In early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, announced they were stepping back from their roles as “senior” royals. The decision was met with intense media coverage and speculation as to why the couple had chosen that path.
But this announcement was just the beginning.
Harry and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah, which was broadcasted on March 7, and it fueled a whole new media firestorm.
Tensions were already rising prior to the interview’s airing, especially with accusations of Meghan bullying staff members. An investigation was set to determine the authenticity of these claims. The timing was made all the worse with Prince Philip’s being in the hospital for a heart condition, from where he was recently released.
The interview was surprisingly candid. Meghan discussed mental health difficulties while living in the UK, along with conversations that happened without her regarding her son Archie’s skin tone. Harry talked about his relationships with various family members, including his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Their answers revealed how intent they both are for preserving their family unit, including a soon-to-be-born daughter. And good for them, honestly.
Based on history, media coverage and film and TV renditions, the royal family and the duties that come along with it don’t seem as peachy as they appear, especially if support is lacking.
Am I surprised by what Meghan and Harry revealed in their interview with Oprah? More shocked, perhaps, to actually hear the words, but I wasn’t surprised by what they said.
The royal family has a sometimes indistinguishable line between family and duty. They are slated to perform, essentially. All members must maintain an image of tradition and propriety, and when someone tests that, it gets rough. Even if that image is challenged in a good way, it gets rough.
Meghan has been questioned since the start of her relationship with Harry, whether it was because she was American, biracial or in the entertainment industry, but her presence could have been such a positive for the royal family if they jumped on managing it right away.
Her position seems oddly familiar, reminiscent of Harry’s mother Princess Diana. Both women brought a fresh take to the royal family, a sense of modernity and relatability, so they could have brought a whole new respect and interest to the family. They did bring interest. But that interest soon became detrimental to the crown’s image, either by their own doing or the media’s.
At this point, it’s foolish to argue against the family’s celebrity status. They are a symbol of British tradition and history and for that, they will always be in the limelight. They will always be of interest, regardless of if they should be or not.
Yet, their celebrity and any attention they have should be earned. The royal family has had scandal after scandal, and with an interview as “explosive” as the media outlets call it, the royal family’s image is tarnished. Sometimes, it’s just one thing after another. In part, they are people who will make mistakes and will have to navigate life like the rest of us. But also, they hold themselves to a high standard— made all the more clear with the various scandals— so we should expect the same from them.
Racist behavior and the ignorance toward mental health are knock-out blows. Tradition and propriety do not excuse not caring for other humans on a basic level. If the royal family wanted to present good values and a strong family unit, they should take care of their own.
Whether Harry and Meghan ever decide to rejoin the royal family for their duties or not, they will always be members of that family. Harry cannot change that his father, brother and nephew will be kings someday. For such a famous family, it’s disappointing that such a crucial member, and his wife and kids, cannot be cared for in the same way.
Maddie Peters can be reached at pete9542@stthomas.edu.