Archie’s Birth Put the Privacy Debate Front and Center
Meghan’s first baby, Prince Archie, was born on May 6th, 2019. The usual protocol would be to then take photos on the steps of the hospital just hours after birth. But Harry and Meghan didn’t do that. They introduced Archie to the world 2 days later in St. George’s Hall in Wisdom Castle.
Some saw this as a refreshing change. Meghan has just given birth, she’s probably exhausted and needs time to rest, recover, and spend time bonding with her newborn. Why would anyone be expected to get camera-ready just hours after childbirth? Yet some people saw it as a step away from tradition and a way for Harry and Meghan to bend the rules while still receiving the benefits of being a royal.
This type of public reaction was very telling. A birth announcement that looked sensible and protective was dissected as a rebellious statement against tradition. But it was only one of the early signs of how the Sussexes were going to approach having children. They turned out to be fiercely protective, only showing their children to the public on rare occasions while being selective about exactly how, when, and what things to share.
The South Africa Interview Revealed the Cracks
It was during the 2019 tour of South Africa that the public saw a much more vulnerable side of Meghan. In an ITV documentary she was asked by a journalist how she was doing and Meghan admitted that it was hard and she doesn’t think many people would understand and that not many people have asked her if she was ok.
It was a moment that showed us how Meghan was feeling behind the scenes of the polished royal image. She was a new mother, a new wife, a new royal and she was under a lot of pressure and the public scrutiny was relentless. Her answer made it clear that things aren’t as perfect as the royals would like to portray. For her fans and supporters, it was proof that she was struggling with royal life and that the pressure was getting to her. For critics, however, this was an opportunity to blame her for complaining despite leading a very privileged life. That divide in public opinion would only grow from this point on.
“Megxit” Rebranded Meghan and Harry as Royal Rebels
On January 8, 2020 Harry and Meghan did something unheard of. They announced that they’re going to step back from their royal duties and work towards financial independence. The move was immediately branded as “Megxit” and put all of the blame on Meghan, even though Harry and Meghan both repeatedly said that it was a decision they both made as a couple.
The Oprah Interview Changed Everything Again
When Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey, we knew it was going to send shockwaves through not only the royal family but the world in general. Meghan opened up about mental health struggles and alleged conversations about her baby’s skin colour and talked about how her experience with the press was not just regular royal criticism. One of the defining quotes from that interview was when Meghan said, ‘Rude and racist are not the same”.
It was one of the biggest turning points in Meghan’s public life. Some saw what she was doing and saying as brave and painfully human, while others considered her disloyal to the royal family that she willfully married into.
What was undeniable is that she was taking control of the story the way no royal has ever done before. There’s an unspoken rule, or even a motto, that monarchs usually live by that goes “never complain, never explain.” But Meghan and Harry did both, very publicly.
The Netflix Documentary Let Them Tell Their Side
The Netflix docuseries was perceived as a more significant event than the Oprah interview. Harry & Meghan was a six-part series that allowed the couple to clarify a lot about their life, their struggles, and the events that led them to making the decisions and choices that they made.
At this point it was obvious that the fans would see this as a much-needed “other side of the story,” while the haters would double down on calling them ungrateful and selfish and privileged and see this as an unnecessary airing out of inner royal drama.
But from the public image perspective, this was a proactive move. Meghan was building a new post-royal identity. She was no longer part of the royal institution, she was a mother, a wife, a producer, and a media figure.