Opinion | Britain’s royals can’t keep ignoring their colonialist past and racist present
- The British Empire is long gone, but a colonial mindset has persisted among the UK’s monarchy – as Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview shows
- Without attempts to confront the racism in its past and present, Britain’s royal family risks falling ever further out of touch, says Benjamin T. Jones
While Winfrey later clarified neither the queen nor her husband were behind the remark, Meghan also suggested their son was denied the title of prince because of his mixed race.
When the couple began dating, some hoped it would usher in a period of royal renewal. Meghan, who has an African-American mother and a white father, was presented as a symbol of the modern, inclusive monarchy. These hopes were gradually dashed with consistently negative media coverage, including unfavourable comparisons with Meghan’s sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Meghan revealed to Winfrey that the pressure to perform official duties in the face of mounting criticism led to depression and suicidal thoughts. The couple lamented the lack of support they received from the royal family.