to most, becomes instantly politicised.

Would it raise eyebrows if it were anyone else? Probably not. But Meghan, the Duchess-turned-Hollywood power player, isn’t afforded the luxury of casual relationships. In the same way Diana couldn’t share a laugh without the world spinning it into narrative, Meghan’s connections are endlessly reinterpreted – especially those that blur the boundaries of public and private life.

Friendship, Power, And Perception

The real question, then, isn’t whether Markus Anderson’s presence is “odd” – it’s why we’re so invested in decoding it. Because it’s never just about him. It’s about what Meghan represents – and that is a woman who climbed social ladders, who turned a lifestyle blog into a platform, a royal title into a global brand.

For now, the photos have done what they always do: fuel intrigue, divide opinion, trend on Twitter. Meghan and Harry, meanwhile, remain publicly unfazed. They’ve built a new kind of empire – media, philanthropy, influence. And Markus Anderson? He’s still there, somewhere in the frame, unbothered by the chatter. Maybe that’s the point.