Meghan zooms home on £33m private jet … paid for by Clooneys
THE Duchess of Sussex flew home from her extravagant New York baby shower yesterday on board a £33million private jet with Amal Clooney.
Sources insisted Meghan’s private trip was bank-rolled by her A-list friends and not the British taxpayer.
Tennis champion Serena Williams paid for the glamorous shower at a five-star Manhattan hotel, while human rights lawyer Mrs Clooney laid on the 16-seater Gulfstream G450 to fly them home.
Meghan is also believed to have flown to New York on a private jet, although it is not known if it was the same plane. A round trip would cost around £100,000.
Former Suits actress Meghan, 37, cradled her bump as she left The Mark hotel, where her baby shower was held in the £66,000-a-night penthouse suite. Guests included Miss Williams, Mrs Clooney, fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney and Suits actress Abigail Spencer.
A fellow guest, CBS presenter Gayle King, said the group were taught how to arrange flowers, with their finished creations being donated to charity.
She said the duchess chose not to open her friends’ gifts at the party, preferring to unwrap them once she was home with Prince Harry.
Meghan’s make-up artist, Daniel Martin, posted pictures from the shower of iced biscuits in the shape of an infant’s bib and rattle and a baby being delivered by a stork, wrapped in a gender-neutral green blanket. It is not known if the baby is a boy or a girl.
The cost of the six-night trip has been estimated at up to £330,000 for the penthouse suite, Meghan’s own suite, catering and other expenses, although the hotel is likely to have offered a substantial discount.
Kensington Palace said the trip was not paid for with public money, but taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the royal protection officers who accompanied the duchess.
Meghan, who is seven months pregnant, wore leggings and Adidas trainers for her return journey, with a £650 gold necklace spelling out ‘Mommy’, made by Hollywood jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer.
Her flight home was reportedly a gift from Mrs Clooney and her actor husband George. The couple’s publicist did not comment.
The Clooneys have become close friends with Meghan and Harry, prompting speculation they could be potential godparents.
Mrs Clooney, 41, her toddler twins and the duchess flew back to Farnborough airport in Hampshire. Their Gulfstream jet is equipped with a shower, divan bed and a galley kitchen. The jet is owned by a company set up by two of Mr Clooney’s staff. It was not known if the Clooneys own the plane outright or if it is leased.
The duchess is expected to join Harry on a three- day visit to Morocco starting tomorrow.