Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially left their royal roles behind, despite stepping out for high-profile engagements that mirror those of the Princess of Wales
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped out for a rare joint appearance this week to accept a prestigious award for their years of philanthropic work.
And while the Sussexes have long been known to take part in charity appearances that seem to mirror an official royal engagement, expert Jennie Bond believes they have truly left their royal roles in the past.
Harry and Meghan looked proud as punch as they posed for photos at Thursday night’s World Mental Health Day gala in New York. The couple took to the stage for a rousing speech about online safety as they accepted their award.
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Some royal watchers believe Harry and Meghan’s message came at an awkward time time, with Princess Kate also delivering a powerful essay about the connection between social media and mental health just hours before the Sussexes received their award.
Despite the apparent clash, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes Harry and Meghan’s appearance in New York was solely to promote a cause close to their hearts.
She told the Mirror : “I don’t think this is a rivalry between Harry and Meghan and William and Catherine. The two princes and Catherine were involved in mental health issues before Meghan came along. It is something they care deeply about.
“The message that both couples are now promoting is that society has to do something about the dangers that the Internet, and particularly social media, pose to our children. It is an important message, and one that affects us all.”
While Harry and Meghan’s appearance in New York, as well as other joint appearances over the years, seemed to mimic official royal work, Jennie believes that they have left their royal responsibilities behind, and are focusing on their passion projects from a new angle.
“I think they’ve moved on from their royal roles,” she said. “They are now full-blown celebrities. And this award was for both of them, so it was natural that they make a joint appearance.”
With Harry and Meghan making their statement about online safety just hours after the Princess of Wales issued her powerful plea, Jennie believes that their shared passion is to be celebrated, no matter who champions the cause.
She said: “I think both couples should rightly be applauded for using their fame, be it as royals or celebrities, to highlight this crucial issue.”
