She is portrayed as a woman locked in a house, unable to make her own decisions, travel freely, or calm the fire from the tabloids outside. And often, she has no one (save fans) to protect her.
I typed that opening a few weeks ago after watching The New York Times Presents Framing Britney Spears.
I couldn’t help but conclude after watching CBS Presents Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special that it applies equally to Meghan Markle.
In a stunning interview that dealt with issues of mental health, freedom, race, and politics of castle life, Markle (that were corroborated later in the interview by Prince Harry) made shocking accusations that show us what we learned decades ago from Princess Diana and have since tried to ignore: there is something terribly wrong about the British Monarchy.
The riveting two hour interview with Oprah Winfrey (in arrangement with Harpo Studios and sold to CBS) gave audiences one fascinating tidbit after another.
Early in the interview, we learned Markle and Prince Harry were married three days before the world knew (at a private ceremony).
But many more shocking and important topics came up later: Markle was ostracized by those who promised to take her in and ultimately felt totally unsupported by “The Firm,” the people involved in the Royal Family.
While overly protective of all other members of the Royal Family, Markle soon learned her reputation was never protected and life would be very lonely.
When things got so bad she thought of suicide, she reached out multiple times to get help but was told “she wasn’t an employee.” What made matters worse, she couldn’t just get up and leave: Once marrying into the family, “that was the last time that I saw my passport, driver’s license, keys. All that gets turned over” and “you can’t just take an Uber to a hospital,” Markle said.
Part of this depression was caused by the tabloid culture in the U.K. Unlike their mixed relationship with the other Royals, coverage of Markle was filled with blatant lies. Typically, “The Firm” would defend the Royals but in her case they stayed silent or perpetuated inaccuracies about her that weren’t true.
Prince Harry discussed the symbiotic relationship with the tabloids and the Royal Family, noting, “There’s this invisible contract between the institution and tabloids…to simplify…if you are willing to wine, dine, and give access to the reporters you get better press. There is a level of control by fear that has existed for generations.”
When Oprah questioned why the Royal Family would care about their image, Harry noted public perception is what gives them power.
Markle added, “There’s a reason these tabloids have holiday parties at the Palace” and noted the parties were “hosted” by the Royal Family to procure better press coverage. But she realized soon that the “better” press coverage was at the expense of her.
“They were so attacking and inciting racism it changed the risk level. The coverage was bringing out a part of people that was racist. It changed the level of threats and death threats for us,” Markle said.
What even is more shocking is the cause: in multiple times during the interview Markle suggested racism was creating the rift between her family and the Royal Family.
“There were concerns about how dark his skin would be when he (Archie, the couple’s eldest child) was born,” Markle said. Multiple family members and one in particular (who she wouldn’t mention) said when she got pregnant the Royal Family did away with a centuries-old precedent that would have ensured Archie could be styled as Prince.
Instead, Markle said, they not only decided her child wouldn’t get a Royal title but her child would have no protection. When Winfrey asked if it was because of race, Markle suggested yes.
Not being allowed to leave the castle was also difficult. At one point Markle said she had only been allowed to leave twice in four months but was told she needed a “lower profile.”
But it wasn’t just Markle. Her husband agreed, saying he felt “trapped” by the whole process as well.
“You’re trapped in the system. Like the rest of my family are. My father and my brother. They are all trapped,” Harry said.
Harry added when they decided to move to Canada it was after months of discussion with his grandmother, the Queen, and yet “The Firm” fanned the tabloid story that the Queen was blindsided.
As if being punished for seeking mental health, Harry’s father stopped taking his calls at one point and he has a “spaced” distance with his brother. He said he hopes “time heals all wounds.”
Yet the biggest blindside was the lack of protection offered to the pair, despite clear threats on their lives and livelihoods. While Markle noted at first it was while they were still with the Royal Family and they didn’t protect them in the tabloids, the more shocking one was the literal lack of security protection for her family. At first this meant the notice that her child wouldn’t get protection. Then, when they moved to Canada and faced death threats the Royal Family decided to pull security completely from Prince Harry, who remains seventh in line for the throne.
Markle and Harry both pleaded with “The Firm” to provide security but were told it would be withdrawn, which prompted them to move to the United States. They never got an official reason why security was being withdrawn.
The interview was at its best when Oprah had Markle alone. She answered questions calmly and methodically and didn’t seem to shy away from any content, as promised.
The most important revelation was how mentally strenuous the experience was. Markle talked about her thoughts turned from sad to dark. She considered suicide and “methodically” thought about it. She recalls a moment of utter depression when she still had to attend an event and Prince Harry told her she really shouldn’t go but she thought, “I can’t be left alone.”
When Winfrey followed up, “Because you were afraid of what you might do to yourself,” she said, “Yes.”
“If you zoom in (on a photo of the event) you see how tightly his knuckles (Harry’s) are gripped around mine,” Markle said. She recalled crying multiple times in the dark before putting on a show once the lights came on.
The picture of palace life is devastating: Markle depressed and unable to get help and Harry equally trapped by an institution where you “smile” when you’re in person but are grieving and unable to do much of what you truly want to do behind closed doors.
Harry added that’s when they decided to go to Canada
“We wanted to take a breath. History seemed to be repeating itself…but it was far more dangerous. You add race and social media” and it was dangerous. “I’m talking about my mother…to receive no help at all” was heartbreaking.
Oprah was Oprah, patiently asking probing questions. She seemed most taken back when hearing about the racism in the palace but calmly let Markle and Harry explore their own thoughts on the issues before circling back to ones she wanted more clarity about. Oprah knows how to make good TV.
But good TV is different from reality. And while it was such an enlightening interview, I don’t know if I was more sickened by the Royal Family after watching this or happy to see these two escape from it in a way Princess Diana tried (but ultimately failed).
“I’d sit up at night and I wouldn’t understand how it was all being churned out,” Markle said of the negative press coverage in the U.K. “My family was saying ‘Meg they’re not protecting you.’ It was all happening just because I was breathing,” Markle said.
In an era where social-emotional needs are recognized and diverse representation should be something we aspire to have, Markle noted how stunned she was that “The Firm” didn’t value those things. While calling herself naive, she has painted a truly horrifying picture of the people that create the image of the Royal Family.
The fact that Markle and Harry escaped to a simpler life (riding a bike with the children, raising chickens in their yard) may be the most satisfying aspect of watching this as a viewer.
Yet for them, it was out of necessity. Needing a job to pay for their security now that Harry said they’ve been “cut off” from Royal funding and are living on his inheritance from his mom, Harry added they fell into the streaming deal (with their Archewell non-profit organization) out of a need to do something. But it’s a mission they see as an extension of what they liked about palace life: the rare opportunity to tour the world and do good.
“Life is about storytelling… For us to have storytelling through a truthful lens… we want to give voice to people who are underrepresented and aren’t being heard,” Markle said.
The world will certainly see–and likely respect–Markle and Harry more. And Oprah’s interview helped us all realize that America’s disdain for titles may in fact be rooted in reason.
