Meghan Markle’s generous gift to fashion expert Tan France during her Netflix cooking show has captured widespread attention, going viral after a clip accumulated over 1.4 million views and 206,000 likes. The Duchess of Sussex presented France with a vintage masala dabba, a traditional Indian spice box, during the filming of her lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan. The emotional moment, which appeared in the third episode of the show’s second season, highlights the enduring support Markle still has despite facing significant criticism.
The clip features Tan France asking, “Can I open this?” as he unwraps the gift, beautifully adorned with pink and green fabric and tied with a bouquet of flowers. Upon revealing the masala dabba, France gasped in surprise and exclaimed, “It’s a vintage masala dabba,” before leaning in for an appreciative hug with Markle. “I mean, they said you were coming and you love spices and I had this thing that I had bought,” Markle explained. “I also want to be able to share it with someone who would appreciate it.”
France expressed his gratitude, stating, “This is the kind of thing that your parents pass down to you. I’ve never had a masala dabba. Thank you so much. That actually has given me goosebumps. That is so beautiful. I will pass this down to my children, that’s how beautiful that is.” He further added, “That is actually the nicest gift you could ever have gotten me.”
Despite a notable decline in her popularity, particularly in the U.K., where a YouGov survey conducted on January 8-9, 2024, revealed that only 19 percent of respondents viewed her favorably compared to 66 percent who held a negative opinion, Markle’s gesture resonated with many. The poll indicated a net approval rating of -47 for the Duchess, marking her lowest ratings to date.
The viral reaction to the gift underscores that Markle maintains a dedicated fan base, as evidenced by significant engagement on social media. Comments on the TikTok post highlight this support, with one user stating, “I love that she has gifts on hand, waiting for the right person to gift them to,” which received 26,000 likes. Another user remarked, “No one can make me hate her,” echoing sentiments of loyalty among her supporters.
The positive reception of the gift continues to showcase Markle’s ability to connect with individuals on a personal level, as evidenced by France’s heartfelt reaction, which resonated with viewers. This moment serves as a reminder of the impact of kindness and thoughtfulness, even amidst public scrutiny.
As the conversation continues regarding the lives of royal figures, viewers can share their questions about King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry with the royal correspondents at [email protected].
