The Real Reason Losing Meghan Markle Is Bad For The Monarchy
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused quite the stir on Jan. 8, 2020, when they announced they're stepping back as senior members of the royal family. The queen is reportedly livid about the situation, and Prince William and Prince Harry are rumored to be on the outs, despite releasing a statement saying otherwise. The whole thing is shaping up to be a royal mess, to put it mildly, especially where it concerns Meghan Markle, whose character has been torn to shreds in the press.
A Page Six source claimed Markle "has taken total control of [Harry's] life." A piece in the Daily Express claimed the Duchess of Sussex might follow in former First Lady Michelle Obama's "moneymaking" footsteps. The whole debacle is now known as "Megxit." Although some view Markle as the villain in this situation, others assess this situation much differently. In fact, there are plenty of diverse and compelling reasons why losing Meghan Markle is bad for the monarchy.
Meghan Markle was a breath of fresh air
In an opinion piece for The Guardian, writer Owen Jones penned a seething analysis of Megxit, arguing: "Meghan became a target because she is a mixed-race American with no aristocratic blood, who dared to import vaguely progressive values into the most conservative of British institutions."
It's true Markle is more of a modern royal, at least compared to her family members, including her sister-in-law Kate Middleton. Unlike Middleton, Markle waited a few days before she appeared in the public eye after giving birth to Archie in May 2018, and she enjoyed a baby shower in New York City, which isn't custom for pregnant royals. Markle has also been more vocal about her opinions and emotions, like when she confessed to struggling with the limelight in an October 2019 documentary for ITV. "Look, any woman especially when they are pregnant, you're really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging, and then when you have a newborn ... and especially as a woman, it's a lot," Markle said.
Instead of embracing Markle's differences, some sources think the monarchy has punished her for them. That kind of attitude could backfire for the crown. "Meghan Markle is showing little girls how a modern Cinderella rolls," gushed Daily Beast writer Keli Goff. Now that Markle is stepping back, the royal family is losing an inspirational leader for young women around the globe. What a shame.
The monarchy lost an opportunity to promote diversity
Although the queen has publicly lent her support to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, rumors abound that the Duchess of Sussex is being blamed for Megxit. Some have likened Markle to John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who has long been accused of breaking up The Beatles. These situations are different, of course, but they both share an undercurrent of racism. "I think I was used as a scapegoat, and it's a very easy scapegoat, a Japanese woman and whatever," Ono told CNN's Anderson Cooper in October 2010. Some might argue the same experience is true for Markle, who is biracial. Journalist Tom Bradby even suggested to the Sunday Times that the Queen is "afraid" Markle will give an interview accusing the royal family of being "racist and sexist."
We can't speak to the personal feelings within the royal family, but it's unfortunate its members weren't able to work alongside Markle to create diversity-based initiatives or do a better job shutting down racist attacks in the press. It would have shown the monarchy is dedicated to shedding some of its problematic roots.
The flip side? Some might argue that Queen Elizabeth went above and beyond to make the Duchess of Sussex feel welcome. "The Queen ... in the first few months of Meghan's entry into the royal family, made a particular and slightly unusual effort to welcome her in," a source told Fabulous Digital (via The Sun) in August 2019.
The royal family could miss out on Archie's life
One big question concerning Megxit is how baby Archie could be affected by this decision. The logistics surrounding the child's upbringing remain unclear at this time, but it's possible he won't spend a lot of time across the pond if Meghan Markle has her way. "She doesn't want to raise Archie there, and she doesn't want to schlep back and forth. She'll make extended visits, but that's it," a supposed friend told the Daily Mail.
If this claim is true, the queen and her crew won't get to enjoy watching the little guy grow up. It also potentially means that the honor will go to the Duchess of Sussex's mom, Doria Ragland, who lives relatively close to her daughter's rumored new home in Canada. We're pretty sure the actor won't mind jetting down to California for some bonding time, especially in light of the rumors that she's itching to get back into Hollywood.
Hey, at least the queen has a bunch of great-grandchildren nearby to soften the blow if Archie resides in Canada. Speaking of the royal kids, this is what their future could look like going forward.