Meghan Markle is going to bring down the British Royal Family if royal reporters, experts and the gaslight are to be believed. Let it be. As the Beatles sang, speaking words of wisdom let it be.
Since the successful Oceania tour that Prince Harry and Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, took last fall, the knives sharpened against the couple. All his life, Prince Harry was assigned the role of spare and told to make peace with being in the shadow of his brother, Prince William. In case you haven’t heard about a million times now, William will be king. He’ll be restricted in his duties but he’ll be king as so Harry and Meghan must know their place. Harry has always had the free spirit of his late, Princess Diana, and often goes rogue. When he took Meghan’s hand in marriage in May 2018, he found a partner to share his ideals, but she is now too being subjected to being the Firm’s black sheep. Since she has melanin, the attacks against her character have been relentless with cruelty being the point. The 36-year-old American born royal should be one of the mascots of the archaic institution but instead serves as their scapegoat.
Taking photos for the gram but staying quiet while Meghan endures daily abuse is a choice. And no, complaining about the length of Kate Middleton’s hair extensions is not on the same tier as the orchestrated dehumanizing attacks on DOS. Everyone in that family has been beaten up in the press but there is a visceral hatred in the treatment of Meghan.
I’ve always believed that Meghan’s cardinal sin, other than virtue of having Black blood, is that she excelled. She is excellent and could not be afforded the privilege of standing high on any pedestal. The past few years have seen the press wind up the public with one faux outrage after another. As a writer and member of the press, we are all conscious of the language used to build a narrative and a harmful one of racist, sexist and xenophobic undertones has been planted by those who leverage influence in the British sphere. Meghan has been otherized; the go to person to kick around when other scandals enter the conservation. Prince William trended globally for two days over an alleged affair but the RR’s went all Mariah Carey: I don’t know her. Meghan’s in-laws may envy her popularity, but she also helps eclipse their shortcomings. Mediocrity never looked so good in juxtaposition to a WOC being thrown under the bus but enough is enough.
The blood you smell in the water today belongs to Prince Andrew as his association with billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein is back in the news following Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges. Epstein is accused of various vulgar acts against minors, some girls as young as 14. President Donald Trump, former POTUS Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz are other names linked to Epstein’s nefarious activities. All the men involved have denied guilt and none charged as of this writing. But they’re being talked about but if you were to go by the chest beating of the RR, it’s Meghan that is still at fault.
She’s in the wrong because her child won’t be extorted for positive press by a rabid crew that won’t be satisfied until they know just how many centimeters Meghan was dilated and which breast she uses to feed Archie.
Meghan Markle is not owed outpouring of affection and fealty by journalists, but ethics dictates that it be fair. There can not be more faux outrage ginned up over an appearance at Wimbledon and choosing with her husband for baby Archie’s christening to be private than there is for powerful men using their influence to abuse young girls. But like clockwork, the Meghan card was thrown down as if it were Andrew’s get out of jail free card. Andrew’s name is mentioned in passing by virtue of good faith and extending benefit of the doubt but that damn Meghan is at it again.
The Duchess of Sussex is a privileged woman many times over and has access to far better and uniquely qualified professionals who can and will defend her name. But I’m one of the daughters of Ida B. Wells and Toussaint Louverture. I come from a lineage of fighters and those who used their positions to bring about justice, speak truth to power. I don’t have the biggest platform but I have one.
I went from a mute to running my mouth because silence is no longer my prerogative; from a scared girl looking up at her abuser to a woman cloaked in the armor of righteousness and messiness. Because I’d love to see what these royal reporters would do if there were no Meghan Markle to use as a shield. If there were no royal family to eat and be fed well from.
Princess Diana died because she was hounded by the press. I’d rather the monarchy end than for another life to be sacrificed because there is no respect for the person and yes, the hate being ginning up against Meghan is reaching that point. There is a calculated smear campaign being carried out and I believe with help from those inside the castle walls. If only there was the same blood boiling for men and their foul behaviors.
Stephanie Guerilus 
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