If you know me at all, you knew this was coming. My take on “Megzit,” which unless you’ve been living under a rock the past week, you know all about the story that dominated headlines alongside Iran and fires in Australia. A bit silly to say the least, but to this lover of all things royal and to millions around the globe, it was big news. No, make that HUGE news.
But, just in case you missed it, here’s the breaking news out of London: Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan Markle, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made a surprise announcement that they are essentially giving up their royal ties and are seeking independence from the throne. That throne mind you, is none other than the British monarchy as Harry’s grandma is Queen Elizabeth II.
The fact that they made their very unorthodox announcement without the Queen’s knowledge (and on Kate’s birthday for crying sake) is in and of itself big. What they announced however, was even bigger.
Quick family background: Harry’s dad is Prince Charles and his mom was the late great Princess Diana. Charles is first in line to the throne and Harry’s brother Will, who is married to Kate Middleton, is second in line to the throne. The Queen, Charles, and Will are pictured above with Will’s son Prince George, who is next in line after Will.
In part, the social media placed announcement read: “We have chosen to make a transition this year to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
Boom.
Ouch.
Yikes.
Oh bloody hell.
To say the least, her Majesty was not pleased. Maybe she should have seen it coming but she’s probably seriously conflicted about the how’s and why’s of when Harry met Meghan, who from day one made it known she’s her own woman. After she and Harry spent a six-week Christmas break away from the royals, flags should have been raised. Red flags.
After the announcement, the former actress flew solo to Canada while Harry stayed home. His momma has convened an emergency meeting tomorrow at her Sandringham estate where she, Charles, Will, and Harry will work to agree on what comes next. Any viewer of Netflix’s popular and brilliant “The Crown” series is well aware that if the royals are guided by anything, it’s precedent. Harry and Meghan’s hasty and “in your face” move was anything but standard practice or proper protocol. Don’t look now but two millennials are making their move and validating stereotypes. We want our way and we want it now.
Flashbacks of King Edward VII who, only months into his reign, abdicated the throne in 1936 rather than not marrying twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. The two married, he was demoted to Duke of Windsor, and Harry’s great-grandpa King George VI was crowned, paving the way for his grandma, the current Queen, to be crowned upon her father’s death in 1952. The parallels are uncanny, right? Divorced American. Fun loving and popular prince, albeit not one who will likely succeed the throne. Harry remains sixth in line to the British throne and is a former British army officer however, so to just walk away and head to the Hollywood hills is insulting and perhaps even ill-advised. It was a scandal 84 years ago and it’s a scandal today.
So, what are my thoughts? In all honesty, they are mixed and multi-layered. I loved the whole idea of Harry and Meghan and think she is bright and beautiful. The day of their 2018 wedding, girlfriends and I had a royal wedding sleepover complete with Elderberry cake and crowns and we stayed up to watch it all live. I loved her simple and elegant dress and I loved the way Harry seemed so ga-ga over her. It seemed like two soul mates were joined in a fairy tale setting.
We’ve since come to find out who wears the princely pants in their family and her name is Meghan. Don’t get me wrong, I love a strong woman who believes in herself but I also love tradition, rules, and standards. Still, any girl in her right mind is admittedly jealous of Meghan’s obvious power and the fact that she got a real life prince to abandon his palaces and castles! At the same time, I’m also blaming her for validating the entitled American stereotype and along the way reigning (excuse the pun) in comparisons to another famous wife: Yoko Ono. In my heart of hearts I think Meghan is behind this whole thing and sweet Harry is going along with it because he loves her and remembers what happened to his mom.
But please you two, suck it up and accept your roles with class and dignity and count your blessings.
Photo credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Yes I get it, being royal can be a big fat pain in the butt. You are mercilessly hounded by the press and you really have no independence, opinion, or privacy. But, you have an unlimited bank account, fabulous homes and clothes, and in Meghan’s case, a husband who adores you. So it comes down to this for me: Meghan is reportedly a smart girl so she knew full well what she was marrying in to. It’s not like she married a boy from Buffalo and then decided she doesn’t like snow. This is the ROYAL FAMILY and you don’t go into “The Firm” thinking you’re going to change the script like some Hollywood movie.
