It was about doing what’s right.
Opinion
(SHE)– Let’s clear the air. The blame does not lie with Meghan Markle. Prince Harry, in a statement, very clearly stated:
“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” he said. “It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding,” he said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
Meghan Markle was not his ticket out. In fact, Prince Harry never quite fit in like royalty. He was always seen and treated as the “spare” and the death of his mother, Princess Diana, scarred him forever. For many reasons, he contemplated a departure over 10 years ago, but never fell through with it. So, again, she is not to blame,
The Duchess of Sussex married Prince Harry, knowing the stress and strain that came with being a royal. She jumped right into her title and work with absolute grace. She handled her husband’s decision to no longer be senior members of the royal family with class. There is something about Meghan that each woman and man should pay close attention to, and that is how empowering and brave she has been. It is amazing that she was able to withstand the scrutiny of the British media, which killed two of Prince Harry’s previous relationships. Taking all of the facts into account, it becomes evident that this was never her idea. But the onus was on her to show every young girl, every young lady, every woman, that no matter what, you stand for what is right. And so she has.
SHE magazine’s very own, editor-in-chief put it in a perspective many may have not thought about: “Being a princess is not the ultimate goal. We all want to be queens and princesses, but there’s more to life than that. We are a generation of anti-princess.” You see, Meghan and Prince Harry had a love marriage, and it almost seems like a fairytale, but the reality they have demonstrated is that when something doesn’t feel right, change must follow in whatever form that is. Here is what every hopeful woman, no matter the age, needs to understand: you can be the princess or queen of your own world. You can reign in your kingdom, even if that means your role in your kingdom is to be a housewife, a doctor, an engineer, a basketball player, a model, a mommy, a teacher, or a manager. You already are a princess or a queen. Meghan married the man she fell in love with, who happened to be a prince by birth. But he no longer has the official HRH title, and what she is left with, is simply a man that deeply loves her back. She has demonstrated that even though she will no longer be a senior member of the royal family, she will continue to work toward social justice and equality. Her humanitarian work is not over, especially now that they have transitioned into their new lives as normal citizens. To me, that is the bravest thing a woman can do. Being a woman for the people everywhere is something to admire and something worth dreaming about.
Sylvina Bravo (@thesylvii)
Director of Lifestyle and Fashion Editor
SHE Magazine USA
