Every festive season, every action by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, becomes a focal point of media and public attention. Recently, a quick photo of a Christmas table setting, allegedly shared by Meghan from her villa in Montecito, sparked a huge wave of controversy on social media. However, the topic was not the level of extravagance or the guest list, but a seemingly harmless detail: the brown earth-toned candles.

“Tasteless” and Unsuitable for the Festive Atmosphere?

Immediately after the image of the table setting circulated—featuring expensive china and subtly arranged napkins—the detail that most displeased netizens was the presence of the deep brown pillar candles (some described them as dark chocolate color).

Netizens argue that this color choice is “tasteless” and completely inappropriate for the vibrant, warm atmosphere of Christmas.

“One account commented: ‘Christmas should be red, green, sparkling gold, or snowy white. Earth-toned brown candles look gloomy and more like Halloween than the holidays. Such poor taste!’”
“Another person stated bluntly: ‘Meghan always tries to go against tradition, but this time she failed. The table looks dark and lifeless. She’s making Christmas look boring.’”
“Many social media users even sarcastically suggested that this color palette reflects the ‘dullness’ of her own festive spirit.”

For the majority of the public, Christmas is a time to celebrate bright and vibrant colors. Meghan’s preference for dark, neutral tones was seen as a deliberate violation of the rules, yet was criticized as lacking aesthetic appeal and misunderstanding the festive spirit.

The Debate Between “Class” and “Tradition”

However, not everyone agreed. A small group of fans spoke up to defend Meghan’s choice, arguing that it is a sign of “minimalist elegance.”

“They argued: ‘Brown is an earth tone, very trendy, and provides a cozy, sophisticated feeling. Christmas doesn’t have to be bright to be beautiful. This is the class of quiet luxury.’”
“Others pointed out that brown matches dark wood furniture well and can be a unique accent instead of being stereotypical.”

Even so, these defenses were quickly drowned out by the wave of criticism from the opposing side.

This seemingly trivial incident once again demonstrates that Meghan Markle is a constant target of media and social media scrutiny. Whether she posts images of an important event or just a single candle, every detail can be dissected and become a subject of international controversy, reflecting the enormous media pressure the former Duchess faces.