Prince Harry, sixth in line to the throne of the United Kingdom, has always had a rebellious streak. He has smoked pot, revelled at Las Vegas, and revealed his struggle with mental health issues. Above all, he likes to speak his mind. Thus, when the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle, a “commoner”, as they say, announced that they would withdraw from the Royal Rota, the system at Buckingham Palace that lets the media meet them, it was no big surprise. The couple, who got married in 2018, will step back as “senior” royals and work towards becoming financially independent. They intend to split their time between UK and North America.
The couple reportedly consulted no other royal before making the announcement, and many Britons see it as a dereliction of royal duty. Of course, given the tragic end Harry’s mother Lady Diana met after being chased by the paparazzi, he can’t be expected to love the media. “I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces,” he said in October. But does he deserve any of the flak he and his wife are getting?
Not one bit. Royalty is an outdated idea, and if the royal couple would like to lead regular lives, free of all encumbrances, they should be free to. And if Harry wants his nuclear family to pay its own bills, he deserves a warm pat on the back. In any case, by the time the throne comes his way, Britons may have decided to do away with the monarchy. Or maybe not, if the country’s regressive instincts prevail—as they did over Brexit.
