On June 4, 2025, the internet erupted when Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, posted a throwback video on Instagram to celebrate her daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday. The clip, filmed in a hospital room in 2021, showed a heavily pregnant Meghan dancing to Starrkeisha’s viral “Baby Mama” song alongside Prince Harry, who joined in with his own playful moves. Captioned with a lighthearted explanation—“Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work – there was only one thing left to do!”—the video racked up 21.6 million views in under 24 hours. While some fans praised the couple’s joyful authenticity, others branded it “cringe” and “unroyal,” sparking a polarized debate. But amid the flurry of reactions, a subtle detail in the video—overlooked by many at first—emerged, leaving fans and critics alike stunned and fueling wild speculation about the Sussexes’ private life.
A Playful Moment in a Private Space
The video, filmed at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital before Lilibet’s birth on June 4, 2021, captures Meghan in a black wrap dress, swaying her hips and twerking to the upbeat “Baby Mama” track, a 2018 TikTok dance trend. Prince Harry, dressed casually in a green hoodie and jeans, moonwalks and squats to the beat, his grin matching Meghan’s infectious energy. The hospital room, with its sterile bed and medical equipment, contrasts sharply with the couple’s carefree vibe, creating a scene that feels both intimate and surreal. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry described the moment, writing, “We ate and ate and then did the Baby Mama dance around the hospital room. Nothing but joy and love in that room.” The couple’s bodyguards had brought In-N-Out burgers and fajitas, adding to the laid-back atmosphere before the serious business of labor began.
Meghan’s Instagram post framed the dance as a last-ditch effort to induce labor, a relatable anecdote for many parents. Medical experts note that dancing can promote endorphins and encourage a baby to move into position, though there’s no definitive evidence it triggers labor. The video’s release was part of a broader social media blitz by Meghan, who returned to Instagram in January 2025 after years of absence for “self-preservation.” Since then, she’s shared candid glimpses of her life, from beekeeping with Lilibet to a Father’s Day tribute for Harry, all while promoting her As Ever lifestyle brand, which includes products like rosé wine and raspberry spread. The dance video, however, was her most intimate post yet, thrusting the Sussexes’ private joy into the public eye.
A Divided Reaction
The response was immediate and divisive. Fans on X celebrated the couple’s relatability, with one user writing, “This is everything! Harry on beat and Meghan dropping it like it’s hot. They look like they have so much fun together.” Another defended the video, saying, “They are literally just happily awkwardly dancing. What is your problem? We also danced with my wife before every delivery.” Supporters, particularly in the U.S., praised Meghan’s authenticity, with a source close to the Sussexes telling the Daily Mail, “Meghan is very pleased with the video. In the UK everyone’s reaction has been a bit prudish, but everywhere else, particularly in America and especially with young people, it has been a huge hit.” The source added that the video was a “win” for As Ever sales, aligning with Meghan’s strategy to connect with a younger, American audience.
Critics, however, were less kind. The Daily Mail called Meghan the “Queen of Cringe,” with one columnist quipping, “Did they think twerking like trailer-trash teens would endear them to the masses?” Royal fans on X labeled the video “tacky” and “unroyal,” with one writing, “It’s cringe and embarrassing but typical of Meghan.” Megyn Kelly, on her show, slammed the couple, arguing that such moments “should stay between a husband and wife only” and even baselessly claimed Meghan “helped kill the Queen.” Some detractors reignited conspiracy theories, alleging the video was staged or that Meghan’s bump was a “moonbump,” pointing to the absence of medical equipment like an IV drip as “proof.” A Cambridge professor noted to The Telegraph that the video, possibly intended to debunk these theories, instead gave trolls “material to cling onto.”
The Shocking Detail That Changed Everything
Amid the noise, a subtle detail in the video sent shockwaves through fan communities and tabloids. At the 12-second mark, as Meghan spins, a small object tucked into the waistband of her dress becomes briefly visible—a folded piece of paper, barely noticeable unless slowed down. Eagle-eyed fans on X zoomed in, speculating wildly. “Is that a note? A hospital form? Something secret?” one user posted, garnering thousands of likes. Others claimed it resembled a handwritten letter, with some theorizing it was a personal message from Harry or even a medical directive. The Daily Mail ran a story headlined “Meghan’s Mystery Note: What Was Hidden in Her Delivery Room Dance?” fueling speculation that the paper held a clue to a private bombshell—perhaps a decision about the birth, a family secret, or a gesture tied to their royal exit.
Theories exploded. Some fans suggested the note was a love letter from Harry, written during labor to ease Meghan’s nerves, aligning with his Spare account of their emotional connection during Lilibet’s birth. Others speculated it was a legal document, given the Sussexes’ ongoing tensions with the royal family at the time. A fringe group on X claimed it was proof of a staged video, arguing no one would dance with a note tucked into their clothes. The ambiguity of the object—never addressed by Meghan or Harry—drove the video’s virality, with #MeghanMysteryNote trending alongside #BubléStrong. A TikTok video dissecting the frame garnered 2.2 million views, captioned simply “Royalty?”
Meghan addressed the video’s backlash on the Aspire podcast, emphasizing authenticity. “You have to be authentic,” she told host Emma Grede. “By the way, that wasn’t yesterday. That was four years ago. So it’s a great reminder that, with all the noise, there’s still a whole life.” She made no mention of the note, which only deepened the mystery. Grede, a supporter, cheered Meghan’s boldness, saying, “I wanna see that happiness and that ‘I don’t give a f–k’ kind of thing.” Yet the silence on the note left fans hungry for answers, with some emailing Newsweek’s royal correspondent Jack Royston for insights.
Context and Implications
The video’s release came at a time when Meghan’s public image was under scrutiny. Her approval rating in the UK hit a record low, and her As Ever brand faced skepticism as a commercial venture. The dance clip, strategically timed with Lilibet’s birthday, was seen by some as a bid to humanize the Sussexes and boost brand appeal. A Daily Mail source claimed Meghan was “thrilled” by the American response, believing it resonated with her target demographic. The hiring of Meredith Maines, a former Google PR executive, as the Sussexes’ chief communications officer, suggested a calculated media push.
Yet the mystery note shifted the narrative. Unlike the video’s playful intent, the note introduced an element of intrigue that overshadowed the dance itself. Was it a deliberate plant to spark conversation, as some marketing experts suggested? Or an accidental oversight that exposed a private moment? The Sussexes’ history of privacy—sharing limited glimpses of their children, Archie and Lilibet, often from behind—made the note’s presence feel significant. Harry’s Spare details of Lilibet’s birth, including his hands-on role in the delivery, added emotional weight to the speculation, with fans wondering if the note tied to that moment.
A Cultural Moment
The video, note and all, became a cultural flashpoint. It highlighted the Sussexes’ ability to command attention, even as it exposed their polarizing status. Supporters saw it as a defiant embrace of joy, with one X user writing, “Meghan dropped this video, and the haters are spiraling like their tinfoil hats don’t get Wi-Fi.” Critics, like the Evening Standard’s “Thank God the Queen isn’t alive to see it,” framed it as a betrayal of royal decorum. The note, however, transcended both sides, becoming a Rorschach test for public perception. Was it a symbol of love, a strategic misstep, or something more?
For Meghan, the video was a statement of authenticity, note or no note. Her podcast comments suggest she’s unbothered by the backlash, focused on her family and brand. But the mystery note ensured the story lingered, with fans and tabloids dissecting every angle. As Town & Country noted, “It’s an unleashing of sorts; a bold decision to fully embrace social media.” Whether the note was a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability or a calculated spark, it left the world talking—and Meghan, as ever, at the center of the storm.
