Meghan Markle suffers ‘awkward’ greeting with Balenciaga designer as pair bash heads during air kiss gone wrong 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 the Duchess said she has ‘long admired’ Piccioli’s ‘craftsmanship and modern elegance. 

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

Meghan looked in her element in a stylish white oversized cape with a white button-down shirt and matching trousers. 

She 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 her first appearance at Paris Fashion and her first trip to Europe since the 2023 Invictus Games, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Also at the Balenciaga show was Anne Hathaway, who is in the midst of filming The Devil Wears Prada 2, and Lauren Bezos who recently married Amazon boss Jeff Bezos.