Meghan Markle Gave the Royals a Chance to Modernize, and They Missed It

Imagine if the Palace had rallied around her, instead of creating conditions for the #Megxit

Autumn Brewington
GEN

--

Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images

TThe “Megxitconfirmed by Buckingham Palace on Monday was not inevitable, but the issues driving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s announcement last week that they planned to “step back” as senior members of the British royal family were clear even before the couple’s wedding. The situation that drove the Duke and Duchess of Sussex away is not as straightforward as racism. Multiple sensitive issues, including racial bias, family grievances, and Harry’s hatred of the media, which he blames for his mother’s death, ultimately became intolerable.

The writing was on the wall at the couple’s first official event with Harry’s brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate Middleton. When the “Fab Four” turned out in February 2018 to discuss the charitable foundation they anticipated sharing, Meghan and Kate sat next to each other, wearing blue dresses, their legs tilted in the “duchess slant.” With one comment, however, Meghan made clear that she didn’t intend to adapt to the Windsor mold.

“You’ll often hear people say, ‘You’re helping women find their voices,’” Meghan said when asked about her efforts to promote women’s…

--

--