On Monday evening the world watched as two women sat down on a global stage to discuss
race, mental health, the media, and the monarchy. This discussion has sparked widespread
conversations, resignations, and rebuttals. It was the interview that shocked the world,
however on reflection, the trials of Meghan Markle and her Prince should not be so
surprising.
The comment from the Interview which has sparked the most controversy relates to
concerns raised within the Royal Family over how dark the then unborn Archie’s skin would
be. The monarchy, an ancient institution built on principles of good breeding and a superior
bloodline, has historically suppressed any situation which could be said to ‘taint’ this
bloodline. The Queen’s own first cousins Katherine and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, born with
learning difficulties, were placed in a mental hospital when young and, it has been
suggested, purposefully unacknowledged by the family. It is devastating but perhaps
unsurprising that issues of superiority, bigotry and racism continue to plague the family.
Furthermore, one need only glance at the notorious Panorama Interview with Diana to
instantly draw parallels. Here are two women, let down and abandoned by the Institution,
left to the scourge of the British Tabloids, reclaiming their voice. It would appear this
country and its media has learnt nothing since. However, as pointed out in the Interview,
Meghan Markle’s situation was made inherently more insidious by race.
Race formed an important overarching anchor of the interview. Prince Harry drew attention
to the colonial undertones in much of the coverage which hounded Meghan Markle and
expressed his regret that the Royal Family had not spoken out in her defence. This is a
narrative we have heard too many times. A woman of colour in a prominent, public
position, being pulled down and silenced. It is a cycle too often met with wilful ignorance to
the systemic racism that lurks beneath.
Then came some of the most emotional revelations, detailing Markle’s own struggles with
mental health and suicidal thoughts. These comments were met with personal attacks from
Piers Morgan who has since resigned his position as Good Morning Britain co-host after
receiving 41,000 Ofcom complaints. To reach out and ask for help only to be denied, and
then for your testimony to be dismissed, is a situation many hoped we had moved past in
2021.
On closer inspection this interview was perhaps not filled with shocking revelations. Instead,
it shined a light on issues in this country that many already know to be true. The Royal
Family is built upon the superiority of blood, which often reveals deep seated racism and
colonial attitudes. Access to mental health support in this country is underfunded and often
paved with prejudice and difficulty. Racism in Britain continues to plague society and often
manifests itself in the tabloid media.
The Daily Mirror labelled the interview “the worst Royal crisis in 85 years”. For an Institution
which recently faced allegations of sex abuse within their own ranks, a woman speaking out
about the struggles she faced and the racism she endured can hardly be compared. The

crisis that does need to be examined is that of British society and the damaging structures,
beliefs and attitudes that have embedded themselves into our culture, our media, and our
monarchy.