In a candid revelation that has finally put months of speculation to rest, Kim Kardashian has addressed the mysterious disappearance of photographs featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from her Instagram account. The images, captured during her mother Kris Jenner's lavish 70th birthday celebration in November 2025, vanished from social media shortly after being posted, sparking widespread confusion and fan theories.
The 'Photogate' Mystery Unraveled
While appearing on her sister Khloe Kardashian's podcast, Khloe in Wonder Land, the 45-year-old reality star and Skims founder spoke openly about the incident for the first time. She stressed that the decision to remove the photos was motivated by respect rather than any underlying controversy or disagreement.
'It was really innocent, which is so crazy,' Kim explained during the podcast episode. 'Mom and Meghan have been friends for some years now, and they have a really sweet relationship.'
Permission Granted, Then Reconsidered
Kim went on to detail the sequence of events that led to the photos being taken down. According to her account, the Sussexes had initially given explicit permission for the images to be shared publicly. The photographs were taken during Jenner's star-studded birthday bash, which was held at the mansion of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez and featured a James Bond theme.
'We were told that it was totally cool to post,' she claimed. 'And then after it was posted, I think they realized it was Remembrance Day, and they didn't want to be seen at a party, even though it's already up, you know, and then taken down. And then I think they realized, like, "Oh, this was so silly."'
She added an important distinction about the timing, noting that while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were photographed attending the Baby2Baby charity gala on the same evening, there was a clear difference in context.
'That was fine, but maybe not partying and dancing on the dance floor or whatever,' Kim noted. 'So we took them down to respect Remembrance Day.'
Understanding the Remembrance Day Context
Remembrance Day, observed annually in November across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations, honors members of the armed forces who have lost their lives in service. The timing of Jenner's birthday celebration proved particularly sensitive as it took place the night before royals gathered at London's Cenotaph for the annual service.
Prince Harry was notably seen wearing a poppy badge - the traditional emblem of Remembrance Day - on his way into Jenner's party, highlighting the potential conflict between the solemn occasion and the celebratory nature of the event.
The Deleted Images and Celebrity Attendees
The vanished photographs included several memorable moments from the evening:
- Kardashian and Meghan, 44, posing together while smiling for the camera
- The Duke of Sussex, 41, seen chatting with someone in the background of one image
- Another picture taken from behind Jenner as Meghan placed her hand on her shoulder
- Prince Harry making a silly face toward the camera in one playful moment
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were far from the only celebrities in attendance at the exclusive event. Jenner posed with Beyoncé and enjoyed a dance session with Justin Bieber, who gave her a respectful bow on the dance floor. She shared behind-the-scenes snaps from her Bond-themed bash featuring these and other notable guests.
Reflecting on the Unexpected Backlash
As she reflected on the situation that followed the photo deletions, Kim admitted that the entire saga spiraled far beyond what anyone had intended or anticipated. The incident generated significant media attention and public discussion, much of which focused on potential tensions between the parties involved.
'You got to laugh at, like, the situation sometimes and just, like, lighten it up and be if everyone's taking it the wrong way, like, lean in,' she said, revealing that she even suggested turning the moment into a tongue-in-cheek Skims campaign.
'We should do a full Skims campaign,' Kim recalled proposing. 'Take the photo - even just us, like, I'll shoot you at mom, you know, post it and then delete it, like, 30 minutes later. And then I say, "Oh, sorry, I didn't have permission to post those photos for the campaign."'
Still, Kim emphasized that the entire experience left her feeling somewhat disappointed with how it was perceived by the public and media.
'If we just made it light and made it funny, you know, I think it would have been, like, received differently,' she said. 'But I hated how that was received for everyone. That sucks. It was just made into something that was so crazy and ridiculous that just didn't have to be.'
Beyond the Royal Moment: Podcast Revelations
The podcast conversation between the Kardashian sisters extended well beyond the 'Photogate' incident, touching on various aspects of their personal and professional lives. Their discussion remained playful throughout, covering topics ranging from family dinners and everyday routines to recent Malibu get-togethers attended by younger sister Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Timothée Chalamet.
Khloe went on to praise Kylie for staying out late during a recent intimate dinner, with Kim adding that Kylie and Timothée 'had the best time,' as the sisters laughed about being exhausted afterward.
The episode also featured a lighthearted round of the game When Was the Last Time, during which Kim candidly admitted it had been years since she last visited a supermarket, offering a glimpse into her unique lifestyle.
Addressing the Taylor Swift Feud
In the first part of their interview, which was broken into two episodes, Kim finally tackled the longstanding question of where she stands with fellow celebrity Taylor Swift after their much-publicized feud. The drama dates back to 2016, when Kim's then-husband Kanye West's song Famous dropped and Kim leaked edited phone calls that made Swift appear dishonest - sparking snake emojis, fan rage, and fueling Swift's Reputation album.
After being named TIME's Person of the Year in 2023, Swift threw shade at Kim, claiming she 'took her down psychologically' and forced her into hiding, sending the feud back into headlines. With this history hanging in the air, Khloe asked the question many listeners were waiting for: 'Do you think people would be surprised you listen to Taylor Swift?'
Kim replied, 'I think I've said it.' Khloe chimed in, 'I think people would be surprised.' Kim then admitted, 'Yeah, it's just... I have some of her older songs in my playlist. I've always thought she's a super talented, great artist.'
And just like that, the Swift topic was off the table, as Khloe quickly pivoted to asking about country music preferences. Kim lit up at the question, responding: 'I love country music! I'll always be a Shania Twain girl. I love Carrie Underwood. And Lee Ann Rimes - obsessed.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Sussexes' representatives for comment regarding Kim's explanation, but has not received a response at this time. The full podcast episode offers the most comprehensive account yet of what truly happened behind the scenes of the social media mystery that captivated royal watchers and celebrity followers alike.
