Meghan and Harry 'shifting focus' from coronavirus to black lives matter protests, reveals royal expert
Harry and Meghan Markle are "shifting their focus" to support the Black Lives Matter movement, instead of busying themselves weighing the impact of Covid-19 on their charities.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight that although the couple has been "very busy" thinking about how their charities will be affected by the ongoing pandemic, they were beginning to shift their efforts in championing the anti-racism movement in the wake of George Floyd's death, an African-American who was killed after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25 — an incident which has sparked worldwide BLM protests.
"The Black Lives Matter movement matters to Meghan and it matters to Harry. And I understand that this is going to be an area where we're going to see the couple doing a lot more work and taking a lot more interest," Nicholl said about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are currently staying at an $18-million mansion in Los Angeles, owned by Hollywood tycoon Tyler Perry with their son Archie, one, after having officially stepped back from royal duties at the end of March.
Meghan, in particular, feels "passionate" about the BLM movement as she considers herself "a role model" who is able to be vocal on the issue of racial equality. "She believes that there is an expectation on her to address what's going on and to [show] support. And that is what they're doing," Nicholl said. Regardless, however, racism is an issue that "resonates" with both her and her husband being from vastly different backgrounds — a Californian and a Britisher — Meghan and Harry are able to bring "different perspectives" on the movement. It is also something that helps them "keep abreast" with everything that is happening regarding the movement in both countries.
The mother-of-one is also aware of the fact that she may face backlash after speaking out on the issue of racism. But that has not kept her or her husband from doing everything they can to help the black community. "Harry and Meghan have been having private conversations with community leaders and people at every level, to ensure that they understand current events," a source told royal reporter Omid Scobie.
Scobie told Harper's Bazaar's: "This is something that is incredibly personal to Meghan, especially given everything she has experienced. And as a couple, it is, of course, very important. They are both feeling it, just like the rest of us."
Days after Floyd's death, when the US was already gripped with protests and riots, Meghan broke her silence on the matter last week, during a digital address to graduating pupils at her old school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. She apologized for not speaking out sooner on the matter. "I wasn't sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart. And I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing," she said.
She went on to name other African-Americans along with Floyd, who became victims of over-policing in the last six years. "George Floyd's life mattered and Breonna Taylor's life mattered and Philando Castile's life mattered and Tamir Rice's life mattered," she said. Meghan urged the graduates to have "empathy for those who don't see the world through the same lens that you do," and use their "diverse, vibrant and opened minded" teachings to champion the movement of "black lives matter."
She also had a hopeful message for the students for their futures: "You know that you're going to rebuild, rebuild and rebuilt until it is rebuilt. Because when the foundation is broken, so are we. You are going to lead with love, you are going to lead with compassion, you are going to use your voice... You are equipped, you are ready, we need you and you are prepared. I am so proud to call each of you a fellow alumni, and I'm so eager to see what you're going to do. Please know that I am cheering you on all along the way, I am exceptionally proud of you, and I'm wishing you a huge congratulations today, the start of all the impact you're going to make in the world as leaders that we all so deeply crave. Congratulations ladies, and thank you in advance."