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Meghan Markle wore earrings from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince to a state dinner at the time world leaders condemned him over of the murder of a journalist.
Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the kingdom’s de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in October 2018 by a team of Saudi agents.
Eight people were convicted of his murder, but Prince Salman saw international criticism over the killing as several of the agents involved worked for him.
And a report released by US president Joe Biden last week from the CIA revealed Prince Salman had approved Mr Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The Duchess of Sussex was spotted wearing Chopard chandelier earrings on her first night of a state visit to Fiji three weeks after the murder of Mr Khashoggi.
According to The Times, Kensington Palace press office told the media the earrings were borrowed – but wouldn’t say from where.
But a source said staff in London responsible for registering royal gifts recognised them later as a wedding present from Prince Salman to Meghan.
Lawyers for the duchess told The Times that although she may have said they were borrowed, every relevant member of staff knew who they were from.
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It is unlikely Prince Salman gave them to Meghan in person – but he had lunch with the Queen during a three-day visit to London in March 2018, which was two months before Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
Because the earrings were a gift from a foreign head of state, they are officially considered crown property.
They were available for the duchess to use, but she would not have been able to sell them.
Her lawyers said that if she had said they were borrowed, this was what she meant.
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Although royal staff were concerned when they saw the earrings in the media, Kensington Palace decided not to take it up with the couple while they were on tour.
But Meghan wore them again to Prince Charles’ 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace on November 14 that year.
Lawyers for the duke and duchess deny he was questioned about their origin, which they said was well known.
Prince Salman said he bears responsibility for Mr Khashoggi’s killing ‘because it happened under my watch’ – but has denied having any prior knowledge of the murder plot.
The prince, who is the country’s day-to-day ruler and deputy prime minister, has been criticised for muzzling rebels despite introducing a number of reforms.
Campaigners claim arrests of human rights activists have risen under his rule.
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