Susie O’Brien: Meghan Markle puts the I in identity politics
Meghan Markle is blaming sexism and racism for her fall out with the British people in a new book. But viewing everything through a racial or gender lens means she doesn’t have to look too closely at her own actions, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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Finding Freedom, a new book about Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, claims racism and sexism were responsible for hounding the pair out of public life.
The book, widely believed to have been written with the couple’s co-operation, put Meghan’s unpopularity down to her status as a “woman of colour” in a white-dominated country.
Yet again, it’s all about her. Sanctimonious, self-serving and whiny – Meghan is blaming her fallout with the British people on everyone else but herself.
She puts the “I” in identity politics. Seeing everything through a racial or gender lens means she doesn’t have to look too closely at her own actions.
The book claims Meghan was “the easiest person in the world to work with. Certain people just don’t like the fact she stands out as a woman of colour”.
I’d suggest she stands out more as a pain in the arse.
The book also claims courtiers weren’t used to dealing with an assertive woman. What rot. The whole place is run by an assertive woman – the Queen.
Although the UK monarchy is a symbol of white privilege, the country itself is one of the most multicultural places in the western world. Meghan may passionately see herself as a woman of colour – and fair enough too – but most people see her more as an American or a former TV actor. Her past and her personality were more important in the eyes of the average person than her race, I’d argue.
It’s true that in the early days there was some pejorative racist reporting, claiming Meghan as a gold-digger from the wrong side of the tracks.
But by the time her wedding came she was as popular as her new sister-in-law, Duchess Kate. Her public appearances – including a tour of Australia – were a great success.
Everyone was willing to give Meghan a go, primarily because of her husband’s popularity. People liked the idea the poor kid who lost his mother, Princess Diana, being happily married.
But in the end, Meghan was the problem, not everyone else.
All she had to do was bide her time, support her husband and get to know the family. Then she’d have some freedom to change “The Firm” from within and support for her pet causes and personal agendas.
Instead, she came in like a whirlwind, determined to remake a centuries-old institution over in her own image.
She wasn’t “assertive and decisive”, as the book claims, she was just difficult. She was tone-deaf to the position of privilege she was placed in, and tried to impose her American-style identity politics on an unwilling British public.
Making matters worse, Meghan and Harry didn’t do some of the basic things people wanted such as letting people see Archie when he was first born or posing outside the hospital.
His christening was private, and only two photos were released. And yet they spent millions upgrading their house and enjoyed the trappings of royal life such as front seats at Wimbledon.
Remember their African trip, when they said they wanted to “shine a light on hardship”? All they did was talk about it how hard it was to be them.
Or that Vogue editor stint, where Meghan wanted to “inspire” us with a group of her fave left-wing celebrity friends who could help us become as “aware” as she is?
Or the call for save the planet and watch “every footprint” which came as the royal couple jetted around the world in friends’ private planes?
Or their preaching to the UK public about the need to confront institutionalised racism of their colonial past?
Meghan was a well-known US actor who was used to being feted and adored. As a senior British royal she had to earn respect from the members of the household – including William and Kate – and the general public.
She didn’t do that, and she’s now only got herself to blame.
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