When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle come back to the UK this month, they will be returning to a nation that has been discussing them from a distance for six years. Reports suggest that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will start school in Britain in September, and the couple plans to reside privately outside London for an extended period, maintaining their non-working royal status.
There is anticipation regarding the couple’s return after their prolonged absence following strained relations with the British media, which partly led to their relocation to California. Could the tabloids’ intense interest in the couple diminish this time? Speculations about the plans and movements of Royal Family members are not uncommon in the UK, but the scrutiny faced by Harry and Meghan has often been polarized and subjected to personal attacks by certain sectors of the British press.
The initial coverage of Meghan included derogatory headlines such as the Daily Mail’s reference to her mother as “(almost) straight outta Compton” and The Sun’s report on “Harry’s girl on Pornhub,” linking Meghan to scenes from her acting career found on an adult website. A study by The Guardian revealed a significantly higher proportion of negative coverage about Meghan compared to Kate Middleton in British newspapers.
As Harry and Meghan prepare to re-enter the British spotlight, royal commentator Afua Hagan believes they are better equipped this time to handle the intense media scrutiny awaiting them. Despite the changed dynamics in the UK and potential distractions from other significant events, the couple’s return may reignite public interest.
Following a recent legal setback in privacy lawsuits against the Daily Mail, Prince Harry and others may face increased negative media coverage. The couple’s return coincides with a period of reflection for the British media after the tragic death of Jason Arday, a Cambridge professor, sparking debates on media scrutiny and its impact on public figures.
The parallels drawn between the treatment of Meghan and the coverage of Professor Arday have raised questions about the ethics of media scrutiny and the role of diversity in British media. The lack of diversity in the media industry has been highlighted as a contributing factor to unfair treatment and racial biases in coverage.
As the couple transitions to a non-royal lifestyle and settles back in the UK after their stint in California, the ongoing narrative surrounding them may have reached a saturation point. It is hoped that media representations of Harry and Meghan reflect the positive sentiments held by a significant portion of the population, particularly Black women, towards Meghan Markle.