Link: http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/11/meghan-markles-parents-dad-thomas-markle-mum-doria-ragland-7221712/?ito=cbshare
This article discusses Price Harry’s fiancé, Meghan Markle’s family background, highlighting how race influences the “Royal Engagement” despite great strides being made with the addition of a mixed-race woman joining the monarchy, a huge milestone breaking hundreds of years of British tradition. Many rumors have begun about Meghan’s non-traditional upbringing with divorced parents, the lack of a father role, and her mother being a woman of color, and half-siblings with a 17-year age gap. This particular article elaborates on how Meghan’s family, addressing rumors alluding to dysfunction. It mentions her parents divorced when she was 6, alluding to a lack of a father relationship, and claims that half-sister has called her a “social climber”. During an engagement, there should be positive media regarding it, like in William and Kate’s situation. However, with Meghan’s untraditional upbringing, the spotlight has shifted from the engagement to also diving into her background, where race and socioeconomics are highlighted. She’s negatively viewed because these contrast with the royal family’s pristine, established bloodline. Despite these negative depictions, she holds her ground, shining as a strong, female woman in this setting. Her character allows her to overcome this negative media and show that the world is embracing diversity. As she joins the royal family, she will be the first non-British, mixed race woman. This is milestone breaking against the establishment of hundreds of years of tradition and proves that times have changed and England, along with the public, have accepted it despite the media’s attempts.
It’s a good thing they have a mixed race woman added into the royal family. It is interesting how it took the younger generation with Prince Harry finally change up things. At first, many people were in shock and even went further to say they won’t last long or Meghan will mess up along the way and be taken out of the royal family. I hope this isn’t going to be the only person of color in the royal family. I want to see more of people of color being included in there.