On July 1st, the world is set to unite in looking back on an undeniable icon: the late Princess Diana. This date would have been her 60th birthday, and so it is a natural time to remember the life and work of a woman who changed the world for the better, and looked great doing it. And yet, conversations around how the royal family will mark this occasion have already been marred by the way in which some titles and individuals are discussing Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. It seems clear that however she acknowledges the sad occasion, her detractors will come for her.
A memorial event has been in the works for a very, very long time: an unveiling of a statue designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. It was commissioned by Diana's two sons, the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, in 2017, when they announced the work via a joint statement.
'It has been 20 years since our mother’s death and the time is right to recognise her positive impact in the UK and around the world with a permanent statue,' it read. 'Our mother touched so many lives. We hope the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on her life and her legacy.'
It will be placed in the Sunken Gardens of Kensington Palace and revealed to the world by William and Harry. The Duchess of Cambridge will, it is thought, also be there. But Meghan, Duchess of Sussex? There is a question mark. Radar Online cited a source, reporting that she would fly in with Harry. But this was rebuffed quickly. 'Meghan is not going to travel. She has just had a baby and Harry will travel alone', a source told The Mirror. 'Meghan will not fly to the UK to join Harry for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother Princess Diana on July 1st,' reiterated ITV's Lizzie Robinson. 'A source confirmed after a US website claimed she would be attending.'
The comments underneath Lizzie's tweet make horrible reading. Trolls yell cries of 'good' or 'great news.' Others write 'if the journey had benefitted her she'd have come', and say 'she's not welcome here', as if to reinforce her previous comments on feeling isolated and attacked while in the UK. And yet, the truth is that Meghan has just had a baby, mere weeks ago. If she had got on a plane with little Lili and young Archie, she would have been attacked for trying to steal thunder from the late Diana, and would probably also have been criticised for going 'back to work' too soon too. She would have been held up in comparison next to Kate in the style stakes: headlines would have called Kate 'sombre' or 'elegant' and Meghan 'glamorous' or 'stylish', to imply that one had class and the other did not. If Meghan cried, she would have been called insincere. 'She didn't even know her!' the tweets would read. If she did not cry, she would have been labelled callous. You can imagine the 'has she no heart?' comments now.
Harry, Grazia understands, will still attend despite current royal rifts. Royal author Katie Nicholl says ‘his intention is to come back. It is really something William should not, and would not want to do on his own.’ It would be reasonable for a father of a newborn daughter to decide against a transatlantic trip, especially during a pandemic, but dropping out could fuel the flame of the prevalent rumours that he and William’s formerly close bond is beyond saving. And, besides, his love for his late mother means that he would not miss it.
It is ironic that many are using the name of Diana to attack the woman she would have called daughter-in-law if it were not for her untimely death. Meghan is, without doubt, the member of the royal family who has been trolled, pursued and attacked to the greatest extent since Diana died in 1997. Blaming Meghan in advance for not showing up - and, again, nothing has actually been confirmed - shows that little has been learned in all that time. Please, when July comes around, let's not talk about Meghan. She doesn't want to be the focus, despite what some may think. Let's talk about Diana, her legacy, and the two young men who loved her more than anything in the world.
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