Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have declared their neutrality in the upcoming US presidential election, according to The Telegraph. This decision marks a shift from their more vocal stance during the 2020 election, where their support for Joe Biden sparked controversy and drew criticism from then-President Donald Trump.
While the couple is choosing to remain politically neutral, their Archewell Foundation has issued a statement urging civic engagement. The foundation highlighted the importance of voting, emphasizing that “every voice matters.” To encourage voter participation, they even sent personalized letters to unregistered voters, but stopped short of endorsing any specific candidate. Their statement highlighted the significance of voting as a fundamental way to shape the future of communities.
In 2020, Meghan’s description of the US election as “the most important election of our lifetime” triggered a public feud with Trump. He expressed his displeasure, stating he was “no fan” of Meghan and wished Harry “a lot of luck.” Notably, the latest statement was issued through the Archewell Foundation and not as a personal message, further emphasizing their decision to stay nonpartisan.
The Telegraph reported that a source close to Harry clarified that his 2020 statement was not a direct attack on Trump. The source explained that Harry’s comments were more focused on online communities and the nature of online engagement, rather than specific political points. Despite this clarification, some within Buckingham Palace reportedly felt that he had “crossed the line” by expressing his political views.
As Election Day draws near, the Duke and Duchess are choosing to support civic participation without taking sides. Their focus is on encouraging people to vote, regardless of their political affiliations. They are actively promoting voter engagement while maintaining a neutral stance in the highly contested presidential race.
