Will Meghan Markle and Harry's interview hit US-UK ties? It won't have any 'lasting consequence', says expert
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey continues to ripple through the public and media as the fallout continues. As members of the royal family come under scrutiny over allegations that an unnamed royal had "several discussions" with Harry regarding the then-unborn Archie's skin color, concerns mount on the diplomatic consequences of the interview.
So far, the US government has played it safe, with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki telling media when asked whether the US President had watched the interview that the interview took "courage" but refused to comment further.
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Psaki said, "for anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage. And that’s certainly something the president believes," and added that Joe Biden emphasized the importance of investing in mental health.
However, Psaki said that the White House would not be commenting on the interview further, saying, "we aren’t going to provide additional commentary from here on behalf of the president or others, given these are private citizens sharing their own story and their own struggles." She added, "Let me just reiterate that we have a strong and abiding relationship with the British people and a special partnership with the government of the United Kingdom on a range of issues, and that will continue."
Discussions have also ensued among the nations of the Commonwealth — which has Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state — whether the time has come for the countries to leave the institution behind. Barbados announced in 2020 that it was severing ties with the monarchy. Following the Sussexes' interview, countries such as Canada, Australia, Jamaica and others are also thinking about the next step.
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull cited the interview as another reason for the country to cut its constitutional ties to the British monarchy, saying in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "Do we really want to have whoever happens to be the head of state, the king or queen of the UK, automatically our head of state?”
Meghan, who made allegations about racism against the royal family, has now created a crisis on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean as global media discusses the implications of the scandal on the British monarchy as well as the country's international ties.
However, David Dunn, a professor in the department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Birmingham, believes that the interview will not have a major impact on the ties between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Dunn, who teaches International Politics and is the Director of Internalization at the University of Birmingham, told MEAWW, "The departure of Megan and Harry from the royal family represents a missed opportunity for this institution to be seen as more inclusive and cosmopolitan. The manner of the departure, finally sealed with this interview, makes the split irrevocable. But this is a minor episode with no lasting consequence for the British monarchy, UK-US relations, or anything else."
He added, "Many people in the UK and elsewhere view the interview with Oprah as one-sided, self-serving and reflecting an ill-judged decision. In the US it played to expectations of a staid institution. It has no influence on the wider deeper relationship."
Dunn also explained that the diplomatic ties between the two countries are institutionalized on a whole range of issues and levels, saying, "their militaries are hugely integrated as are their defense procurement systems, this extends to nuclear cooperation and cyber capabilities." He added, "they share an advanced network of intelligence gathering and intelligence. Diplomatically they often work in step. Economically there is a vast amount of inward investment in each other's economies and a very close trade and financial relationship."
Dunn continued, "[none] of this will be influenced by a few unsubstantiated allegations in a TV interview. When Biden comes to the UK later this year for a state visit there will be no sign of this having any impact."
Dunn also spoke to MEAWW on whether the interview would have a lasting impact on the Commonwealth, saying, "the queen's commitment to the commonwealth is beyond doubt due to a lifetime of service to it and its people. It is for this reason that the leadership of the commonwealth was passed to her son, Prince Charles. This affair, while unhelpful, will have no impact on the role of the monarchy as a central pivot in what is regarded as a useful institution."