The Megxit — A critics view
Sai Abhiram M, Royal Family Viewer & Committed Monarchist
“I, Edward VII, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King and Emperor of India, do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants, and my desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately. In token whereof I have hereunto set my hands this tenth day of December 1936, in the presence of the witnesses whose signatures are subscribed” read the abdication document of King Edward VII who gave up the Throne for a three time divorcee, the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson, not many decades ago.
“There were three of us in this marriage…so it was a bit crowded” Said Diana, The Late Princess of Wales in her much controverted interview with journalist, Martin Bashir of the BBC. “No! I don’t think I’ll ever be Queen. I’ll be the Queen of peoples heats, in people’s hearts. But I don’t see myself being Queen of the United Kingdom, No” was her reply on being questioned whether she thought she would ever be Queen.
“I was ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry. But I knew that if I didn’t say it — then I would do it, I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” stated Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, adding that, “It was a clear and real and frightening and constant thought!” These were big revelations about Meghan feeling suicidal after the marriage.
These are the stories that make it up to the front pages. Neither is the Royal family new to such Family Dramas, nor is Great Britain or the World. The exit of the Sussexes and the recent eye-opening interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the famous television personality and T.V show host, Oprah Winfrey is another such ‘front page drama’. Or, is it more than just that? The provocative statements passed during the interview give us a rather huge window into the life as a Royal and status of personal health in a seemingly theatrical and conservative institution, the very existence of which seems obsolete in a progressive world. The many rules — both written and unwritten, that royals are expected to follow seem rather inscrutable to the common people. Meghan’s statement, “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore” accentuates the smothering pressures one lives under as a member of The Royal Family in those lavish palaces.
Harry and Meghan, like all other Royals still are, were trapped in royal life. Life in lavish palaces might seem a hassle-free, enjoyable one. But, the new age royals beg to differ. Prince Harry said he wouldn’t have left royal life if it was not for his wife. “I wouldn’t have been able to, because I myself was trapped,” he added. Prince Charles, the heir apparent and Prince William, second in line to the throne are raised to bear royal tensions and pressures. Harry too. But for a coloured American actress who was new to royalty — this seemed a mammoth task…more of an impossible one. As an adult restricted from doing what she wills, Meghan made friends with loneliness, presumably soon after her marriage and entry into the Royal Family. She married not the person, but the whole package — the family, which is still easy to tackle, but the duties, public spotlight and being gauged by people for every step one takes — these were stumbling blocks for the newbie.
A credible explanation has been given in Netflix’s The Crown — the Royal Family was a rather tough bunch, clearly on any one new. Diana, a new entry who found it difficult to get in, who learned that she clearly was an outsider, albeit sombrely, manages to lay her cards on the table by telling Prince Philip how she felt. “It feels like a dark, cold, lonely, cave…with no warmth, no light whatsoever…no way to go out of the cave…” she tells. It is presumably true, now that Markle’s story throws light on her thoughts about her new, forever changed, lifestyle. ‘Meg,’ as Harry fondly calls his wife, felt suicidal after the marriage. She, however, was prevented from seeking help; like she was prevented from meeting her parents; like, again, she was prevented from hanging out with her friends. Why the impediment? “They said, ‘You are already everywhere’ ” Meghan says, referring to the palace officials. “I was there everywhere, but nowhere” She added. Stories about ‘WaityKaty’ Catherine Middleton being made to cry by Meghan was treated with silence by the Buckingham Palace, inspite of knowing thee true picture, Meghan points out. This is unlike most other stories, wherein explanations come across soon. “The reverse was true” Meghan said to Oprah. As per Meghan, “A few days before the wedding she was upset about something, pertaining to…the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings.”
The “once upon a time” rulers of South Africa were concerned about the skin colour of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It is said that the British Monarchy is strong and doesn’t cease to survive, only because it changes with time. Apparently, it still couldn’t get over racism. The Monarch of Great Britain is head of The Church of England, which doesn’t recognise divorcees, which Meghan was. It was less than a century ago that King Edward had to give up the Throne because he wanted to marry a divorcee; it was only few years ago that Charles got away with marrying a divorcee*; now, Harry marries Meghan. This is an evidence of evolution of the Monarchy. But, it turns out, just so much of a change is not enough.
