Royal expert and author Ingrid Seward has stated that Meghan Markle needs to make a significant U-turn in public perception to regain popularity in Britain, as many still blame her for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure from royal life in 2020.
Ongoing criticism of Meghan Markle
Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States, criticism of Meghan has persisted. The term 'Megxit' has often been used to place blame on her for the couple's decision to leave the Royal Family. In the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan, Meghan addressed this blame, comparing it to situations where a friend's partner is blamed for changes in the relationship.
She said: "In any relationship, oftentimes, when a guy falls in love with a girl, his buddies are like 'Oh my God, he changed. I don't see him anymore. He's always with her.' And you blame the girl. They're angry with her because she's the thing that took him away."
Meghan's perspective on blame
Meghan continued: "And that's whether you're in a small town or a big city or in the Royal Family. He wouldn't ever have been attracted to or interested in me if he hadn't already been on his own path. Most people need to find someone to blame to try to, like, reconcile how you're feeling because something's changed and it doesn't feel good and you don't like it, and what's the thing that is different. 'Well, it all changed when you got here. So it's your fault.' But you blame me... because also if you can blame me, then you have no fault."
Royal expert's view on Meghan's popularity
Speaking to New Magazine, Ingrid Seward commented on the couple's upcoming return trip to the UK and the ongoing criticism of Meghan. Seward said: "I don't know how she'll turn it around, because a lot of people feel that way." She noted that many still blame Meghan for everything that went wrong, and that a major shift in perception is needed for her to be popular in Britain.
Harry's earlier considerations
Prince Harry has previously stated that he was considering stepping back from royal duties before meeting Meghan. He even claimed that after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, he knew he did not want to take on royal duties forever.
