Palace Shockwaves: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘violating’ election move caused ‘uproar at Palace’

When it comes to politics, royals usually stays well clear of becoming involved – apart from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

In the run-up to Tuesday’s crunch US presidential election, the Sussexes i ssued a statement urging Americans to make sure they are registered to vote in the contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The couple have not gone as far as endorsing either candidate as the statement stopped short of showing support for either candidate in the race for the White House. And this may be because at the time of the last presidential election, Harry and Meghan reportedly caused anger with one bold move.

In September 2020, not long after they moved to the US and the campaign between Joe Biden and Mr Trump was in full swing, the couple appeared in a video message and urged Americans to ‘vote against hate speech’.

In the video broadcast as part of Time 100 magazine’s annual list of the top 100 most influential people, Harry also explained how he would not be able to vote and had never voted in the UK as a member of the Royal Family. Working royals in the UK usually refrain from commenting on politics or voting in elections.

And while they did not specifically mention anyone by name, the remarks were interpreted as referring to Mr Trump and therefore an endorsement of Mr Biden, with some claiming it was a breach of the Sandringham Summit agreement, which was written up when the couple quit their royal duties in 2020. Later Mr Trump spoke out saying he was “no fan” of Meghan.

And at the time, royal aides told The Sunday Times that the remarks broke the pledge, leaving the Royal Family “wringing their hands”. “The feeling is it’s a violation of the agreement,’ one source said.

It has long been rumoured that Meghan could favour a career in politics one day. In 2021, she spent time cold-calling senators in the US as she campaigned for paid parental leave. The Duchess is said to have called senators Shelley Moore Capito and Susan Collins using a withheld number and told them: “This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.”

Also, during the last US election campaign, Meghan joined forces with feminist Gloria Steinem as they called on Americans to vote. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Gloria said: “She came home to vote. The first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table where I am right now and we cold-called voters.” She also said that Meghan was “so excited” to see Kamala Harris running to be vice president.

Back in September, The Telegraph reported that the Sussexes would remain politically neutral during this current campaign. Instead, in a post on its website, Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation explained how its staff “came together for a meaningful volunteer activity to support and empower our communities” as it marked National Voter Registration Day.

It added: “Using Vote Forward’s impactful letter-writing tool, our team wrote personalized letters encouraging unregistered voters to take a crucial step: registering to vote.” It urged people to use their vote, adding: “Voting is not just a right; it’s a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.

“At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one’s political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world. By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters. Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.”