Buckingham Palace distances itself from Harry and Meghan after US election video
The video triggered accusations that it breached UK protocol demanding political neutrality from members of the royal family.
Buckingham Palace has distanced itself from Harry and Meghan’s comments urging Americans to ‘reject hate speech’ and vote in the upcoming US election.
A spokesman said it refused to comment on ‘not a working member of the Royal Family’ in response to the couple’s message.
The video triggered accusations that it breached UK protocol demanding political neutrality from members of the royal family.
Harry remains sixth in line to the throne despite stepping down as a senior working royal earlier this year, and the couple have retained their HRH titles, though they are not allowed to actively use them.
Speaking in a Time100 video message apparently filmed from their Santa Barbara home, Meghan said November’s election ‘was the most important of our lifetime’ and implored US citizens to make their voices heard.
Harry, who is not a US citizen, acknowledged that he will not be able to vote this year before revealing that he has also never voted in the UK as royals are typically not expected to comment on politics.
Although the couple did not name a preferred party or presidential candidate, many viewers claimed it was ‘obvious’ they were voicing support for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, rather than current US President Donald Trump.
Meghan was an outspoken critic of Trump before she married into the royal family, once describing him as ‘misogynistic’ and ‘divisive’.
Managing editor of Majesty magazine Joe Little said: ‘You can understand Meghan getting involved as an American citizen, although she is now a member of the British royal family. But I think people will struggle a lot more with Prince Harry because as a prince of the blood it’s not seen as the done thing to talk about politics, be it British or American.
‘He may be thousands of miles away, but yet he is still a member of the royal family, the Queen’s grandson, and it’s something he wouldn’t do were he still in the UK.’
Royal biographer Robert Jobson told MailOnline the couple will face questions over whether they should give up their royal titles altogether ‘given the business and political agenda they appear to want to pursue’.
‘Frankly, I think it would be better for Harry to withdraw, along with his son, from the line of succession to avoid further confusion,’ he said.
Palace insiders also told the Times the Sussexes had ‘crossed a line’ by commenting on US politics.
A former palace advisor said: ‘The political arena is very sensitive for all members of the royal family. You cannot have an apolitical institution, which is what a hereditary monarchy is, and have members of the royal family making even slightly political comments.
‘Courtiers would be extremely concerned that if they are going to continue to comment on what could be the most contentious US presidential election in living memory, how difficult could that get?’.
The US election is six weeks away, with voters going to the polls on November 3.
Donald Trump has also taken a swipe at the duchess, saying he’s ‘not a fan’ in response to her comments urging people to vote.
I would say this – and she has probably has heard that – I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he’s going to need it,’ he told reporters at a White House press briefing on Wednesday.
The duke and duchess paid back the £2.4m of taxpayer’s money used to renovate their royal residence Frogmore Cottage after signing a multi-million-pound deal with Netflix earlier this month.
Since stepping down as senior royals they have been increasingly vocal on civic issues, climate change and racism.
The pair have not revealed details of their Netflix deal but say they want to create content that ‘informs and gives hope’.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘We would not comment. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.’
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