Drama (with the) Queen: Meghan and Harry’s royal exit

Abby Hendrickson, Staff Writer

By Abby Hendrickson

The world was shocked Jan. 8, 2020 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping down as members of the royal family of England. After some serious rebuttals with Queen Elizabeth II (Harry’s grandmother), an agreement has been reached. 

They petitioned to be financially independent from the Crown, while still representing the Queen. However, they were given two options: stay or leave. They chose the latter. They no longer are given the titles of “His/Her Royal Highness” as they no longer may formally represent the Queen.

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” the couple stated in their announcement on Instagram. While there are a lot of complications for the couple with this bold transition, they seem to be hopeful and excited for the future.

Personally, I am extremely supportive of this move. The way the British media and press has treated Meghan Markle is absolutely disgraceful. Their poorly disguised racism is accentuated when comparing similar stories they reported on with sister-in-law Kate Middleton, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. 

For example, when Kate was pregnant in March 2018, the Daily Mail published a headline titled, “Not long to go! Pregnant Kate tenderly cradles her baby bump while wrapping up her royal duties ahead of maternity leave—and William confirms she’s due ‘any day now.’” However, when Meghan Markle was recently pregnant in January 2019, the same outlet published this headline: “Why can’t Meghan Markle keep her hands off her bump? Experts tackle the question that has got the nation talking: Is it pride, vanity, acting — or a new age bonding technique?”

There are countless other examples of this clear disparity between the two women, with Meghan almost always being villainized. This woman is kind, which can be understood if you watch any interview with her, and is completely undeserving of the treatment she has been receiving. I completely understand why she would want to take a step out of the limelight, since it has only been harsh and critical towards her since she first entered it. 

Lastly, I would also like to recognize and applaud Harry’s decision to fully support his wife’s needs. He is entering into a lot of tension with his own family, and country, by stepping down from his title, but is doing it all for her.

This is the treatment that every woman, especially Meghan Markle, deserves.