Feisty feminist Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle will be a pioneering royal as she champions women’s causes, and with the blessing of the palace
MEGHAN Markle is already helping lead the royal family in a new direction, as the feisty feminist proves she will be a princess like no other we’ve seen before, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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MEGHAN Markle had a big fat wedding to her handsome prince and is now settling down to be a fairytale feminist princess.
Wait, what?
Most people would expect Meghan to proceed with a life of pampered privilege: pop out a few kids, cut ribbons and be mute and decorative like sister-in-law Kate.
However, there are already signs the new Duchess of Sussex is doing things differently.
Meghan’s first official website as a royal makes it clear she’s lost none of her feisty ways.
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She has even received the blessing of the palace to use her position to fight for feminism. Yes, feminism.
Her official biography suggests she will use her role to champion feminist causes and even highlights that she is “proud to be a woman and a feminist”.
I find it interesting that she uses the f-word, which has become so loaded with negative connotations, rather than the less confronting and more socially-acceptable “gender equality”.
Good on her. It’s a good sign she’s not going to bow to populism like so many other women who are too scared of enraging the whining conservative Right to use the term.
The website says Meghan has long had a keen awareness of social issues. Aged 11, she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert that had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid.
She also volunteered at soup kitchens in her teens and while working on Suits in Canada. She has also been involved in charities such as One Young World and World Vision.
(Funnily enough, the website doesn’t mention her stint as a briefcase girl on Deal or No Deal.)
On the face of it, a public endorsement for feminism is an unlikely development for a new British princess.
Meghan changed her name, quit her job, moved countries and joined a very conservative family with centuries-old traditions.
She’s shut down her blog, closed social media accounts and was baptised in the Church of England, Harry’s faith.
It’s not a very progressive start to married life.
In fact, it’s a little hard to imagine how she can be a pioneer for women’s rights when married into one of the most conservative institutions in the world.
Although the House of Windsor has been ruled by a Queen for decades, it is a highly paternalistic institution.
The British royal family renounced the line of succession Act which catapulted males ahead of females only a few years ago.
This means Harry’s niece, Princess Charlotte, will retain her claim to the throne despite the birth of her baby brother, Louis.
All of this tradition means Meghan doesn’t need to be very radical to feel like a breath of fresh air. We have already seen signs of this at the nuptials.
Yes, Meghan wore a white wedding dress, a traditional sign of virginity and had a veil covering her face, a symbol of modesty.
Despite this, she proudly walked herself down most of the aisle and was accompanied to the church by her mother, Doria Ragland.
Prince Charles, Harry’s father, walked her to the altar given that her own father couldn’t be there.
Kensington Palace said Charles would “accompany” his daughter-in-law-to-be rather than “give her away”.
Further, Meghan didn’t pledge to “obey” her future husband and the couple was pronounced “husband and wife” rather than “man and wife”.
Meghan’s Givenchy dress was designed by Claire Waight Keller, who said she thought she was chosen because she was the first woman to lead the esteemed fashion house.
In a break with tradition, women were also in charge of the flowers and cake.
In addition, throughout the ceremony, Meghan and Harry ensured her mother had equal status to his father.
A divorced African-American woman was given the same precedence as Harry’s father, one of the richest men in Britain and next in line to the British throne.
Ragland and her daughter’s race and faith were also front and centre, thanks to the inclusion of Bishop Michael Curry and the all-black Kingdom Choir. Meghan further broke with tradition by giving a speech at the reception.
It appears the marriage is fully supported by the British royals, who are no doubt hoping Meghan will broaden their image and appeal.
Let’s hope she’s given the ability to fully use her status for marginalised women rather than merely be a fashionable mouthpiece.
Her late mother-in-law Princess Diana could provide a useful role model, thanks to her pioneering work supporting unpopular causes such as AIDS sufferers and landmine victims.
Although I’m a proud republican, I wish all the best for the new Duchess and her feminist goals. Go get ’em, girl.
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