Meghan Markle was criticised for advocating causes close to her heart “in comfortable surroundings,” while another key royal leads the way in championing similar causes around the world, as the Duchess is “struggling” to become an influencer, according to a royal expert. The Duchess of Sussex has always been a strong advocate of women’s rights and gender equality throughout her royal career and her time before as an actress.
Famously, her efforts to highlight gender inequality started when she was just 11 years old and wrote a letter to manufacturing giant Procter & Gamble to complain about a “sexist” advert regarding their dishwashing detergent. Meghan has mentioned several times how she sent a letter to P&G after their advert focused on women doing housework by stating: “Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.”
According to the Duchess, after her complaint, the company changed the ad’s wording from “women” to “people”. Her claim has long been questioned, as it is still unclear whether her actions contributed to the change.
Meanwhile, another senior royal bearing the same title as Meghan is just as passionate about women’s rights and, according to an expert, does it more effectively.
The royal in question is no other than Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who just last week made a poignant speech when she visited the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to victims of sexual violence in conflict at the Imperial War Museum.
Sophie said: “The stigma that is sadly placed on the women, it’s about the mothers. In so many countries they can’t even go back into the home place.”
Now, veteral royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has claimed that Sophie’s work, is exactly the kind of “hard-hitting” advocacy work that would have allowed Meghan to “flourish” in the Royal Family, had she stayed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sensationally quit their role as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to America.
Mr Fitzwilliams told the Mail: “Meghan is struggling to be an influencer, Sophie has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been.
“Meghan has always boasted about how she promotes feminism. Yet contrast the occasional speech she makes in comfortable surroundings with the remarkable work of Sophie who actually visits areas of the world such as Sudan and Chad which have been devastated by war and attempts to comfort the women who are victims of rape and exploitation.”
He added: “If Meghan had seriously wanted to make a difference, she should surely have remained a senior working royal.
“It does involve compromise, but think what could have been achieved for an important cause she claims is so dear to her heart.”
The expert went on to say that any potential of Meghan flourishing within the Firm while promoting causes she cares about has “been wasted” since their sensational departure.
It comes as the Duchess recently announced that her lifestyle brand, As Ever, will be restocking some of its sold out items and releasing new products in June.
The brand said in an Instagram post: “To all who’ve been wondering and waiting, thank you! Your favorites (sic) are returning, plus a few NEW things we can’t wait to show you. Coming this month…get excited!”