Meghan Markle’s So-Called ‘Political’ Speeches Are Very Similar to the Work Princess Diana Did, Expert Says
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been compared to Princess Diana numerous times. From her work ethics to some of her fashion choices, there are many things Meghan does that are reminiscent of her late mother-in-law.
Like Diana, Meghan has also fought for causes she believes in. Some of Meghan’s projects have been deemed too “political” for a royal, but an expert believes Diana’s projects were similarly “political” as well.
Meghan Markle has tried to encourage people to vote in the U.S.
Meghan ruffled some political feathers in August when she encouraged Americans to vote. At Michelle Obama’s “When All Women Vote” virtual event, Meghan gave an impassioned speech about the importance of voting and how it can help fix problems in society.
“If we aren’t part of the solution, we are part of the problem,” Meghan said, as reported by Cosmopolitan. “If you aren’t going out there and voting, then you’re complicit. If you’re complacent, you’re complicit.”
Then, Meghan also joined feminist leader Gloria Steinem in a backyard chat to discuss voting. The two of them reportedly cold-called voters as well.
In September, Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, made a video for TIME 100. The couple told voters to make their voices heard in the upcoming election as well as to “reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.”
Meghan Markle has received backlash for her ‘political’ speeches
While Meghan has largely remained non-partisan and never spoken about any specific candidate, people still interpret her speeches as being “political.” This is because, before she joined the royal family, Meghan did speak out against Donald Trump in 2016. She is also known for supporting progressive causes, so many onlookers do not see her speeches as completely neutral.
According to The Times, Meghan and Harry’s exit in early 2020 came with some agreements, with one of which being interpreted as political neutrality. However, the outlet reported that palace courtiers are now unhappy with the Sussexes’ venture into political territory.
“The [royal] family are all wringing their hands, thinking: where is this going and does this abide by the deal to uphold the values of the Queen?” one royal aide allegedly said. “The feeling is it’s a violation of the agreement.
A royal expert compares Meghan Markle ‘political’ speeches to the work Princess Diana did
However, one expert believes Meghan’s “political” speeches actually have a lot in common with Diana’s work, much of which she has been praised for posthumously.
Political scientist Jenny Hocking told Express that Meghan’s speeches about voting are similar to Diana’s relentless support for causes related to HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and landmine clearance—causes that could be favored strongly by one side of the political spectrum at some point but ultimately are not supposed to be political.
“Professor Jenny Hocking argued that simply encouraging people to vote is not partisan, it is ‘above politics’ and therefore reminds her of Diana’s work, which was also above politics,” the outlet wrote.
It is important to note that Meghan is not the first royal to dip their toes into politics. For example, both Prince Charles and Prince William are advocates for sustainability and the environment. In the U.K., the Green Party is known for its strong support for environmentally-friendly policies. Even in the U.S., policies aimed at fighting global warming are often associated with the Democratic Party.
