The online fan community known as the “Sussex Squad” pushed back against claims that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry failed to fill the theatre for a screening of their latest documentary, after images circulated online showing empty seats inside the venue.
A surprise appearance at Sundance
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unexpected appearance in Park City, Utah, on Sunday to introduce Cookie Queens, a documentary executive-produced under their Archewell Productions banner.
The film follows a group of Girl Scouts as they learn about entrepreneurship through cookie sales.
Harry and Meghan attended the screening at the Eccles Theatre, where they posed on the red carpet alongside the film’s director, Alysa Nahamias.
Meghan, who was once a Girl Scout herself, later shared moments from the festival on Instagram, including a photo of her and Harry watching the documentary together.
Questions over empty seats
Although tickets for the screening were listed as “sold out” online, social media footage appeared to show noticeable gaps in the balcony shortly before the film started, prompting claims that the event had not reached full capacity.