IT’S been three days since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step down as “senior royals”.
And while the ferocious backlash against their decision is still being felt up and down the UK, royal fans have been quick to defend the couple by claiming that all their critics are coveted racists.
Harry and Meghan have stepped down from their roles in the Royal Family
But I don’t know how they can say that, when just 18 months ago the nation welcomed Meghan into the royal family with open arms – and when it’s obvious the criticism of them stems from their blatant hypocrisy.
As a person of BAME background, I am proud to live in a modern Britain – and I don’t feel society has ever labelled me by colour or race.
Britain welcomes people from all backgrounds – and I can’t help feeling Meghan and Harry’s fans are pulling the race card out as a defence because they have finally been caught out.
‘No one is exempt from criticism’
From the2.4million tax payer refurb of Frogmore Cottage to a 330,000 lavish New York baby shower – the couple have come under fierce attack for their excessive spending.
With a 787,000 Givenchy-packed wardrobe that was followed up with another 386,000 being spent on maternity clothes when she fell pregnant, it’s no wonder the Duchess has been been dubbed Meghan Antoinette in honour of the over-the-top 18th Century French Queen.
But it’s not just their spending that has riled Brits.
Last summer, the couple decided to jet off to Ibiza and the south of France for a family holiday with baby Archie.
But given that they’ve actively been preaching about protecting the environment, they came under fire when they travelled by private jet. At least Greta follows through on what she’s saying.
So it’s understandable that most Brits would feel a little confused by the couple’s actions and lash out against their hypocrisy.
But to say this is because Meghan is mixed race is totally ridiculous.
The Queen seen with Meghan on her wedding day in 2018
‘This isn’t about racism’
In 2018 Meghan was welcomed into the royal family with open arms by the Queen,with royal commentator Duncan Larcombe telling HOAR that Her Majesty made an unusual effort with her grandson’s wife as she didn’t want her to feel alienated.
The Queen’s approval of Meghan and Harry’s wedding spoke volumes, signifying how the reigning monarch was moving with the times byallowing a divorcee to marry into the establishment – something she was unable to do for her own sister, Princess Margaret.
Meghan’s African-American heritage did not factor into the Queen’s decision to allow them to marry – and nor should it now be considered as a reason behind the Sussexes’ radical departure.
It’s estimated that almost 18 million Brits tuned in to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say “I do” – a national gesture that said: “We support you.”
If Meghan and Harry are indeed attempting to flee racism, then North America is hardly the ideal place to go – when Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was not long ago outed for ‘blacking up’, just a day after admitting such behaviour was racist. The hypocrisy is embarrassing.
And is the US really any better? President Trump has repeatedly claimed that he’s “the least racist person that you’ve ever encountered” and yet he thinks it is acceptable to propose a ban on all Muslims entering the US and call Mexican immigrants ‘criminals and rapists…’
Equally, Hollywood is the home of #metoo and #oscarssowhite – hardly a perfect model of racial justice and equality.
But now as a huge ‘eff off’ to the Queen, Meghan and Harry have formed deeper divides than ever before by choosing to divorce from the family that made them the most famous couple in the world.
The relentless scrutiny the royals come under is undoubtedly a heavy burden – and it’s not hard to be sympathetic to the Sussexes’ plight.
However, this doesn’t take away from the fact that an evident lack of gratitude has been shown towards the Queen in the past 48 hours.
‘The public have the right to call her out’
In going behind Her Majesty’s back and springing this announcement on her without warning – the Sussexes deserve to be criticised.
All members of the royal family have come under fire at some point or other – even six year old Prince George, who was cruelly mocked for taking ballet classes by a US TV host.
But it seems that if the same thing happens to our dear duchess, we must hold our tongues.
A person’s race doesn’t excuse disgraceful behaviour and if anyone is going to call the royals up on it, it’s going to be the public.
‘We aren’t suddenly a nation of racists’
The currents have turned against Meghan for many reasons, but not because the nation is suddenly racist.
The royal couple say they will be “financially independent” as they “carve out a progressive new role”.
But given that we will more than likely be shelling out millions into the Sussexes’ relocation to Canada with round-the-clock security teams, a royal entourage and staff members – we should at least be able have the chance to freely voice our critiques without having to worry about being branded racist as a consequence.
