Meghan and Harry's 'meaningless' coronavirus post was in stark contrast to Queen's thoughtful message
Harry and Meghan Markle's recent Instagram post on coronavirus was met with scathing criticisms from the masses and experts alike, which many thought stood in stark contrast to the British monarch's response to the global pandemic, released a day after.
The Queen who is just weeks away from her 94th birthday, along with her husband, Prince Philip, 98, falls among the 'at risk’ demographic of elderly and vulnerable people in the UK when it comes to the virus. And hence, her choice to stay quiet on the pandemic as it continues to claim hundreds of lives across the world initially angered many of her subjects.
However, in an op-ed for Daily Mail, royal reporter Richard Kay said that the Queen could not comment on the matter without prior consultation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and other members of parliament as it was not her personal crisis.
After canceling all scheduled official entertaining, receptions and lunches in the wake of the pandemic, the monarch spoke up after reuniting with her husband at the Windsor Castle, where she is believed to be self-isolating.
"I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus of a common goal... Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part," she said in a statement, thanking all the medical experts and scientists who were working tirelessly to find a cure for the virus.
Kay lauded the Queen for choosing not to go into hiding and instead continue with her daily engagements with the help of technology.
"Along with great age, she is also the embodiment of great wisdom. And her strong and enduring memories of World War II informed the measured words she used in her statement. They conjured up far more than just ‘keep calm and carry on’, but also spoke about the healing balm of monarchy," he said.
At the same time, he drew a comparison with the Duke and Duchess' response to the virus which according to him, missed the mark completely.
"How different from the clichéd and frankly meaningless contribution from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their Sussex Royal website. There may be a time and place for facile and homespun messages, but their preachy post showed a fundamental misunderstanding of the mystique of the Royal Family," he said.
On their Instagram page, @SussexRoyal, the pair wrote: "These are uncertain times. And now, more than ever, we need each other. We need each other for truth, for support, and to feel less alone during a time that can honestly feel quite scary. There are so many around the world who need support right now, who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis behind the scenes, on the frontline, or at home. Our willingness, as a people, to step up in the face of what we are all experiencing with COVID-19 is awe-inspiring. This moment is as true a testament there is to the human spirit."
They went onto add that in the coming days they will be "sharing information and resources to help all of us navigate the uncertainty: from posting accurate information and facts from trusted experts, to learning about measures we can take to keep ourselves and our families healthy, to working with organizations that can support our mental and emotional well-being."
This particular section of the statement has infuriated many, as reported by MEA WorldWide earlier, as people took it to mean that the Duke and Duchess meant to insinuate that the British people were not being informed about the coronavirus properly.
A similar sentiment was reflected by Kay, as he wrote in his piece, "Are they seriously suggesting we have not been told the truth? And that we should trust them to know what is accurate and what is not?"
He added that the pair's words did not have much meaning, especially since they were not even in the UK and instead spending their time cooped up in "the vastly expensive mansion (in Canada) that they cannot afford and which is provided by someone whose identity has been kept secret."
It is also important to note that the Queen's message was later reposted on the @SussexRoyal's Instagram page.