‘Nowhere to be seen’: Mystery as Meghan missing from major US event

Some of Hollywood’s biggest names have been involved in a major US event this week – but the Duchess of Sussex was nowhere to be found.

As far as hot tickets go, I’m not sure that Chicago’s vast United Centre is generally high on the list.

Somewhere that probably sells jumbo pretzels and nachos by the cubic feet? St Tropez or Martha’s Vineyard it ain’t, at least based on my dedicated research consisting of looking at pictures on the internet. (Tireless journalism never sleeps).

But over four days and nights this week, an estimated 50,000 people descended on the centre for the Democratic National Convention to plunge gloriously face-first into an orgy of good vibes and hope (and maybe liquid cheese) for the official enthroning of Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee.

Absent from this starry love-in? Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – despite years of building ties with Democratic bigwigs and speculation that the Duchess might harbour political ambitions.

Only four years ago, the Sussexes (fresh from having wrenched themselves from Buckingham Palace’s not-so-tender embrace) and the Democrats were enjoying what looked like much more of a lovefest. Yet now, with Hollywood lining up eagerly behind Ms Harris, the Duke and Duchess are nowhere to be seen.

An estimated 50,000 people took part in the Democratic National Convention – but Meghan and Harry were noticeably absent. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

Unlike the Republican National Convention, which only managed to round up a few charbroiled “celebrities” some of Hollywood’s biggest names have come out for the Harris campaign.

Beyoncé’s “Freedom” is Ms Harris’s walkout song, Oprah Winfrey (brand’s Sussex’s most triple platinum A+++ list supporter plus their interviewer and neighbour) gave a surprising and incredibly powerful speech, Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling officially hosted nights of the convention, Lil Jon brought down the house with a surprise performance while Patti Labelle, Common and John Legend were also at the love-in. Mark Hamill, Suits star Wendell Pierce (who played Meghan’s father on the show) and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee all turned up, and Stephen Colbert, who last year interviewed Harry, broadcast his Late Show live from there. (Pause for a sip of water. That was a marathon).

How different things looked in 2020.

For the first 35-odd years of Harry’s life, offering anything like a political opinion in public was forbidden.

Then came the kablooey of Megxit and, released from their Palace manacles, the Sussexes were suddenly allowed to do and say whatever they fancied.

So in the lead-up to the last election – a choice between an autocrat-curious multiple times bankrupt and a folksy grandfather who likes going out for ice cream – the Duke and Duchess spoke up and put themselves on the right side of history.

In August of that year Meghan interviewed legendary feminist Gloria Steinem and discussed representation and voting rights an in September, the duke and duchess filmed a video for Time urging Americans to actually go to the polling booth in what was widely read as an endorsement of Joe Biden.

The following month, in October, the Democratic governor of California Gavin Newsom (who has been bandied about as a possible Presidential hopeful himself) gave up an hour of his time to virtually meet with the Sussexes. (Remember Covid?)

It was not long before the Duchess’s own name started cropping up with the words “run for office” and “political ambitions” tacked on the end.

When the Newsom meeting came out in the press in February 2021, the Times reported that “many California Democrats … were delighted”. Mike Trujillo, a prominent party strategist, told the paper, “She’s definitely putting her toe in the water … Everything she’s doing is similar to what other folks have done before they run for office”.

Meghan speaks onstage with Gloria Steinem during the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in 2023. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women

Fast forward to November 2021, and Politico broke the news that Meghan had been cold-calling US senators to campaign for paid parental leave. The same month the Duchess of Sussex appeared at part of The New York Times’ Dealbook Summit and continued to push, saying “this is one of those issues that is not red or blue”. (Bonus points here because also on the panel that day was former Starbucks chair Mellody Hobson who was a major Biden donor in 2020).

The Meghan + politics talk revved up again in September 2023 with the death of California Senator Dianne Feinstein and her suddenly vacant seat. “Within minutes” of Feinstein’s passing being announced, “phones lit up” with speculation that the duchess “could throw her hat in the ring” for the Senatorial spot, sources told the Mail on Sunday.

A friend of Gloria Steinem’s told the Mail at the time: “Gloria has been introducing Meghan to pivotal people within the party. Meghan is interested in politics more than anything else. That’s where she believes her power is but she has had to focus on making money.” (Mortgages come for us all, don’t they?)

In 2019, when Meghan guest edited British Vogue, she interviewed former First Lady Michelle Obama and wrote about how they had shared “a casual lunch of chicken tacos”.

The same year, the duchess invited Hillary Clinton to visit their home in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage, and revealed she had voted for the former Secretary of State in her 2016 tilt at the White House.

Meanwhile, Vice President Harris has been a vocal supporter of the Duchess of Sussex.

In 2019, after the couple gave emotional interviews while on their South Africa tour, Harris showed her support on social media, writing “Meghan, we are with you”.

Vice President Harris has been a vocal supporter of the Duchess of Sussex.

In 2020, when the Duchess spoke virtually at her old high school during the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor protests, the Vice President shared a clip and added, “Thank you, Meghan, for this powerful statement.”

Which is all a very long way of saying that the Duchess of Sussex seems to have about as many political connections as a mid-tier Kennedy.

Given all this backstory, it’s hardly an outrageous idea that Meghan could/would/should be turning up somewhere during this presidential cycle. The caveat – she well still might. Nor has the 43-year-old even confirmed her interest in any sort of political run.

Still, the mother-of-two going into politics has a certain logic to it. Ever since Meghan wrote that famous letter to Procter & Gamble at primary school about a sexist dishwashing ad in the ’90s, thus giving her handy material to trot out for the next 30 years, she has clearly been a woman with strong views that she is unafraid of sharing. (And good for her).

But there are two major potential stumbling blocks.

It is believed Meghan has political ambitions of her own. Picture: Adrian Dennis/various sources/AFP

Firstly, the Duchess is meant to be on the cusp of launching her American Riviera Orchard business at some stage and combining money-making ventures and government office doesn’t really go.

Secondly, the cultural and political weather around the Sussexes has changed since 2020 when they were the hottest, newest kids on the US block and they represented the bravery of the individual in standing up to crusty old structures of institutional power. Oprah, Netflix and Spare had all yet to happen. Thus, would the Harris campaign want the Sussexes in Chicago right now?

What a pickle. (Though I suppose Meghan could start making and selling those soon too).

In just over 70 days from now, we might suddenly be using the words “Madam President” while stocks in the pants suit industry surge.

As the Duchess of Sussex herself said during an episode of her Archetypes podcast, “a high tide raises all ships”. And if Ms Harris leads the way? Then all the better for the next generation of women political leaders. And pants suits.

Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and a royal commentator with more than 15 years’ experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles