Prince Harry and Meghan Markle test limits of royal protocol by advocating Americans to vote

Meghan and Harry have tested the limits of royal protocol by telling Americans to vote and reject hate speech.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have tested the limits of royal protocol by advocating Americans to vote in the “most important election of our lifetime’’, in comments that appear to be directed against Donald Trump.

Neither the Duke or Duchess of Sussex mention Trump or his opponent Joe Biden by name, although Prince Harry urges voters to reject ‘hate speech, misinformation and online negativity”.

The comments, in a video to mark Time Magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people, follows reports that Meghan Markle has been cold calling Americans to urge them to vote to help elect Biden.

Donald Trump responded to the video saying, “I’m not a big fan of hers. I would say this, I wish a lot of luck to Harry. He’s going to need it’’.

The President @realDonaldTrump has been asked about Harry and Meghan during a press conference - “I’m not a fan of hers and I would say this...I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he’s going to need it.” pic.twitter.com/S9evvXqEUY

— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) September 23, 2020

Royal protocol is for members of the royal family to avoid politics although both Prince Harry and Ms Markle have stepped down from their roles and have moved to the US.

Buckingham Palace responded, saying they were “personal” remarks and not in breach of royal protocol. “The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity,” the palace said in a statement to The Times of London.

Prince Harry won’t be able to vote in November’s poll.

At least one source within Palace circles believes that the couple have “crossed a line’’. Another former royal adviser agreed, and said the video would cause concern for courtiers.

The former adviser told The Times: “The political arena is very sensitive for all members of the royal family. You cannot have an apolitical institution, which is what a hereditary monarchy is, and have members of the royal family making even slightly political comments.

“Courtiers would be concerned that we have not even got into the heat of the election campaign. If they have made these comments now, what might happen between now and election day?

“Courtiers would be extremely concerned that if they are going to continue to comment on what could be the most contentious US presidential election in living memory, how difficult could that get?”

A spokesman for the Sussexes said the duke was talking specifically about the tone of the debate. “He is not actually talking about a change of candidate, or party, or anything like that. The duchess says very much the same things as she has said recently.”

He said she was not endorsing any candidate. “Most people are aware of her stances previously. They can join the dots.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: "Congratulations to this year's transformative leaders and change makers. You work tirelessly to create a better world, a better global community for all of us" #TIME100 https://t.co/3aojLBhOVu pic.twitter.com/aqOkVUNFBX

— TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

Famed feminist Gloria Steinem said Ms Markle had been active in helping to elect Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris.

“(Markle) came home to vote,’’ Steinem told TV’s Access Hollywood in an online video, noting that the pair had met up at Steinem’s home. “And the first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table here, where I am right now, and cold-called voters. And said, ‘Hello, I’m Meg,’ and, ‘Hello, I’m Gloria,’ and, ‘Are you going to vote? That was her initiative,’’ Steinem said.

In the video, Markle sits with Prime Harry on a bench in a garden and urges people to vote in the November 3 presidential election.

“Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime,” Markle said. “But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.”

Prince Harry confined his comments to warning Americans about the danger of misinformation.

“When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realise it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone else’s shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It’s time to not only reflect, but act,” he said. “As we approach this November, it’s vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.”

Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski hit out at the couple’s comments, saying “they made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us’’.

British commentator Piers Morgan said: “Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.’’

Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election & effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 23, 2020

Before marrying Prince Harry, Ms Markle had called President Trump “misogynistic’’ and “divisive’’.

Markle, a US citizen, told Marie Claire in August that she intended to vote in the election. “I know what it’s like to have a voice, and also what it’s like to feel voiceless,’’ she said. “I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.’’