Andrew Bolt: Why Meghan Markle is wise to skip Prince Philip’s funeral

Meghan Markle says her pregnancy stops her from flying — but she’s wise not to embarrass herself beside Prince Philip’s grave.

No wonder Meghan Markle is skipping the funeral of Prince Philip. She says her pregnancy stops her from flying, but so should shame.

Markle at Philip’s funeral would be a contrast of the old with the new that would not only embarrass the actor but wake us up to what we’re losing.

That’s because Markle and Philip were in some ways so very alike.

Here were two foreigners – both opinionated people with successful careers – who decided to marry a British royal.

The first, Philip, was treated by palace insiders as a boorish intruder. For the rest of his life he was expected to shut his mouth and walk behind his wife, the Queen. Which he did.

The other, Meghan Markle, was hailed as the bi-racial woman who could “modernise” the royals after marrying Prince Harry.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their engagement announcement.

Prince Philip paying tribute to his wife at her coronation.

For the few months that she bothered playing a dutiful royal, she was the star and pushed her race politics, particularly as guest editor of British Vogue.

Philip never got Markle’s gushing coverage. Never cried on camera as Markle did, either, nor publicly complained that life was tough, the press mean and royalty rotten.

Yet in every way, Philip had more about which to complain.

Prince Philip had a troubled childhood. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Yes, Markle comes from a broken home. But Philip barely had a home. His family had to flee Greece when he was a baby, his mother was committed to a mental asylum, his father essentially abandoned him, and at seven he was shipped off to his maternal grandmother, and then to boarding schools.

Yes, Markle had to struggle to become an actor, but Philip’s struggles involved risking his life serving in action in World War II.

Yes, Markle had to give up her career playing second-tier roles on TV, but Philip had to give up a naval career in which he seemed destined for great things, having been one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy and decorated for heroism.

Yes, Markle claims she faced racism in the royal family (which is denied), but Philip was widely mocked in the media as “Phil the Greek”, to remind him he wasn’t really British.

The real difference, though, is how both reacted to having to put themselves and their egos second in the service of something bigger than themselves – the Royal Family that has been such a symbol and instrument of British and Commonwealth unity.

Philip just put his head down and worked.

Prince Philip had a famous work ethic. Picture: Victoria Jones

At his retirement, he was patron, president or member of 780 associations, and founder of the Duke of Edinburgh Award that has helped nearly seven million young people.

Markle, though, fled with Harry to make a financial killing in California, from where they lob grenades at Buckingham Palace.

In every way the comparison flatters Philip, yet almost up to his death he was widely regarded as the royal relic, and Markle the tabloid star.

Don’t think the Queen didn’t hate Philip being treated as a bit of a joke.

In 1997, on their 50th wedding anniversary, she famously paid him a heartfelt public tribute, calling him “my strength and stay all these years”, but suggesting he was not appreciated as he deserved: “I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.”

Her wish for her husband to be better honoured proved disastrous for Tony Abbott. As Prime Minister, Abbott obliged her by knighting Philip on Australia Day 2015, turning himself into such a national joke that months later he lost his job.

A sea of floral tributes at Windsor Castle. Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Are we still laughing? I ask because something remarkable has now happened. On his death at 99, Philip is genuinely grieved and buried under praises.

We tend to value most what is most rare, and the leaders of France, Germany and Canada all used the same phrase in their tributes: that Philip had demonstrated a “sense of duty”. Even the left-wing Guardian used it.

As former US president Barack Obama put it: Prince Philip “proved that true partnership has room for both ambition and selflessness – all in service of something greater”.

That’s what we’re scared we’re losing.

Who in this woke world of which Markle and her medium Oprah are queens acknowledges something greater than themselves?

Something to which they’d show a lifetime of loyalty? And not just dump the minute it chafes?

So Markle is wise not to stand by Philip’s grave next weekend. Who, seeing that, would not conclude that the best of us is buried?

Originally published as Andrew Bolt: Why Meghan Markle is wise to skip Prince Philip’s funeral