Storm over Harry and Meghan’s ‘anti-Trump’ message
Harry and Meghan accused of ‘stepping over the line’ in TV swipe at Trump weeks before the US election
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accused of ‘over- stepping the line’ after a thinly-veiled swipe at Donald Trump as they urged Americans to get out and vote in the upcoming election.
In the couple’s most high-profile intervention in the US presidential election, harry urged voters to ‘reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity’ – all qualities critics associate with Mr Trump.
In a TV appearance to mark Time magazine’s 100 most influential people roll call, Meghan – who has made no secret of her antipathy towards the president – described November’s vote as the most important election of her lifetime.
Meanwhile, harry complained that he had never been able to exercise his democratic right to vote as a member of the British monarchy because of the convention that they should remain politically neutral. One royal source told the Mail that they believed that harry and Meghan had ‘crossed a line’ with their latest intervention.
And Mr Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski responded to their comments by saying: ‘They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us.’
The royal source said: ‘Political neutrality is a particularly sensitive subject for the monarchy. Domestically, it’s pretty self-evident as to why this is important. But it is also a serious issue when it comes to the United Kingdom’s relationships on the global stage.
‘her Majesty often hosts foreign leaders on behalf of her Government and it is clearly not helpful for her to do so against the backdrop of a member of her family having taken a particularly partisan approach.’
Former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter said harry, 36, was now sailing ‘perilously close to over-stepping [the line]’. he insisted: ‘The convention is there for a reason, given the Royal Family’s unique position in public life and should be respected.
‘Meghan was always going to make political statements. That was never in doubt. Although quite frankly I don’t see what relevance she has to anyone. People are only interested because she has a handle [title] to her name.
‘harry is stopping just short of over-stepping the line but he is sailing perilously close to it.’
Time magazine’s ‘100 most influential’ edition is a major event in the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not on the list this year but, as ‘alumni’ of the 2018 list, were invited to record a video message for an ABC TV special.
They delivered their message sitting on a bench, thought to be in the garden of their new California mansion.
harry was in an open-neck shirt and Meghan in a brown Victoria Beckham shirt, black trousers, Manolo Blahnik heels and sporting a Cartier bracelet.
The duchess, 39, who is an American citizen and has taken part in several Democrat-leaning events ahead of the election in recent weeks, said: ‘every four years, we’re told “This is the most important election of our lifetime”. But this one is.
‘When we vote our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter – because you do – and you deserve to be heard.’
Commentators, including Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan, said yesterday the words were a clear call to arms to encourage US citizens to vote President Trump out.
he tweeted: ‘‘Prince harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.’
Mr Morgan added: ‘Meghan and harry can spout off about politics all they like – they just can’t do it as royals.’
harry appeared to emphasise the anti-Trump rhetoric further, saying: ‘ This election I’m not going to be able to vote here in the US but many of you may not know that I haven’t been able to vote in the UK my entire life. As we approach this November, it’s vital we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.’
his use of the words ‘this election’ also sparked online debate as to whether he intends to apply for dual British/American citizenship that would enable him to vote in the US, where he now lives, in the future.
Addressing the 100 people being honoured, the duchess told them: ‘You’re playing a critical role for our future and that of our children.
‘Seeing our world through the lens of community is so important. Because we need to redraw the lines of how we engage with each other – both online and off.
‘What we’re exposed to online seeps into how we engage with each other offline.
‘It can train us to be kind or it can train us to be cruel.’ harry
‘Trying to have foot in both camps’
added: ‘But when the bad outweighs the good, for many – whether we realise it or not – it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.
‘Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It’s time to not only reflect, but act.’ Meghan stressed: ‘As we work to reimagine the world around us, let’s challenge ourselves to build communities of compassion’
Time magazine noted: ‘Although it’s against protocol for members of the royal Family to get involved in politics, since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their roles as senior royals and moved to North America earlier this year the couple have become increasingly vocal about... issues close to them like climate change.’
A source close to the couple said yesterday that the prince’s words were not party political or aimed at any individuals, but referred only to the level of online debate surrounding the election in line with their recent campaigning about internet kindness.
royal author robert Jobson asked yesterday whether it might be time for Harry and Meghan, who have already quit their formal working royal roles, to give up their titles too now in order to pursue their agenda more openly.
Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, the author of the book And What Do You Do? What The royal Family Don’t Want You To Know, also said Harry should not speak out about US politics while he is still a ‘representative’ of the UK. He insisted: ‘I think it’s appropriate for any private citizen to comment on the US election. The problem is that Harry has retained his HrH status and is not a private citizen but still a representative of this country.’
Mr Baker told MailOnline: ‘He needs to stop trying to have a foot in both camps – royal when it suits him and private when it doesn’t.
‘Or to turn on its head the old phrase, I agree with what he says but disagree with his right to say it.’
Buckingham Palace said it would not be commenting on Harry’s video message but added pointedly: ‘The duke is not a working member of the royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.’
There was no reference to the duchess in the statement.
‘Partisan approach’