Criticism of Meghan Markle

I am a critic of Meghan Markle, otherwise known as the Duchess of Sussex, but I think my views are more balanced. Recently, I've noticed a trend on social media that appears to be a concerted attack on her from all quarters. Most of this criticism, I believe is either unfounded, unfair or unbalanced. I'll explain why:

1. She was penniless and a greedy grasping grifter when she met Prince Harry

I don't see how the two notions, pennilessness and being greedy sit easily alongside one another when talking about Meghan Markle. Which is it? Critics have her on yachts and charging for her time, taking whatever she can and expecting huge sums for those roles she did get. If that's the case, then what did she spend on? People have gone over her life and cannot find any evidence of largesse. 

For those interested in a deeper dive, I've worked out what she was worth when she met Harry, I blogged about it here: https://kenhorlor.blogspot.com/2023/01/meghan-markle-how-wealthy.html 

Her critics appear to not understand that you cannot have it both ways. If she was penniless then there must be evidence of her wasting her money, but there is no such evidence.

2. She did not own a house or apartment

She had been moving a lot. When she left home it was to university in another state, then she returned to Los Angeles where she met her husband before Harry. Then to Toronto, then London. Owning a house would become a millstone around her neck, and not buying a house made sense. She finally bought a house when relocating back to California with her family. 

On the wider topic of wealth, we know nothing of what she owns as an investment or what trust structure she has in place to protect that wealth. 

3. She's a liar

This is a more subjective matter, has she lied? Claiming to have a double major when it was a single is no big deal and I have addressed this before. Given she did do an internship at the US embassy in Argentina, I'm inclined to believe she completed 300 level international relations and she probably feels this qualifies for that major even though she isn't credited with it. The points still get added into her degree and that's what matters.

The racism claims, while overblown to produce maximum exposure, probably have some basis in fact. Everyone experiences bias, prejudice, racism against them and to think this wouldn't happen in the British Royal Family is naïve in the extreme.

But what has Meghan Markle said exactly that heavily criticises her own family? If you think about it, she has said very little. She has said nothing of her mother's side of the family, and only briefly mentioned her father's side. She considers herself an only child, and that is true in simple terms as she is the only child of Thomas and Doria Markle.

4. She manipulates Harry

Last I checked, it was Harry's name on his book Spare. No-one made him put his name to such a disgraceful publication. When he was promoting the book, she was noticeably absent, and I believe it was for good reason. Who would want to be associated with such a thing?

Criticism can be made of Meghan Markle. My main point is she could have left the BRF with a billion in her pocket. But, she knows how to make a buck and what do I know. She's got the structures in place to merchandise to her heart's content. A recent announcement had her being taken on by the WME agency (now known and Endeavour Group Holdings). These people must see profit in it or they wouldn't put pen to paper. I noticed the announcement only concerns her, it did not say Harry was being taken on.

5. She's a nobody

At the moment she walked down the aisle, she was the most financially successful woman to marry into the BRF since the Second World War. Compare her with all other candidates and see that while they're all wonderful, in terms of finance, only Meghan Markle was worth millions due entirely to her own efforts. 

Some people knew of her. I had never heard of her, but did know of the cable legal drama, Suits. She had a small fanbase and likely earned enough from her website and side deals alone to live on. Harry was lucky to find her and that she agreed to marry him. He'd been turned down previously and now upon publication of the book Spare, we can see why.

If we look at Meghan Markle's upbringing, place she grew up, education, occupation, and level of success, it could be expected that she'd set out to monetise her newly acquired status. I'm somewhat surprised that people are surprised to discover this.

Will she move on, and is Harry being phased out? Who knows, but nothing would surprise me. While Harry has royal status and that connection alone is worth something, he lacks the nous required to advance in the US.