Despite their past criticisms of Donald Trump, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced their intention to remain politically neutral in the upcoming US Presidential election. While the couple has previously taken thinly veiled swipes at the former President, they will reportedly steer clear of any political endorsements this time around.
This decision comes as no surprise, as members of the British royal family are expected to remain neutral during elections. The Duke and Duchess have, however, urged unregistered voters to cast their ballots, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement through their Archewell Foundation. They released a statement earlier this month marking ‘National Voter Registration Day’, but did not indicate any personal preferences for either candidate.
The couple’s decision to remain neutral follows a public spat with Trump in 2020. In the lead-up to the previous election, Harry and Meghan released a video message urging people to ‘reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity’, without explicitly mentioning either candidate. This message prompted a sharp rebuke from Trump, who claimed he was not a fan of the couple. He even suggested that he would deport Prince Harry and Meghan if he was elected to power.
Meghan, before joining the royal family, had been vocal in her criticism of Trump, calling him a ‘misogynistic and divisive’ personality during a TV interview. The couple’s neutrality in the upcoming election reflects their commitment to maintaining their royal neutrality, even as they navigate their new life in the US. While they have spoken out about the importance of voting and civic engagement, they have chosen to avoid endorsing either candidate, leaving their political leanings a matter of speculation.
