Buckingham Palace Blown Up by Clash of Cultures and Hollywood Stereotype

The world was sent into a frenzy when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pressed the nuclear button on the British Monarchy and blew it up. To many, it was a time to sympathize with the protagonist playing the victim and an ecstatic moment to pounce on the structure that had appeared invincible for more than twelve centuries.

The world was sent into a frenzy when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pressed the nuclear button on the British Monarchy and blew it up. To many, it was a time to sympathize with the protagonist playing the victim and an ecstatic moment to pounce on the structure that had appeared invincible for more than twelve centuries.

The Oprah Winfrey interview of the couple aired on CBS focused on the side of the protagonist who by common sense would speak to make a case for herself and bury her shortcomings. The British Monarch too would have done the same if in the same boat.

Before we cast the first stone, we should realize that Meghan and the British Monarchy are from two different worlds. Meghan is an American who lives in a land of dreams. A land of excessive freedom, total independence without cultural restraint, inclined to radical change, pragmatic, and informal. A land where fairy tales become reality. A land where you can publicly order an attack on the Capitol, all in the name of free speech, and still get a pat on the back. Everything is possible.

This is a sharp contrast to the British life.  The British are indirect, subtle, non-confrontational, conservative, courteous and formal. The society is built on culture and tradition that subconsciously restrain your excesses, your freedom. Freedom exists only to a limit. It is almost a fiction. Although no law bid you to be silent, the culture is an unwritten law subconsciously inscribed on the mind of the people to apply self-restraint, to obey and respect their institutions, to say no wrong about the Monarchy. That is why “the Queen can do no wrong.”

Married to the British Royal Family, the American actress could see her fairy tale becoming a reality. American dream unfolding on British soil. In the figment of her imagination, the Hollywood El Dorado of a life stereotyped by riches, wealth, laurel, honor, accolades, and glory was unfolding. A life where the princess does not need an alarm to get out of bed because there is a slave standing guard beside her bed at her order ready to wake her up at the very minute she desired.  Maids showering petals before her while she takes the exquisite gait of a royal princess, walking around the city with legions of maids and guards of servitude she can bark orders to. Alas! The mind of a girl plagued with fiction.

Poor Meghan in her own words said, “I didn’t fully understand what the job was… There was no way to understand what the day to day was going to be like. And it is so different because I didn’t romanticize any element of it, but I think as Americans especially, what do you know about the royals? It’s what you read in fairy tales.” To Meghan, the royalty is completely different from meeting common celebrity, which is very much true. The royalty is a combination of celebrity, power and institution that have survived for centuries on propaganda. It is like a cult whose activities must be kept in secrecy. That is why no one is allowed to speak, except the institution, to avoid contradiction that can demystify the highly venerated Monarchy. Even the Queen does not have the mind of her own. She must speak the mind of the institution. She projects what the institution wants her to project.

Meghan is obsessed with the American life she was born into. A life of independence. She wanted to speak out, live free, be authentic, visit friends, show her acting and celebrity prowess. Which, unbeknownst to her, is a life the British will never tolerate because such a boisterous life will put her in direct competition with their highly venerated monarch, the Queen. Harry said everything started going downhill after their Australian tour. The tour anger the institution because of the fear that Meghan’s star might shine brighter than the galaxy. Was that why jealousy and envy set in?

Meghan, having tasted the sweetness of superior fame, she wanted more. Her son should be given a title and security just like the children of William. Prince Harry knows the protocol of King George V of 1917 and by implication, his wife is aware of the protocol that limits titles of members of the royal family only to those in direct succession to the British throne. Although the Queen can step in  to waive the protocol for her grandson, the Queen cannot be pressured or blackmailed to change every law out of sentiment because of a lady who is hellbent on using a racial weapon for self aggrandizement. Archie is not the only grandson of the Queen without a royal title. The Queen has many other grandchildren from her other three children without a royal title.

The tabloid, nightmare of Meghan Markle, is a resident evil, the scourge of the monarchy. Harry understands the system. But the fear of telling his “my way or no way” wife the truth with a straight face has made Meghan wallow in ignorance. Prince Harry said “I’m acutely aware of where my family stands and how scared they are of the tabloids turning on them.” According to him, there is a control by fear employed by the tabloids and the institution. No member of the royal family will be willing to fight for Meghan or speak against the tabloids because they are all scared of the tabloids and do not want to come under its fire. Speaking against the tabloids is like kicking the hornet’s nest. Meghan seemed not to understand Harry’s undertone. He was indirectly saying there was no way the Monarchy could stand in the way of the tabloids because such attempt will be suicidal.

Can you have your cake and eat it too? Attempting to live independent outside the Monarchy and still remain part of the Monarchy is a mirage. Is not going to happen. It is either you are in or out! You cannot take the benefit and discard the liability. There cannot be another voice parallel to the voice of the Queen. If you must remain with the monarchy, you have to be silent. This was a stern warning given to Meghan and her family upon getting married to the institution.

“Never complain, never explain,” is an infamous motto of the British monarchy that is not a myth but a reality. The monarchy does not respond to allegations! The royals must not respond to controversial, political statements. It is common sense. A wise person should not open himself to media cross-examination. Silence kills allegations but Meghan does not understand this philosophy.

Harry admitted the senior members of the family said they all passed through the same situation. It is like a cult initiation. Only the strong survive. Only those who survive can be a part of it. Harry said “…but for the family, they already have the mentality of, ‘this is just how it is. This is how it’s meant to be. You can’t change it. We’ve all been through it.’”

Harry, a supportive husband, is willing to ride and die with his wife. What a great husband! He deserted his home, his birthright, his friends, and heritage all for love. The life he was born into now appeared like a bondage after he met his Eve who made him eat the ‘ancient apple’. I hope Meghan stays loyal to the martyr who has lost the whole world for her happiness. I hope he is able to sail through the river Styx to a safe harbour. Like Trump said “…but I wish a lot of luck to Harry, because he’s gonna need it.”

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