Sidi-not so saintlY

Meghan Markel’s infamous revelations in her interview with Oprah Winfrey have opinions conflicted about her claims and about Meghan herself. Meghan has ignited not only a political and racial controversy; but also, caused yet again, many British people to question the future of the Royal family. 

Media coverage of this debacle initially focused appropriately on the racism and mental health issues raised by Meghan; now several weeks in, Meghan’s critics have begun to highlight some inconsistencies in her claims and rhetoric. I will leave the fact checking of her allegations to the investigators, that is if her claims are ever investigated by the British Royal institutions. 

Regardless of which side of this argument you are on there is a discussion to be had about Race, Royals and Relationships. 

Race is the most important and contentious issue raised as a result of Meghan’s interview; her allegations have accused the Royal family of racism and/or racial prejudice and ignorance. This frankly can be of little surprise, as the British monarchy is imbued in concepts of white supremacy and their racist colonial conquests are a recent history hushed which prohibits scrutiny. With little to no ethnic representation in Royal institutions, or even so much as an ethnic girlfriend/boyfriend prior to Meghan, it’s no wonder hers is the only interracial marriage in this family’s entire existence. Even if we set aside these facts, questioning the validity of Meghan’s racial prejudice allegations is somewhat absurd. Meghan, in her interview is describing her lived experience of racial prejudice in Royal institutions, which is just that, it’s her experience. Therefore, its valid to her and should be taken seriously by the Royal powers at be, and everyone for that matter. Furthermore, the blatant racism the British media subjected Meghan to it recorded fact; claiming she hasn’t faced racism at the hands of the media is not only belittling to Meghan’s experiences but insulting the intellect of the observers of the shit show. 

The Royals, to use a British phrase are like Marmite, you either love them of hate them. The Royals family has undoubtedly, unrelentingly preserved and upheld, tradition, history, pomp, prestige and nepotism, and if you/they see that as credit then I guess it’s due. The truth is so much drama and disgrace has marred this family, including conspiracy theories of killing Diana because she was ‘trouble’, to Prince Charles’s flagrant extramarital affair, and recently Prince Andrew’s embarrassing interview detailing his escapades with Jeffrey Epstein, to name a few examples. Now, Meghan, the only biracial person to come into this family in the centuries of its existence is accusing them of racism, the bubble of perceived fantasy about the Royals surly now has to pop? I think the significant questions now need be, why do we have a Royal family? When the primary purpose of the British Royal Family is procreation; yes, you read that correct ‘its prime duty is to produce at least one heir to the throne’. 

What functions are they actually fulfilling providing these heirs? And how does this actually benefit the British people? I think the answers to these questions might begin to pick apart the symbolic, regressive, tradition steeped façade of the Royals. 

Relationships, and in some cases the lack of them seems to be at the core of this fiasco. The real-life relationships of this family are not only revealing that the Royals are just as dysfunctional a family as any other, but this fact is to their detriment ‘normalising’ them. Let’s dissect some of these ‘normal’ relationships and their effects.  The ghost of the mother son relationship; Harry notoriously lost is mother very young. It is apparent from his comments, any signs of Diana’s tragic life repeating itself seems to trigger him and dictate much of his decisions. Perhaps his is a life that still needs healing, from its tragic past.  

The publicly fraught relationship between brothers William and Harry; the details of which no one knows, yet all siblings across the world are all too familiar with. Its uncanny that siblings can love or hate each other, often feeling both these sentiments simultaneously, while still willing to die for their sibling should the need call for it. We don’t need to Freud to be reincarnated to analyse this one. They are just two brothers no different to any other siblings; and just like any other siblings, I think they will eventually figure it out between them. 

The father and son relationship, Prince Charles and Prince Harry, live up to all the clichés of the dysfunctional relationship between an absent selfish father and the rebellious spare (Harry) to the heir (William). This is the stuff stereotypes and bad stories about the Royals are based on. This one is clearly on Charles, call me unfair but he seems like a pretty shitty father. 

The husband and wife relationship, Meghan and Harry are in so many ways paving the way for modern relationships, this apparent mismatch seems to be the best match. Meghan’s strong, reliable, resilient, vociferous personality seems to work perfectly with Harry’s need to rebel against the moderate, sombre pageantry he was boxed into. Added to this is their evident love and admiration for each other. For all their flaws, which they clearly have many of, including their contradictions about privacy; they are just two people in love and making it work come what may, which wonderful. 

The American and British relationship; Meghan and Harry bring to light the stark differences between the British and American sensibilities, including disparities in the decorum and tradition each country adheres to. Much of what Meghan represents is liberal American and not in line with the British ‘stiff upper lip’ way of doing things. This fundamental difference in sensibilities is the cause and effect of what Meghan and Harry find themselves in. 

Finally, Meghan’s relationship with her critics; is Meghan a social climbing, gold digging, attention grabber?

My answer is who cares? 

We don’t have to love or even like Meghan, however it is important to acknowledge that she has single handedly shaken up the Royals. Perhaps inadvertently Meghan has highlighted the redundant, out of date practises of the Royals and started some very essential conversations about Race, Royals and Relationships; conversations that are long overdue for the monarchy.