Queen Camilla's Lunch With Meghan Markle Critic Jeremy Clarkson Explained

Queen Camilla has come under criticism in Britain for attending a lunch just hours prior to the release of the final part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's hit Netflix series, which was also attended by two outspoken critics of the couple.

The queen consort was photographed arriving at London's exclusive Murano restaurant in Mayfair to attend the lunch party, reportedly hosted by a friend, a short distance from her home at Clarence House.

It was the guestlist for the event which has attracted the most attention over the following days, as included among the large party were Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson, two broadcast journalists who have been widely criticized for their anti-Meghan views.

However, there is a significant amount of misinformation circulating about the lunch, from whether Camilla hosted the event herself to the date it took place.

Here, Newsweek looks at the truth behind the social media outrage surrounding Queen Camilla's controversial lunch.

Did Queen Camilla Host The Private Lunch?

Queen Camilla was photographed attending a private lunch party at Mayfair's Murano restaurant in London on Wednesday December 14, where a number of A-list celebrities and broadcasters were also in attendance.

The Daily Mail reports that the lunch was not hosted by Camilla, but that she was the guest of long-time friend Ewan Venters, the former CEO of the Fortnum and Mason department store, close to her home at Clarence House and also Buckingham Palace.

Camilla has been photographed with Venters on numerous occasions throughout the past decade. The royal's links with the department store and Venters extended through her food-writer son, Tom Parker Bowles.

Parker Bowles authored a number of Fortnum and Mason's official cookery books, he also writes a weekly food column for the Daily Mail's YOU magazine.

Who Attended the Private Lunch?

Photographs from the event show that the lunch was attended by a number of British celebrities including actors Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville, as well as television presenters Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman, and celebrated artist Tracey Emin.

It was the broadcasters and journalists' Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson's presence on the guestlist that has created the most backlash over the following days.

Morgan is a notable critic of Prince Harry, and in particular Meghan Markle.

In 2021, following the broadcast of the royal couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey, Morgan had an on-air altercation with a colleague of the show Good Morning Britain, leading to his leaving the show after being asked to apologise for his comments that he did not believe Meghan's testimony.

Since then, Morgan has launched a number of attacks on the couple from his eponymous show on the Rupert Murdoch owned TalkTV channel.

Jeremy Clarkson has featured in the British press over widespread condemnation of a column he wrote in Saturday's edition of The Sun newspaper, detailing his "dream" that Meghan be "made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain," while crowds shout "shame" and "throw excrement" at her.

The comments have come under closer scrutiny given the release of Meghan and Harry' Netflix series in which the duchess broke down describing how hatred stirred up by tabloid reporting has caused her to fear for her and her children's lives.

Did Queen Camilla Attend the Private Lunch After Jeremy Clarkson Published His Anti-Meghan Markle Column?

A number of Tweets and online comments have been made about Queen Camilla's presence at the private lunch party, including suggestions that the royal attended after Jeremy Clarkson had published his critical comments about Meghan Markle.

This is not the case. The lunch was hosted on December 14. Clarkson's column was published in the December 17 edition of The Sun newspaper.

Other comments made, appear to be under the impression that Clarkson and Morgan attended the lunch at the invitation of the queen consort, which again appears not to have been the case.

However, Camilla has faced criticism for associating with both broadcasters after being an active supporter of women's charities, and recently hosting a Buckingham Palace reception raising awareness of violence against women and girls.

British actor Colin McFarlane wrote: "😮WOW! Meghan Markle's abusers Piers Morgan & Jeremy Clarkson guests of QUEEN CAMILLA! Yet she's meant to stand up for abused women?! Has she seen how her step daughter has been treated by the press? So brazen. This is the tide Harry & Meghan are swimming against #WeLoveYouMeghan"

Commentator Nicola Thorp highlighted the fact that there has been no public statement made by the palace on the lunch or the criticism of the guest list following Morgan's column.

"Where is the @RoyalFamily statement on @JeremyClarkson's vile comments in his column?" she said on Twitter.

"I thought the Queen Consort was outspoken on issues of misogyny? Will she distance herself from Clarkson...or just invite him round for dinner again? Their silence speaks volumes."

Buckingham Palace has issued no official statement in response to this criticism.

Newsweek approached Buckingham Palace and representatives for Meghan Markle and Jeremy Clarkson for comment.

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's Royal Reporter based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.