Apologies to New Zealand pop star Lorde for borrowing the first verse of her smash hit Royals but it seems to fit so perfectly when it comes to analysing the television event of the year.
Like much of the world, we gasped and groaned and grimaced as we watched clips from American media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It was billed as an explosive sit-down, a tell-all not to be missed, and it did not disappoint.
Among the interesting but relatively straightforward snippets — the Sussexes actually got married three days before their televised wedding, their second child will be a girl, they think Harry’s nana (the Queen) is a wonderful person, they have chickens — were two extremely distressing allegations that have raised serious questions about Buckingham Palace.
Someone within the royal household — not the Queen or the ailing Prince Philip, Winfrey later emphasised — had, Meghan claimed, asked an appalling question before her son, Archie, was born.
Meghan, who is biracial, claimed they had asked about how dark Archie’s skin would be upon his arrival.
Further, the duchess suggested the fact her son was mixed-race meant he was denied the title of prince.
The second alarming allegation was that Meghan, feeling suicidal, had approached ‘‘the firm’’ for some help with her mental health but was told none was available as she was not a paid employee.
These are allegations that must be taken with the utmost seriousness by the Royal Family.
The impression is of a grim, draconian, heartless institution that, far from welcoming a vivacious and wildly popular new member — the wife of the Queen’s grandson, no less — hung her out to dry.
There is also the distinct impression that, as the palace sorely mistreated Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, leading her into years of misery and eventually a departure from the family, it is repeating those failures a generation later.
Likewise, uncomfortable questions have been raised about the British press — the notorious tabloids fingered as key players in the overwhelming hostility (racially tinged?) towards Meghan.
It has been interesting to note the differing reactions to the interview. Indeed, depending on which item you are reading, Meghan is either an attention-seeking trouble-maker or a brave and selfless victim, and Harry is either a wayward naif or a brave and selfless victim.
There is a strong sense that fellow Americans, particularly fellow women of colour like tennis great Serena Williams, who posted a supportive message on social media, and younger generations are all Team Meghan, feeling she has been treated cruelly by an archaic institution.
On Team Royal are Britophiles, those aforementioned tabloids and ardent defenders of the monarchy, all three groups encapsulated in the frothing at the mouth seen from noted commentator Piers Morgan, whose relatively understated response to the interview was: ‘‘Sickening. Shameful. Self-pitying. Salacious. Scandalous. Sanctimonious. Spectacularly self-serving. Never have I watched a more repulsively disingenuous interview.’’
It is fine, whether you are a royal fan or not, to feel slightly uncomfortable at how all this has played out.
A family feud unfolding in public; privileged individuals wailing about their situation in a time of global pandemic; complaints of penury from residents of an $11million Malibu mansion who have signed deals worth $100million with Netflix and Spotify; a heavily choreographed interview.
It is also fine to take at face value the allegations from a woman who simply met a man, fell in love, and started a family, and did not deserve to be treated with callous disregard. Privilege does not excuse racism.
This has been a damaging period for Buckingham Palace and its two self-exiled young stars. All would do well to think about how repairs might be made.
Related Stories
Comments
"Like much of the world, we gasped..."
I think you are doing a disservice to all the critical thinkers out there, that had much, much better things to do...
An awful lot of hype from the media and not much else. Let the family sort it out themselves.
When I watched this interview, I saw two rather tragic people engaged in a bizarre act of petulant finger pointing, of no real help to anyone, including themselves. You have to wonder what was the point of such an act of self-flagellation? Money? No, they claimed they did the interview without payment. Fame? They already have that. An exercise in extreme brand amplification? A distinct possibility, keeping themselves in the public eye as high-profile personalities. The ultimate aim of the woke is to be crowned a victim, anything featuring claims of racism will get you a pass card. Considering Harry has distanced himself from his homeland and abandoned all things royal, in terms of service and duty, he is almost now an average bloke. How long before America gets bored and moves onto something else. No doubt they have matters to resolve with their respective families, but please do us all a favor and keep those matters private, to spill your beans to the world is clearly choreographed and insincere.
To think that Harry would throw his entire family under the bus, just to appease his gold digging, holier-than-thou American wife, who would probably dump him at the drop of a hat, when the mode suits her..