America entranced by Harry and Meghan’s plan to ditch royal life

If the Sussexes are hoping for a gentler ride from US media they’d better think again, with Americans jarred by the royal rift.

The New York Post gave its readers the news of Meghan and Harry’s announcement in a memorable front page. Picture: Supplied

If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are hoping for a gentler ride from the North American press after fleeing the British tabloids they could be in for a shock.

The New York Post gave its readers the news in a memorable front page yesterday. “MEGXIT”, blared the headline, along with a strapline explaining: “Meghan and Harry leave royals for ‘commoner’ life”. Beneath it was a mocked-up picture of the couple in a dingy living room with the blinds down, sitting on a tartan sofa in front of the detritus of a TV dinner: a full ashtray, empty cans of lager and a dirty plate. On one side of the window was a framed tourism poster for Canada, on the other a lamp with a crown hanging off the shade.

The image in the newspaper, which is owned by News Corp, the overall parent company of The Times and The Australian, was pitched to appeal to the enormous number of Americans who feel unusually invested in the royal couple because of Meghan’s Californian upbringing but it also captured the sense of surprised curiosity among tens of millions more who have no great interest in the royal family but recognise an intriguing plot twist when they see one.

The New York Times explained that the couple’s attempt to escape “the family’s vice-like embrace” spoke “directly to the challenges facing the monarchy as the reign of the Queen, now 93, enters its final years.” Briefly surveying the history of the Windsors and noting that only the exiled Duke of Windsor had ever lived abroad for any length of time, the paper said the Sussexes’ plans to split their time between Britain and North America added an “even more jarring” element to the announcement.

Meanwhile, in light of ‘Megxit’, wax figures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have already been removed from the royal set at Madame Tussauds in London.

The museum has separated Harry and Meghan from the rest of the royal family following the couple’s bombshell statement that they are to “step back” as senior royals.

Wax replicas of the pair previously stood next to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, but have now been moved.

Steve Davies, general manager at the attraction, said: “Alongside the rest of the world we are reacting to the surprising news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back as senior royals.

“From today Meghan and Harry’s figures will no longer appear in our Royal Family set.

“As two of our most popular and well-loved figures they will of course remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for the them.”

We’ve got to respect their wishes 🤷‍♂️ #Megxit pic.twitter.com/mb936VcqRd

— Madame Tussauds London (@MadameTussauds) January 9, 2020

The celebrity gossip magazine Us Weekly cited an anonymous source who informed readers that “William was blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s decision and statement” and felt “incredibly hurt”. It also approached the duchess’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, 75, for a comment. “I’ll just simply say I’m disappointed,” he said.

Readers of The Los Angeles Times woke to its daily email newsletter, which suggested that the duchess could move back to the city where she was brought up. Two looming obstacles to such a move to California are the cost of security for the couple, paid by the British taxpayer, and US media laws that would not restrict coverage of their son, Archie, as UK regulations do.

The couple announced their decision to step down as senior royals with a parting shot at the “frequent misreporting” of some British newspapers, saying they would now communicate through “grassroots media organisations” and their own social media accounts. They are pursuing a series of legal claims, including a privacy action against The Mail on Sunday for publishing a letter from Meghan to her father. Harry is suing the owners of The Sun and the Sunday Mirror for allegedly hacking his phone. The cases have yet to reach court.

Fans of The Crown hoping to see the developments dramatised in the Netflix saga are likely to be disappointed. The show’s creator, Peter Morgan, has said that it will end well before the present day because he would otherwise feel uncomfortable. Suzanne Mackie, the executive producer, said yesterday that the six-series drama “probably” would not show current events.

The Times