LIZ JONES: I’ve always backed Meghan. But the red dress pictures have led me to a startling realisation… and I can no longer support her

I tried, I really did. I had invested so much in our relationship. Years! Yes, I had missed numerous warning signs. After all, I am loyal. She’s a woman. Someone I saw as self-made, outspoken, a little broken, attacked, ridiculed and bullied by social and mainstream media.

But now? I can’t overlook it That red dress. It was Meghan’s red carpet appearance at the Children’s Hospital Gala in Los Angeles this weekend that finally made the scales fall from my eyes.

Yes, I suddenly found myself cringing in shame when I saw those photos. And once you have that feeling, you can’t go back.

Previously I had high praise for Meghan’s wedding dresses – both of them. She touted her love of dogs and all animals, a belief she maintained despite being a member of a family that enjoys photographing things.

With his original train and less flesh (plus a more appropriately glossy hairstyle), the Duchess of Sussex epitomized style when she wore the same dress in 2021

I adored her courage in taking on a powerful dynasty, and her honesty in not being able to bear to cut ribbons in a terrible, windswept new factory in Leicester.

Girl, we hear you! As a once aspiring Hollywood actress, you know the meaning of hard, thankless work – you’re one of us! You speak out about things that are difficult to accept or even believe, or that bore you. Don’t sacrifice self-care? I love it!

But at that charity gala I realized I was starting to sound out of tune. Meghan, it’s you, not me.

I’m sorry to say that you didn’t look like a royal in that ill-fitting dress – you looked smaller. Then I realized that what you represent now is also so small: Meghan has gone from duchess to D-list.

She has not grown in stature in the public eye over the years, she has shrunk, as if she had been given a hot wash. Only her eyebrows have grown.

Compare the photo of Meghan in this weekend’s pared-back version of the Carolina Herrera dress to when she first wore it, in 2021, next to Harry.

Then it had a beautiful train that she inexplicably chose to remove. And she also still had that royal glow then; her hair was up, not loose and messy.

The slit in the dress was also a bad choice, as it made the obligatory kneeling to talk to small children in a polite way awkward.

As a Duchess, or even a minor celebrity, you really have to think about these things.

I know I’m not the only one who now sees Meghan for the rather washed-up Hollywood celebrity that she is. Dear God, even that bastion of uncritical, boring, American health, InStyle magazine, just called Meghan a “jam entrepreneur.” Ouch! That must hurt.

Bending down to meet young Ella Nelson at the Children’s Hospital Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday showed why it’s unwise to wear a slit dress on such occasions

Meghan grabbed her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen’s hand at the event, looking like a washed-up celebrity instead of the strong, principled woman Liz Jones has always admired.

For an event dedicated to helping kids (even her red carpet platitudes as “mom” didn’t sound sincere: she said her friends from high school are all becoming moms; since they’re all mostly in their 40s, this is definitely happened. ago), the dress code should have been modest, and not Look At Me.

The red dress and her desperate grin were reminiscent of her Deal Or No Deal era, when she was the ‘suitcase girl’ on the TV quiz. I kept thinking, ‘Where’s the suitcase?’

And yes, I really thought, hmmmm, Catherine would have been covered in something beautiful, loose and floaty. It’s unforgivable to be so exposed. It was not the time or place for meat.

Plus grabbing other ‘visitors’ and grunting. She’s like the unruly, loud friend who shows up at your chicken and thinks it’s all about her, not the bride-to-be, and ends up falling in the pool.

It was just all a bit tasteless.

And what exactly is this obsession with a red carpet?

Most real stars will tell you that a red carpet is something to be endured and escaped as quickly as possible (I’ve stood in fashion booths at the Baftas and the Oscars, and can’t tell you how many eyes I rolled have shared with the likes of Livia Firth and Helena Bonham Carter, the mouth: ‘My feet hurt!’ It’s not a performance or even a destination.

I had high hopes for Meghan, but now I feel foolish.

I’m all for sisterhood. Women who work hard. Those who speak out. I defended Meghan when she said she wanted to end her life, while others banded together, saying: ‘She looked completely cheerful at the Royal Albert Hall.’ I’ve been suicidal, but I’ve still smiled for a camera, turned up and done my job.

But now? I’m done. Meghan, you’ve been dumped. If I only knew how to block you, I would.