Kim Kardashian has revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle personally asked for photos of themselves at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party to be removed from social media after realizing the event coincided with Remembrance Day, bringing clarity to a controversy that sparked widespread speculation in November.
Speaking candidly on her sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, Khloé In Wonder Land, Kim said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex initially gave full consent for the photos to be shared online. However, after the images were posted, the couple reconsidered their decision out of respect for the day commemorating fallen members of the armed forces.
“I think they realised it was Remembrance Day and they didn’t want to be seen at a party,” Kim explained, adding that the request was not controversial but simply a change of heart. She stressed that neither she nor her family posts photos of guests without permission, saying: “We were told that it was totally cool to post. We’re never ones to post without permission.”
The images in question showed Harry and Meghan attending a lavish James Bond–themed celebration in Beverly Hills, hosted for Kris Jenner by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez at their $165 million estate. In several candid shots, the Sussexes were seen socialising with high-profile guests, including Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings, while Harry was notably wearing a poppy on his lapel, a symbol associated with Remembrance Day.
Despite being shared with millions of Instagram followers, the photos were later quietly deleted from both Kim Kardashian’s and Kris Jenner’s accounts, triggering what became known in the media as “photo-gate.” The sudden removal fueled rumors of legal consent forms and behind-the-scenes tensions, claims that were later dismissed by sources close to Jenner.
Kim clarified that the decision to delete the images was made purely out of respect. “That was fine earlier in the day, but maybe not partying and dancing on the dance floor,” she said, drawing a distinction between the birthday bash and the Sussexes’ appearance at the Baby2Baby charity event earlier the same day—photos from which were not removed.
Describing the backlash as excessive, Kim said the situation “spiralled” unnecessarily. “It was really innocent,” she said, emphasizing that Kris Jenner and Meghan Markle have shared a friendly relationship for years. She added that the public reaction was disappointing, noting that what was meant to be a respectful gesture quickly became a global talking point.
Remembrance Day, observed annually in early November, honors those who lost their lives in military service. The Sussexes’ request came as senior members of the British royal family gathered at London’s Cenotaph for official commemorations, led by King Charles.
The Sussexes have not publicly commented on Kim’s remarks, but her explanation appears to close the chapter on months of speculation, reframing the incident as a matter of timing and sensitivity rather than controversy.