Prince Harry finds himself at a difficult position when it came to his relations with the Royal Family. Buckingham Palace, after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior Royals, released a statement about this exit and added that the relation of the Sussexes with the Royal Family would remain unchanged and that they would still be loved members of the Royal Family. But, when it came to Harry’s turn to talk, it is fairly conspicuous that the relationship is somewhat complicated. Prince Charles has now stopped conversations on the phone with Harry and opted, instead, the mail where the father and son can exchange letters. Harry and William, who, in Harry’s words, ‘Have Seen Hell Together’ find themselves in different positions in life and their respective relationships. The relationship of the Prince’s William and Harry is currently space…and seems erratic in the near future. Time heals all wounds. So does Prince Harry believe. The relationship of the Sussexes and the Queen, is, however, warm and unchanged at the moment. Her Majesty, the Queen is said to have gifted Archie with a waffle maker — who reportedly loves waffles.
All this, however, are private issues of the Royal Family. Things get different and a bit difficult to tackle when things go beyond personal differences. The claims regarding the title of Archie and that of financial autonomy are a bit grieve and hard on the Sussexes. Apart from discussions in the palace abut the skin colour of Archie’s, him not being conferred a title is a stirring one. This is unlike his cousins Prince George**, Prince Louis and Princess Royal to-be, Charlotte who all have titles. The Sussexes are financially cutoff by the Royal Family. Harry Says that they just wanted to step back and work from any other commonwealth country like NewZealand, Canada or South Africa. But, the Firm(Buckingham Palace) didn’t agree to it. Prince Harry was let down by his father, Prince Charles through a rather painful episode which eventually led to losing finances from the Palace.
DIANA was very much remembered throughout the whole painful scenes that the Sussexes had to go through. The media, which is still blamed by Harry for being the reason for his mother’s death, played a huge part in causing mental distress to Meghan. Like any other person, Meghan and Prince Harry too, were protective of their son and their personal life — which meant it was not fine for journalists/camerapersons to hide in the bushes and peep through for one picture of Archie. Prince Harry also says that they were able to survive and do all what they did only with the help of what his mother had left for him(as in the money).
Buckingham Palace which chose silence over action regarding the Royal Rift at first, now released a statement containing the Queen’s reaction to this tell-all interview. The Queen, who is reported to have been empathetic to Prince Harry from the start, felt sad on learning about the hardships the Sussexes had to go through and reassured that Harry, Meghan and Archie will continue to be very much loved members of the family and that these differences and the stirring claim of racism in the family will be taken up and resolved privately.
The world reactions are profoundly diverse and mixed. US Poet Amanda Gorman says Meghan was the Crown’s greatest opportunity for a change and transition to a new era, which they missed out on. Megyn Kelly rips Meghan as ‘UN-SELF-AWARE’ for claiming she wasn’t attached to ‘GRANDEUR’ pointing out that Meghan had Clooney at wedding. The people, on the other hand, are popularising AbolishTheMonarchy and are questioning the accountability and need for an ancient institution following outdated customs which, in todays world, seem theatrical.
The Constitutional Monarchy is England’s own system which dates back to William The Conquerer. Monarchy is the essence of England and it is an institution that maintains political balance. Unilateral exercise of power, political influence, using up almost the lions share of the tax for royal reasons might seem hindering as far as progression and economic development is concerned. But, the place and importance of the monarchy can, again, not be ignored. It would, however, be pointless for a monarchy to exist if it didn’t change with changing times. Monarchy is an ideal that people look up to. It, undoubtedly, is difficult for the royals to maintain the composure and dignity that they are required to, but that does not mean to blindly follow rules laid by rulers that ruled Great Britain centuries ago — those rules which have lost meaning time and again due to the fast progress the world is making, and will continue to make. It is best for the monarchy and for people if such a profound mishap and incident didn’t happen again. It is surely time for certain royal tragedies to be justified and the latest one, to be corrected.
*The Church of England doesn’t recognise divorced persons. If a divorcee has to remarry, the former spouse has to be dead. Otherwise, the marriage, if it happened, is not considered or is considered NULL.
- *Prince George is the third in line to throne. Hence, inspite only upto grandchildren of a sovereign are given titles, George was given the title of Prince. Princess Charlotte is the only girl child of the Cambridges. Hence, she is the Princess Royal to-be. Louis, third child of the Cambridges is given the title of Prince but not Archie, although both are great-grandchildren of the Queen still stands unjustified.
All written facts are as told by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their Tell All interview on CBS. The critical thoughts are solely mine and have been written how events were perceived by me — hence this article has my own perspectives. Thoughts, perspectives and pinions might and will vary.