When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle come back to the UK this month, they will be returning to a country that has been discussing them from a distance for six years. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are set to start school in the UK in September, and the couple is planning to live privately outside London for an extended period, as per reports. Despite being non-working members of the royal family, they are expected to reside in the UK.
There have been numerous speculations about the couple’s return. After spending years away, largely due to a strained relationship with the British media that influenced their move to California, it raises the question of whether the tabloids’ interest in the couple will diminish this time. In the British media landscape, there has been a tendency to engage in personal attacks and sensationalized reporting on Royals, with Prince Harry and Meghan often portrayed in a negative light.
Recent coverage has highlighted the controversial headlines surrounding Meghan Markle, such as the Daily Mail’s reference to her mother as “(almost) straight outta Compton” and The Sun’s story about “Harry’s girl on Pornhub.” The negative press surrounding Meghan has been significantly higher compared to that of Kate Middleton, according to a Guardian analysis. The scrutiny faced by the couple is expected to intensify as they make their return to the UK.
The return of Prince Harry and Meghan coincides with a time of reflection for the British media following the tragic death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday. The intense scrutiny and negative coverage faced by Arday have sparked discussions about the limits of media scrutiny, especially when it comes to Black public figures. The parallels drawn between the treatment of Meghan Markle and Jason Arday underscore the issues of race, diversity, and media representation in the UK.
As Prince Harry and Meghan re-enter the public spotlight, they are faced with a changed media landscape and a shifting public perception. The couple’s decision to step back as working royals and reside in California has already been widely discussed and dissected. Moving forward, the hope is that the media coverage surrounding their return will reflect the positive sentiments of a significant portion of the population, particularly Black women, towards Meghan Markle.