“Just stop your crying, it’s a sign of the times. We gotta get away from here. We gotta get away from here” -Harry Styles
On March 7th, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sat down to a lavish background and cameras rolling. It was clear from the beginning they wanted to speak their mind, and their interviewer, Oprah, was ready for it. Markle revealed disturbing allegations, including racist remarks regarding her newborn baby’s skin color and suicidal thoughts that were played down, in what is the most high profile attack on the Royal Family since Princess Diana. Understandably, the Royal Family has been dead silent on these allegations, and has offered little (if any) response on the matter. This silence is extremely rare for a family of this caliber, telling us something is amiss.
The allegations are absurdly disgusting ones, and should not be tolerated, especially coming from such an influential family. Under normal circumstances they would simply be swatted away, but with the divisive time we live in, that option suddenly becomes a self inflicted wound. Much like the aforementioned Harry Styles lyrics, the Royal Family wants to get away from these allegations, and that raises my question: Will the 21st century finally catch up to a powerful institution that has been around for thousands of years?
It is no secret that the royal family has been shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Despite British tabloids hammering them almost constantly over seemingly scandal after scandal, nothing near this magnitude has ever happened. Never before have two members of the crown defected and told the family’s innermost secrets on national television.
The world has been watching, and as people formulate opinions, it is impossible to ignore one key element: the fact that we are living in the 21st century. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, #metoo, and various LGBTQ+ movements have been a staple of the past 2 decades. These movements have inspired others, motivated millions of marginalized people, and changed countless lives for the better. The British Monarch has seen countless movements over the centuries, but none as polarizing as these ones.
The crown is going to face an extremely difficult road, as these movements are finally catching up to their blatant insensitivity on certain social issues. It’s a “sign of the times” moment for the family, as they are forced to grapple with the 21st century voices and organizations. They will not only be put up with the test from the outside, but will also be forced to grapple within their own minds. They will be forced to rethink their old fashioned beliefs, centuries old traditions, and even the concept of a royal family all together.
Their reaction will demonstrate the impact of modern social movements, the increasing pressure from ordinary people, and the times finally catching up to them. Only time will tell if they make strides for change, or are stuck in their old fashioned ways.