Fact Check: Harry and Meghan sold Princess Diana’s dress to Olena Zelenska for $2.9 million.

Fact Check: "Harry and Meghan sold Princess Diana’s dress to Olena Zelenska for $2.9 million."

What We Know

Recently, a claim has circulated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sold Princess Diana's iconic "Revenge Dress" to Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, for $2.9 million. This assertion has been propagated through various Russian media outlets and social media platforms, often accompanied by a video that falsely appears to be from the British tabloid, The Sun. However, this claim is unequivocally false.

The "Revenge Dress," which Princess Diana wore in 1994, is currently housed at the Museum of Style Icons in Ireland and has never belonged to Meghan Markle (Myth Detector). The video claiming the sale was fabricated, utilizing publicly available images and videos, and was designed to mislead viewers into believing it was legitimate news (Ukrinform). Furthermore, a representative from The Sun confirmed that no such video or story was published by them (Lead Stories).

Analysis

The sources of this claim primarily stem from Russian propaganda efforts aimed at discrediting Ukraine's leadership and promoting narratives of corruption. The video in question was crafted to mimic the style of The Sun but was not an authentic report from the publication. The design and formatting of the video diverged significantly from The Sun's standard (Ukrinform).

Moreover, the claim cites the Nigerian outlet, The Nation, as a source, which has a history of disseminating disinformation, including previous false claims about Olena Zelenska purchasing luxury items (Myth Detector). This raises concerns about the reliability of the information being shared.

The commentary attributed to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams in the video was actually taken from an unrelated interview he gave in 2021, where he discussed Harry and Meghan's Netflix series, not the sale of the dress (Myth Detector). This manipulation of context further undermines the credibility of the claim.

In summary, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that the claim of Harry and Meghan selling the dress to Zelenska is a fabrication, rooted in disinformation tactics.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that Harry and Meghan sold Princess Diana’s dress to Olena Zelenska for $2.9 million is false. The story is based on a fabricated video that misrepresents itself as a legitimate news report from The Sun. The actual dress remains part of the Museum of Style Icons' collection and has never been owned by Meghan Markle. The origins of this claim are tied to Russian propaganda efforts, further indicating its lack of credibility.

Sources

1. Russian propaganda spreads fake claim that Olena Zelenska bought Princess Diana's dress for nearly $3M
2. Princess Diana's “Revenge Dress” Was Not Bought For Olena Zelenska
3. Fake: Olena Zelenska Bought Princess Diana's Dress for $2.9 Million
4. Meghan Markle Sells Princess Diana's Iconic 'Revenge Dress'
5. Did Meghan Sell Diana’s Dress to Zelensky’s Wife For $2.9M?
6. Fact Check: FAKE Video About Sale of Princess Diana's Dress
7. Fact Check: FAKE Video About Sale of Princess Diana's Dress
8. Zelensky’s wife bought Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ for almost $3 million