And We'll Never Be Royals

That kind of luxe just ain't for us; the Monday Post

Mar 08, 2021

After the sit-down interview for Google and my available British friends via Twitter, I had one takeaway question: What does the royal family even do? Google search led me to the royals’ website, which says the royal family’s existence is to support the Queen in her “State and national duties, as well as to carry out important work in the areas of public and charitable service, and helping to strengthen national unity and stability.” However, the royal family holds no political power and is supposed to remain politically neutral.
However, back in 2015, there were 27 letters published by Prince Charles from years prior entitled the “Black Spider Memos” (with “provisional redactions” and after a ten-year battle). In these memos, Charles wrote to government Ministers with opinions and possible policy interventions.
There was media but no frenzy. Fast forward to October 2020. ABC aired a television special titled Time 100, which featured American-born citizen Meghan Markle expressing that the recent election was “the most important of our lifetime.” Harry urged voters to “reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity,” which was too clear of opposition for the former Loser in Chief for some; thus, Meghan and Harry were vilified for “interfering politically.”

The hypocrisy is astounding, mainly since the bigger scandal should’ve been the heinous Princess Michael of Kent, who wore a racist blackamoor (which fetishizes Black enslavement) brooch to the Queen’s Christmas Luncheon with her first meeting of Megan Markle. To some, this may seem like just a slight ‘coincidence.’ Except for Black Women and Women of Color, who deal with these forms of not-so-subtle acts of denigrative violence called Microaggressions.
Women of Color, but especially Black Women and Women of Color with darker melanin, unfairly go through these passively aggressive acts from oppressors to assert some power dominance of submission. In typical fashion, the apology for feigned ignorance reigns as far as the monarchy.
It’s absurdly preposterous that the royal family, with the educational resources allotted and the royal experts, would be so dismissive of a clear Microaggression that’s ignorance when the princess is described as a “Writer and Historian.” Which is sandwiched between “Lecturer, Interior Designer, and Art Consultant” on her website (at the time).
The Microaggression was made more transparent with the princess’ previous comments in 2004. The Guardian reported that she told a group of Black patrons at a New York City restaurant to “go back to the colonies.” Utterly disgusting, but it got worse. Princess Michael of Kent stated she’s not racist in her bizarre apology on ITV, where she said this actual sentence, “I even pretended years ago to be an African, a half-caste African, but because of my light eyes, I did not get away with it, but I dyed my hair black.” If that’s not enough, in 2007, this lady spoke out again.
Two British scientists said their research indicated that female baboons’ rank is hereditary. This wicked person reportedly said in a visit with the two scientists, “I always knew that when people who aren’t like us claim that hereditary rank is not part of human nature, they must be wrong. Now you’ve given me evolutionary proof!”

As awful as this princess lady is, it’s the familial history for me. Princess Michael of Kent’s father served as a nazi SS officer. Of course, this isn’t the only tie to the Nazis. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were famous nazi sympathizers and exclusive guests of Adolf (if you like history like I do, you can read about the Marburg Files, aka the Windsor Files, which were made public in 1996. Or you can watch Netflix’s The Crown).
Not to be left out is the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, whose late brother-in-law was nazi officer Christoph of Hesse (who rose to the rank of the SS as colonel). The monarchy’s been in its flop era.
The concept of the monarchy seems like an outdated institution that’s steeped in colonialism. What do they even do? Other than using their power to control and assert. Especially the media manipulating away from any valid criticism and concerns from themselves. It seems like the Queen is a symbolic figurehead with no real power in the British government. She gives speeches to open parliament and special occasions. Still, she’s not allowed to weigh in publicly with no deciding factor, so it seems like the Queen is a salaried employee with jewels, a throne, and accumulative wealth. Except there’s a constant narrative push: the Queen, who grew up during a war, is “famously frugal.” Sure, Jan.

As Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, a wealthy British financier and former advisor to the Queen, once said, “No one is tighter at spending than the Queen. She grew up during the war. Very disciplined.”

The number of articles that came up with this specific quote is continuously followed by “she isn’t as rich as you might think.” Sure, Jan. Four years ago, the Queen’s estimated net worth was $530 million. That seems like a pretty penny to me, but the claims are that her seemingly biggest extravagance is horses. (For those who’d like links, there are multiple throughout the years: in 2020 here, in 2017 here, in 2016 here, in 2015 here, and I could go on.)
Additionally, the Queen is exempt from taxes yet makes “voluntary payments on income, assets, and gains not used for official purposes.” Yet she was named in offshore accounts during 2017’s “Paradise Papers” (yes, it follows 2015’s Panama Papers and the mystery “suicide” of late journalist Gary Webb who broke the story). All this research with what felt like a million open laptop tabs is staggering; the institution is monopolizing its media narrative into an angle that doesn’t suit them. How does anyone look at the Queen and possibly think she could ever relate or feel sympathetic to commoners? Surely not the same monarchy with a long history of looting countries and a museum that ignores other countries’ pleas to get their artifacts back. The audacity of the selective pearl-clutching.

To quote Adele on that fake drive-around karaoke show, “*oh, my cup of tea went everywhere*.”

