Feminism’s not about big Saudi earrings, Meghan

On MONDAY, it will be International Women’s day and I simply cannot let this peak moment of international feminism pass without mentioning the unmentionable — The duchess of Sussex and her Saudi earrings.

The £500,000 sparklers were a wedding gift to the duchess from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi arabia and wowwee! are they not quite the most delicious diamonds you have ever seen?

The question is, should a high-profile, self-avowed feminist such as Meghan dare to wear jewels from a country with a woeful record on human rights, and female rights in particular?

When she wore the earrings to a dinner in Fiji in 2018, the duchess claimed to have been unaware of speculation that the Crown Prince was involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Fair enough, but that is not the point.

Surely she could not have been unaware that when it comes to the rights of women, Saudi arabia is still in the dark ages? Its male guardianship system means Saudi women must obtain male approval to get married, leave prison, or obtain some healthcare. Men can file cases against female relatives for ‘disobedience’.

and many female activists who have peacefully fought to change this system have been put in jail.

days after she first wore the earrings, the duchess made a speech in new Zealand. ‘Feminism is about fairness,’ she said. ‘The basic human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future.’ and last year, when addressing the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit, she told young women: ‘don’t underestimate your ability. Push through the fear. Chase your convictions with action.’

Indeed! a good action might have been to send the Crown Prince packing — or at least refuse to wear his blood diamonds in protest against the Saudi regime. Instead, she empowered herself by wearing them. I can’t blame her. They are lovely. But still.