Back to their announcement and another thing that caught my eye, Meghan is American, right? But, pay close attention to the fact that they say “North America,” not the U.S. where she was born. And, she is reportedly currently hiding out in Toronto, the city in which she taped her TV show “Suits”, which I’ve never seen BTW. Seems Canada is going to be their “American” base, not America. Hmmmmm. Also, the proclamation states that they still plan to, “raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born,” but there is no mention about his American roots; roots many believe Meghan is not too proud of at the present moment. Double hmmmmm. Lastly, “carve out a new progressive role?” It’s no secret Meghan is left-leaning and progressive but to so publicly and brashly state their agenda? Maybe I’m misreading their wording, but still, hmmmmm.
Okay, so they want to be financially independent, right? Isn’t this a good and admirable thing? Yes! But, are they doing it for the right reasons? Are they doing it because they feel it’s silly for them to be making millions simply because of who they are or are they doing it because they know their goals don’t fall in line with the very institution that makes them “who they are” and it’s easier to walk away then play the game? And also why pretell, have they filed to trademark “Sussex Royal?” Shouldn’t they be doing their thing now as “Harry and Meghan” as they make their way on the down low? Maybe they need a Hollywood name in the likes of Brangelina and Kimye. Trademark that moniker and stop using your titles.
It’s being said Harry and Meghan will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant but where are they going to live like starting tomorrow? And how are they going to get there? Uber? Southwest Airlines and hope they remember to Early Bird? And who’s going to protect them? And what about Archie? What might he think one day when he grows up and learns he’s living in West Toronto instead of Windsor Castle? Up until now the family has been living in Frogmore Cottage, part of a 17th Century estate owned by the Crown, which ironically underwent some $3 million is renovations at their request. Will the British taxpayers get a refund on all those updated window and wall coverings?
I can’t help but wonder what Diana would think of all of this. She’d probably secretly be proud of Meghan for standing her ground but ultimately I think it would break her heart because despite all her so-called rebelliousness, she was at heart a traditional English girl and would want Harry to yes, honor his wife, but also his ancestry.
There’s also the case of Will and Harry, who have always been extremely close. How does Will feel about Harry stepping away and leaving him the Lone Ranger? It seemed like the two couples had “BFFs” written all over them, but it quickly became very apparent that Kate and Meghan had little if anything in common. Maybe family isn’t a personal priority for Meghan. She’s famously at odds with her dad and step-siblings but she is extremely close to her mom. In the end, when she said “I do” she also said “I don’t” to an extended family of dukes and princesses to replace the family she never had. “Happily ever after” for Harry and Meghan very clearly meant happily on our own.
Harry does seem to be madly in love with Meghan but is she with him? Yes of course she loves him but maybe, just maybe, she also saw in him a way to advance her platform and have her voice heard. Sadly, all the negatives and doubts that were thrown her way before the wedding are now somewhat coming to fruition. But, does she care? Not likely. And there lies another “problem” with Meghan: her “I’m above all this” and somewhat arrogant attitude. It’s hard enough being a public royal; being one that is a bit unlikable does not help your cause.
But please, is wanting to become financially independent and live your own life really a bad thing? No, but this is undeniably different. Many didn’t love Meghan to begin with, wanting instead another Kate Middleton, but at the same time many are applauding her courage. Still, when Charles’ wife Camilla is suddenly considered more popular than you, it can’t feel good.
The Queen is said to have offered the couple many concessions to avoid this situation, but they wanted more. Of course all of this is rumor and speculation, except for the Sussex’s announcement, and there is undoubtedly so much we do not know and will never know. “Official word” out of the Palace has always been hard to come by and this latest spectacle will be no different.
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, London
Be that as it may, I don’t agree with some of the harshness being handed to the couple, particularly the move by London’s Madame Tussaud’s wax museum that removed Harry and Meghan’s wax figures that were among those of fellow royal family members. I also don’t think that any criticism of Meghan is racially based but I do believe it does give those who think Americans are conniving and self-centered fuel for their fire.
In the end, Harry and Meghan will probably be just fine as they get paid for speaking engagements, write a book or 10, and lend their names to causes of their choice. At the same time, one can’t help but feel for Queen Elizabeth. She just wrapped up the scandal surrounding son Prince Andrew who was stripped of his official duties after his dealings with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein were revealed, and now this. But this Queen, who is 93-years-old and the world’s longest reigning monarch, has withstood and outlasted wars, scandals, and countless world leaders. I’m pretty sure she and the monarchy will survive two millennials hanging up their crowns and moving on.
Beyond Words 