I’m not a monarchist. I’m trying to break my vocabulary free from using “queen” or “king,” however, I’m also a sucker because I’m invested for whatever reason in Meghan and Harry’s love story.
Nevertheless, let’s be real here. The only interview that should matter is the one that hasn’t taken place yet because the institution that loves protocols isn’t working with authorities or the FBI as they promised— yes, that means the Queen.
The Queen’s avoidance of compliance is willfully enabling the behavior of derailing the Epst*in case because of her wildly inappropriate and sweaty son, Andrew (you can watch that awkward interview here). I may be an abolitionist, but this is a human rights issue, so my support is with survivors and victims.
The other extremely valid raised concern is the media’s constant sexist scrutiny of women. Charles dared to cheat on Diana. William allegedly cheated on Kate with a family friend and other women.
In all of these occurrences, the women were blamed and ridiculed for not being the illusion of the perfect Stepford Wife to their husbands with power. The women were preyed on and picked apart. The British media fanned any speculative heat of William’s cheating rumors onto the Sussex duo. A clear bait and switch from the media, which usually would sniff out an alleged royal affair and cash in.

Of course, royal gossip is blood in shark-infested waters that is the British media. If the tabloids in America are trash, the ones in the U.K. are horrific (I remember reading one on a train to Sheffield to visit a dear friend, it was a gross waste of paper and resources). I can’t imagine what it’s like to be involved and have the world seemingly against you. My anxiety manipulates me into thinking in this overwhelming way, but it is heartbreaking and alienating for it to actually happen.
The British tabloids and “royal experts” tear apart Meghan for the silliest things, from closing her car door, wearing dark nail polish, cradling her baby bump, and more. Even after removing themselves from an obvious toxic situation, the duo was subjected to nasty British tabloid fodder and rumors.
This tabloid fodder is too evident in the duo’s recent interview with Oprah. It ultimately echoes Diana’s explosive 1995 interview with Martin Bashir.
She famously called out her trifling husband and father to her children, expressing, “there were three of us in this marriage.” Camilla Parker Bowles, ma’am, I’m looking at you. Also, Charles for Tampongate, a dark day in real-life history.
I remember Diana’s interview, even at eight years old. My mom was invested, similar to many other moms who felt protective over a fellow woman thrown to the wolves and shamed, although she has more nobility and grace than Charles on one strand of hair that he combed backward.

To quote Peter Parker³, “I drink tea darling.”

Harry has been quite outspoken about his distaste of the British media, but the constant target to blame was Meghan.
I hope I don’t speak out of terms to say that watching this can be triggering to Black Women, who continuously get vilified for even expressing an opinion. The narrative is always the same, a Black Woman can make a statement or comment about her experience, and the weaponized victim complex after getting called out is imminent. “How come she can say that, but if I say it, I’m racist,” or the forever classic “I’m not racist, I have Black friends.” The aftermath is also the same; blanket apology via the iPhone Notes app or a teary video about “I hear you, I see you, etc.” You don’t hear Black Women because the first time was spent deflecting from correction, and it’s now about the person ‘feeling attacked’ instead of the issue.
The media feasts on this because racial clickbait generates views, so the unpacking and the unresolved story are discussed on every media outlet, and the comments are still the same. “Why is she so loud,” “why is she so angry,” “she should’ve just kept quiet,” or “she should’ve said it softly, then I’d respect her.” These were just online comments from royalists on Twitter during the Loose Women segment on Harry and Meghan’s interview. “Casually racist” is still racist, Jan; I know her name is Jane Moore, but she was being such a Jan, and who got scrutinized? Charlene White.
Sadly, those aware of the privileged status quo know this is how institutional racism works, especially within a system. Even those who seem friendly or welcoming on the inside but don’t speak out to denounce it aren’t challenging it but rather enabling it because they benefit. It’s woefully complicit and just as responsible.
Exposing the longstanding colonial institution still utilized to this day isn’t any personal attack or an attack on British citizens who admire the royal family. Here are two people speaking out about their experiences and the trauma caused.
Harry and Meghan learned well and are using their newfound boundaries to use the media when they want. That’s what vile people like the parasitic troll p*ers m*rgan are bothered by. Mostly he’s hurt that he didn’t have a chance with her (HILARIOUS) and that he wasn’t invited by Meghan (his opinion of her swiftly changed when the invite never came). Insecure mediocre white men close to a fraction of power stay living in another realm, simulation, and anything other than earth.

Pathetically, all of this could’ve been easily avoided if the royal family got over their superiority complexes to welcome a woman to reinforce an excellent opportunity for change. Of course, the wasted opportunity set forth a reckless chess game because of pride and power structures.
Prince Harry learned from the insidious media scrutiny and seemed to be more aware of the problematic history without the royal blinders. Something so evident to those who experience but someone with privilege won’t, and I can say this as a white Latinx who is white-passing. I, too, benefit from the systemic system.
Almost twenty-six years later, Princess Diana’s interview has rippling effects. Harry divulges that he and Meghan are surviving off the money Diana left for Harry, “I think she saw it coming.” In retrospect, we know that Princess Diana lost her royal protection, and she’d be alive today; if her security wasn’t stripped from her. Generational curses are never easy to break; I’m still breaking my intergenerational chaos. However, Harry and Meghan are on a clear metanoia path.
The journey is winding, twisting, exhausting, and alienating but the endgame is entirely worth it because you’re shedding your internalized trauma, and that’s when the healing begins to ripple.