Photo Credit: Forbes.com
The viral interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has dominated international headlines. In an hour and twenty-five-minute sit down with Oprah Winfrey, the couple described what it was like to be a part of the royal family and what led to their departure. In the first half of the interview, Meghan Markle spoke with Winfrey one on one detailing her experience being an American born woman of color that married into a historically white monarchy. It was her first chance to tell her side of a story that has thus far been controlled by the media. “They would go on record and negate the most ridiculous stories for any member of the family but the narrative that I made Kate, (Duchess of Cambridge and sister in law) cry was the beginning of a real character assassination,” said Markle. She described an atmosphere of unfair treatment that was impossible for her to break through.
The difference in press towards the two sisters-in-law were glaring examples of the unfair criticisms placed onto Meghan.When Kate was photographed in public while pregnant, she was praised for cradling her baby bump. When Meghan was photographed with the same pose, she was vain and prideful. The everlasting criticism from the media was also common amongst the royal family and institution. One day Meghan asked if she could go to lunch with friends and the institution ordered her not to because she was “too out there.” In actuality, at the time, she had only left the palace twice in the last four months. “I wish I was judged on reality and not just perception,” said Markle. The crippling confines of the royal family was especially rough on Markle who was born from a white father and a black mother.
In the tensest part of the interview, when asked about why her son Archie wasn’t given a title as prince, Meghan replied “in those months when I was pregnant, all around the same time, we had in tandem the conversation of, he won’t be given security or a title and also concerns of how dark his skin might be when he’s born.” The uncomfortable conversation of race was a common theme in the interview. The Duchess alluded to the fact that it was the main reason why their baby was not granted the title of prince or the safety of security. Although it is something that was not proven with concrete evidence, the numerous occasions of unfair treatment that was given in the interview made it very clear that at the very least, the atmosphere of the royal family is very intolerant.
“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore and that was a very clear and constant thought.” The pressure of being in the royal family started to break Meghan down. The constant backlash from the media multiplied by the cold shoulder of her so-called family pushed her into a corner that she was afraid she could never escape from. The confines of being part of the royal family was something that Prince Harry was far too familiar with. In the second half of the interview, the couple shed some light on the symbiotic relationship the royal family has with the media. “There’s a reason why these tabloids have these holiday parties at the palace, there is a construct that is at play there,” said Harry. Although the couple has been through rough times, the conclusion of the interview ended on a very bright note. When Harry was asked if he felt like Meghan saved him from the trap of the royal family, Harry replied, “Without question she saved me.” The bombshell interview on these former royals gave freedom to a story of a bond of love that grew stronger through perseverance.
