Meghan Markle doing the “Baby Mama” dance was compared by royal fans on TikTok to Princess Kate’s regal public appearances.

The Duchess of Sussex danced in hospital while heavily pregnant to try to induce Princess Lilibet’s birth, while past her due date in 2021.

She posted the footage on Instagram last week to mark Lili’s fourth birthday and the move triggered a frenzy of both support and criticism.

Among the responses, a royal fan posted footage on TikTok comparing Meghan’s dance to Princess Kate during a variety of royal events, including the coronation.

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Meghan Markle does the “Baby Mama” dance while Princess Kate is seen during a carriage procession for Trooping the Colour, London, on June 17, 2023. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Why It Matters

Meghan’s dance sparked strong emotions on both sides with some celebrating the duchess and some criticizing her.

One theme among those who opposed the video was that royals should not overshare, like celebrities do.

The TikTok video exists within that discourse and was liked 134,000 times and viewed 2.2 million times after being posted with the on screen caption: “Royalty.”

That caption appears to invite audiences to view Meghan’s dance using the conventions of monarchy as a lens.

What To Know

The post began by showing Meghan doing Starrkeisha’s “Baby Mama” dance in the delivery room alongside Prince Harry, who was also dancing.

The clip was originally released by Meghan last week to mark Lilibet’s birthday on June 4, and she posted it with the message: “Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work—there was only one thing left to do!”

The TikTok post then cuts to several clips of Kate, first during Trooping the Colour, in June 2023, and then at King Charles III’s coronation, in May 2023, followed by a series of other royal engagements.

What People Are Saying

One fan pointed out the Princess of Wales famously first caught Prince William’s eye during a university cat walk show in which she wore a see through dress over a bikini.

“Kate did a catwalk show in her bikini at uni trying to impress William let’s not forget that,” they wrote.

Another reply was liked 17,800 times and read: “Meghan and Harry… happier, real, normal…”

Not everyone defended Meghan. One comment read: “I just can’t stop laughing. Where is Meghan’s advisor. This is just bad. Big difference between celebrity and royalty.”

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.