A royal transition
Kaitlyn Lundy, News Editor
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com.
Being a royal seems like a life of luxury. That is until all sense of privacy and good reputation is revoked by the media.
On January 8, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their change in roles within the Royal Family.
Their official Instagram stated, “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen.”
On January 13, Queen Elizabeth II made a statement in response, “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”
Their time will be divided between the United Kingdom and Canada during this time of transition. Full effect of the change of roles will begin in the spring.
Kimberly Alpizar, a sophomore at North Greenville University, was traveling overseas when the news broke. “ I was in the Republic of Ireland which is not part of the U.K. It was #1 trending in Ireland on Twitter when it happened,” she said.
Alpizar went on to say, “I think it was definitely a choice for them to make because there was so much speculation around Meghan Markle. She was constantly judged over the same things Kate Middleton was praised for. You can tell Prince Harry is putting his wife and child first, which makes the choice even better.”
This decision was months in the making, as the couple has been desiring for a life in which they can control their own privacy and reputations on their own terms.
Markle had a difficult adjustment to life within the Royal Family and quickly fell into the role of being subject to heavy media scrutiny after her marriage to Prince Harry.
A study done by the Guardian showed that Markle received twice the amount of negative media coverage than positive. The negative spins have been angled around the privacy the couple desired around their first child’s birth and baptism, Markle’s past and family life, and the couples’ lifestyle misaligning with the causes they promote.
This amount of scrutiny has taken a toll on the couple. In their future endeavors, as senior members of the Royal Family, media relations will be approached in a manner more controlled by the couple. According to their website, they plan to “no longer participate in the Royal Rota system,” which allows for large British media outlets such as The Daily Mail and The Sun to attend and report on exclusive events relating to the Royal Family on the condition that they would report accurate information.
They will continue to support the Monarchy through their patronages and community work. Their website states, “Their roles will continue to reflect their sense of duty and allegiance to The Monarch and her legacy in the world, as they transition into the new working model.”
