{"id":445558,"date":"2026-05-26T06:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/445558\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T06:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T06:34:20","slug":"meghan-markle-issues-denial-over-selfie-criticism-royal-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/445558\/","title":{"rendered":"Meghan Markle issues denial over selfie criticism | Royal | News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meghan Markle<\/a> has denied knowing who a controversial politician was before taking a selfie with him, it has been revealed. The Duchess of Sussex was in Geneva last week<\/a> where she delivered an emotional speech at the inauguration of the Lost Screen Memorial<\/a> – a memorial remembering children whose lives had been lost as a result of social media.<\/p>\n

During the solo trip<\/a>, Meghan also attended a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization in Geneva, where more than 25 ministers and delegates were present ahead. It was after this dinner when controversial right-wing politician Wille Rydman, Finland\u2019s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, took a selfie with the duchess and uploaded it online.<\/p>\n

This has caused backlash for Meghan, as the politician has previously faced allegations of racism and inappropriate behaviour.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Meghan has issued a statement denying that Meghan knew who the politican was when the photo was taken. As repprted by The Daily Mail<\/a>, her representative said: \u201cTo be absolutely clear, the Duchess does not know Mr. Rydman, had no prior awareness of him attending the event, and was unfamiliar with the concerning reports relating to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Duchess attended a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization in Geneva, where more than 25 ministers and delegates were present ahead of the World Health Assembly. As she was leaving the venue, a number of attendees approached her requesting photographs. As is often the case at public engagements, and where time permits, the Duchess politely obliges such requests.\u201d<\/p>\n

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