Meghan Markle suffers ‘awkward’ greeting with Balenciaga designer at Paris Fashion week

Meghan Markle shared an awkward kiss with Italian fashion designer Pier Paolo Piccioli as she made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week.

The Duchess, 44, narrowly avoided pecking the designer – who is the newly appointed creative director of Balenciaga – and butted heads with him as they leaned in for an embrace at last night’s event.

Meghan had gone in for a kiss on the cheek to congratulate Piccioli on his Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear design, but instead appeared to hit her nose on his sunglasses.

Aware that the cameras were on them, Piccioli laughed it off and grabbed Meghan’s hand before pulling her in for a photo.

The Duchess then thanked the designer before finishing off the encounter with a brief hug.

A spokesman for Meghan said she has ‘long admired’ Piccioli’s ‘craftsmanship and modern elegance’.

The mother-of-two appeared in her element as she was spotted embracing Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour and getting a kiss from Australian film director Baz Luhrmann.

She looked stylish in a white oversized cape and white button-down shirt with matching trousers. The Duchess paired her look with black pointed-toe heels and simple accessories, giving off a vibe of effortless elegance, topped off with a sleek, slicked-back bun.

It marks both Meghan’s first appearance at Paris Fashion Week and her first trip to Europe since the 2023 Invictus Games, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany.