You’ll never believe the extreme cost of Duchess Meghan’s New York baby shower
Duchess Meghan arrived in New York City to see her friends and celebrate that her first child with husband Prince Harry is due soon with a star-studded $300,000 (NZD$ 437,445) baby shower
With 15 of her closest friends around her, the Duchess was sure to have enjoyed herself, especially considering her co-hosts Amal Clooney (George Clooney's wife) and Serena Williams were picking up the bill.
The baby shower was held at the Mark Hotel, where guests stayed in the $75,000-a-night (NZD$ 109,361) Grand Penthouse Suite. This astonishing cost makes it the most expensive hotel room in the USA.
The cost of Duchess Meghan’s baby shower is an extremely high number, coming in at a staggering $300,000 (NZD$ 437,445). Here is how much everything cost:
- The Mark Hotel Grand Penthouse Suite: US$150,000 (NZD$ 218,722)
- Five nights in a one-bedroom suite at the Mark Hotel: US$9,982.05 (NZD$ 14,555)
- Dinner for five at the Polo Bar: US$420 (NZD$ 612)
- Two Royal Protection officers: US$86,316 (NZD$ 125,861)
- Flights from London to NYC: US$26,202 (NZD$ 38,206)
- 17 Away carry-on suitcases: US$3,825 (NZD$ 5,577)
- Harpist: US$625 (NZD$ 909)
- Roses: US$400 (NZD$ 583)
- Lunch: US$78 approx. (NZD$ 113)
- Afternoon tea: US$25 approx. (NZD$ 26)
- Mandarin tree: US$140 approx. (NZD$ 204)
- Trek bicycle: US$609.99 approx. (NZD$ 888)
- Cotton candy machine: US$199.99 (NZD$ 290)
- Total cost: US$279.201.98 (NZD$ 407,116)
Along with human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and tennis legend Serena Williams, the star-studded event was attended designer Misha Nonoo, stylist Jessica Mulroney, former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, Oprah Winfrey's best friend and TV anchor Gayle King, and makeup artist Daniel Martin.
However, many are interested in whether or not the baby shower breaks royal protocol. Royal correspondent and commentator James Brookes told the ABC that the reporting around whether or not Duchess Meghan breaks royal protocol is unfounded.
"There's been a lot of talk, particularly in digital versions of the British press, of her breaking so-called 'protocol'," he said.
"A lot of it is rubbish. The 'shutting her own car door' is a good example – many times, the Royals have someone there to open their car door for them and they're straight out and into greeting people, but if there's nobody there to shut it and it's in the way, they'll close it themselves," he explained.
"Remember, they are human, after all. Meghan's putting her own stamp on her Royal role.”
Scroll through the gallery to see the star studded baby shower.
Do you think the baby shower breaks royal protocol? Let us know in the comments.