Every year, Chopard's co-chairman and artistic director, Caroline Scheufele, showcases an opulent jewellery collection on the red carpet in honour of the Cannes Film Festival. Following the festival's custom, this collection has 72 distinct pieces, or as many diamonds as there are years in the event. The theme for this collection was love, and it served as an inspiration for the exquisite jewelry works.
Meghan, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, has been a long-time ambassador for Chopard. It was Meghan who introduced Petra to the new Chopard and Cannes collection, showcasing an illustrated book that narrates the story of a beautiful girl in love. The story unfolds with her receiving flowers and a love letter from an admirer, guiding the model through pages filled with an array of magnificent jewelry. The jewelry pieces featured lavish necklaces adorned with emeralds and sapphires, flower-shaped earrings, opal brooches, pink diamond rings, and more.
It's worth noting that Top Model Petra Nemcova and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have appeared together at a social event before Meghan's marriage to Prince Harry. Although Petra has supported various charities, she didn't attend the royal wedding due to her commitment to the Cannes Film Festival, where she appeared at a screening party.
Their encounter at the time didn't necessarily indicate a close relationship, and a source mentioned that the primary reason Petra turned down Meghan and Harry's invitation to the royal wedding was their lack of proximity. However, an old photograph of the two together has since gained attention for allegedly showing Meghan digitally altering her appearance to look more glamorous than supermodel Petra. This incident triggered a feud between Petra and the Duchess, leading to Meghan losing sponsorship from Chopard and no further collaborations on royal collections.
Another reason for Chopard's apparent distancing from the Duchess is Meghan's association with diamond earrings gifted to her by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, which has stirred controversy. These lavish chandelier earrings were reportedly purchased using controversial funds, sparking outrage. A report claimed that Meghan was unaware of the Saudi royal family's involvement in this case when she wore the earrings to a state dinner. In response, several individuals condemned Meghan for wearing earrings linked to "inhumane money" and considered it inappropriate, given the circumstances.
The executive director of "Democracy for the Arab World," Sarah Leah Whitson, expressed her confusion over Meghan's choice to wear the earrings in light of their connection to a high-profile crime case. According to royal protocol, gifts from foreign heads of state are officially considered Crown property, but wedding gifts given to senior royals can be kept by the recipients throughout their lifetime. Meghan's decision to wear these earrings in various public settings has raised concerns and led to questions about their ethical implications.
The controversy surrounding the earrings and Petra's alleged ban on Meghan's involvement in the Chopard deal has further fueled the rumors of a strained relationship between the Duchess and other prominent figures in the public eye. As the situation continues to unfold, Meghan's future interactions in the realm of high-profile events and prestigious collaborations remain a topic of interest and speculation.
