Oh here we go again, tbh I have never seen anything racial in the mainstream media's criticism of Meghan. If anything when there have been undertones of that it has been called out, quite rightly.
Zaira commented that "Meghan has been attacked repeatedly, often times for things other royals are lauded for." and I have to say on the face of it I agree but I think that is more about the way she and Harry have gone about some things that in theory are things royals should do. I hate to say it but I do think part of the issue is that the difference between British and American ways of doing things. I know we always think we are so similar, share a common language etc but really we have very different ways of doing things and with different intent and attitudes behind them. None of this is to say the British way is better or the American way is wrong, nor is to say every one in the UK thinks this way or acts this way but in general while people think we are so similar we are not and that is why sometimes Meghan is criticised for doing the right things but in the wrong way if that makes sense. TBH to a degree Harry is more to blame as he has seemed to just allow Meghan to do things the way she wants, which is fine, but he hasn't appeared to explain why things have been done the way they have by the RF for so long and the way British people see things. The problem lies somewhere in the fact that the BRF has mastered the art of doing good without appearing to want to do good - the way the Queen, Camilla, Kate appear in the crowd almost as if they've just stopped by on their way out, not appearing to expect anyone to be there to meet them, waving at them etc. The way the Queen Mother visited the damage of the Blitz almost as if she'd popped round to her friends house for a cup of tea and oh look its been damaged. Of course in reality they all know they are the star attraction, they know they need to put on a bit of show (I mean as if a women in the East End of London would pop round to her friends in her furs and diamonds) but the point is its made to appear as if nothing is expected. I guess its why people always thing the British talk about the weather as if it rains all the time, we have a hard time selling ourselves and making ourselves look good and stand out in a way that comes more natural to Americans. Hence why it feels a little uncomfortable to us when a member of the RF is so open about wanting to change the world., its not a bad thing but its not an attitude that comes naturally to Brits to be so confident and think so big. Its not a flaw in Meghan at all, like any culture difference it can be hard to understand at times.
Of course some of the media coverage has been uncomfortable, and indeed sometimes downright unpleasant but we must look at the media as a whole not just those with the loudest voices. Yes Piers Morgan has a vendetta against Meghan and at times it appears childish but is it any worse than all the US late show hosts who openly mock and dislike Trump? (I'm not a Trump fan in anyway btw) People are entitled to opinions, that is the world we live in and the way we know we don't all become robots who think the same way. But likewise those opinions mustn't cross a line, I'm not actually a fan of Morgan as he is too opinionated IMO but I can't say he is doing anything illegal in expressing it, I just ignore him. But to come down on all the media seems extreme, I mean how many reporters, photographers are out there like Arthur Edwards, Nicholas Whitchell, Chris Ship etc who aren't breaking laws, being bitchy, finding every excuse to blame everything on Meghan and yet now feel tarred with the same brush as those few who have done the very worst. That simply isn't conducive to a fruitful working relationship.
The vast majority of the mainstream media seem to be treating Meghan and Harry in much the same way as they treat any new royal couple. Sadly there has perhaps been more to talk and gossip about but that is largely due to the nature of Meghan's relationship with her family and her celebrity friends. Again she is 1000% entitled to have those relationships in those ways but likewise it is not illegal for the media to talk about them.
I do not blame Meghan and Harry for this but at times they do seem not to have helped, announcing you are suing a British newspaper on the last day of an official taxpayer funded tour, the timing for no apparent legal reason, then people calling the media out for not reporting on their visits on that last day is just ridiculous. It was clear the media would report on the legal action, and it appeared almost as if they did it to show that the media wouldn't report on the work and issues of the last day to show how unfair they think the media are. It just seems a bit counter productive.
The reality is, they aren't going to get the media to change their coverage by taking legal action about them and releasing, at times quite personal, statements condemning all of the media. That is just raising tensions and feelings of unhappiness on both sides and that was what we saw when Harry snapped in a deeply unprofessional way at a Sky News reporter who was actually trying to ask about his visit that day (which was what lots of people said the media weren't doing because they were more interested in the court drama). That incident shows to me that at present this relationship between Harry, Meghan and the media is stopping them from doing their duties representing the Queen and UK overseas and in public.
I can understand how hard it must be to get criticised all the time in public and feel the media are against you. I mean it has never happened to me but we have all had times feeling people are talking about it and gossiping and telling untruths so times that by 1000 and then some.
As it stands I actually agree with the two legal actions they have taken - the copyright issue and the phone tapping as both are likely criminal acts (though I would say the copyright one is somewhat a bit irrelevant as Meghan allowed her friends to talk about it so that was always likely to lead to the media trying to get it and its a rather technical thing to sue over) but I agree with them taking action where they feel the law has been broken. Its the sentiment behind it that appears to attack all media and make it more personal.
I just wish rather than the over emotional statements they release why not do as Diana did and arrange one to ones with the vast majority of the royal reporters who are doing a pretty fair job. Rather than always using the stick why not use the carrot, reward those who are playing as much as possible by the rules and invite them for tea at Frogmore, let them see Archie in private, let them get exclusives rather than just the friends you already have in the media (Tom Bradby and Gayle King).
I guess its also worth H&M remembering the saying todays news is tomorrows chip papers. All the polls out by the likes of Yougov etc show Harry and Meghan having pretty consistent approval ratings so these stories are not having a huge impact on the people of the UK's opinions, like the majority of us here they read them, take about 1% as truth and the rest as fiction and forget about them. Showing it gets to you gives some more weight behind the media doing it.
I hope H&M take a wider range of advice going forward and maybe change tack a little to seem less confrontational and recognise that they do need the media to go about their duties, as well of course as the media needing them but as they say- there's plenty more fish in the sea.
Anyway sorry for such a long post, especially as it will likely be deleted as we are all going way off topic but sometimes you have to say what you see and hope people understand.
