This weekend, in your latest episode of disappointed but not surprised, Meghan Markle was the target of sustained abuse once more. Why? Because being in the later stages of pregnancy, she has been told not to travel from California to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral.
According to The Mirror, a palace spokesperson told them Meghan made every effort to attempt to join Prince Harry at his grandfather’s funeral, but was not given clearance to travel by her doctor. It’s unsurprising, really. Not only is Meghan in a later stage of pregnancy – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex expect their second child to be born in June or July – but she is 39, which means her pregnancy is considered higher risk.
Throw in the fact that travelling abroad is currently unsafe due to Covid, it really begs the question: why WOULD Meghan attend the funeral? Quite clearly, she would be putting her health, and the health of her unborn child, at risk. But more than that, her own mental health too.
Meghan has been open about her miscarriage in early 2020, writing for The New York Times about ‘carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few.’ She’s also been open about experiencing suicidal ideation while living in the UK, telling Oprah earlier this year that she found her time here ‘almost un-survivable’.
Who then, could ever expect a woman who has experienced so much pain and loss to put her child at risk by travelling for an entire day, more than 10 hours of which would be on a plane?
‘Long-distance travel (longer than 4 hours) carries a small risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis (DVT)),’ the NHS website reads. ‘If you fly, drink plenty of water and move about regularly – every 30 minutes or so. You can buy a pair of graduated compression or support stockings from the pharmacy, which will help reduce leg swelling.’
While flying isn’t harmful to you or your baby generally, travelling in this way does often require clearance from doctors beforehand. In fact, many airlines even require a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date and that you aren’t at risk of complication after week 28 of pregnancy. It’s not known exactly how far along Meghan is right now, given the baby is due at the end of June/beginning of July, it’s likely she’s around the 30 week mark.
So, given that Meghan is at higher risk of complications (pregnant women in their mid-30s and beyond have a higher risk of diabetes, pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure and miscarriage), airlines may not have even allowed her to fly had she ignored doctor’s advice. And can you imagine if she had? Lord knows what abuse royalists and racists like would hurl at her if she willingly put the future of the royal family at risk. She, as always, seemed damned if she doesn’t, damned if she does.
Surely, royalists can see that Prince Philip wouldn't want his great grandchild at risk.
Ultimately, not only is it wildly invasive to demand certain behaviours of a pregnant woman just because she is in the public eye – let alone when she is high risk, and we’re in an effing pandemic – it’s cruel to expect Meghan attend her husband’s grandfathers funeral after all she’s been through.
To put her under the physical stress of travelling, alongside the stress of returning to a country where she once felt suicidal because of the very abuse she’s being subject to now, all while still balancing the pressure of everyone’s eyes on her once more? It would be masochistic.
So, before you comment what Meghan ‘should’ do in this situation, take stock and apply some empathy to everything she must be dealing with right now. And for the royalists who believe she 'should' be flying over to pay her respects, remember that that’s Prince Philip’s great grandchild she’s carrying. Would he want her to put them at risk to attend a funeral he specifically requested be ‘no fuss’? Unlikely.
Click through for a timeline of Meghan and Harry's relationship...
Meghan Markle And Prince Harry's Relationship Timeline
1 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met in London in July 2016.
2 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson, who is the director of Soho House.
3 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In October 2016, the Express became the first newspaper to publish news that Prince Harry had a new girlfriend.
4 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 8th 2016, Kensington Palace released an unprecedented statement which referring to Markle as Harry's girlfriend for the first time.
5 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In the statement, Prince Harry condemned the 'wave of abuse and harrassment' faced by Markle, saying that he was 'worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.'
6 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Marklec
'It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm,' the statement continued.
7 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were papped together for the first time in December 2016, shopping for a Christmas tree in London at the Pines and Needles store.
8 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later that week, they were seen on London's West End, catching a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
9 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In February, Prince Harry wore a his 'n' hers bracelet on the cover of Town & Country magazine, just weeks after Markle was pictured wearing the same one on Instagram.
10 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In March 2017, Meghan joined Prince Harry in the Caribbean for the wedding of his friend's Tom 'Skippy' Inskip and Lara Hughes-Young.
11 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
It was the first time that Markle accompanied Harry to a wedding, marking another milestone occasion for the couple.
12 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The first public event attended by the couple was the polo at Coworth Park in May 2017.
13 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later in May, Markle attended the party portion of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Middelton.
14 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry was seen driving her to the event after the church ceremony.
15 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were photographed together the following day at the wheelchair tennis.
16 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple 'broke with royal protocol' by holding hands and appearing affectionate while at the Invictus Games.
17 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Meghan referred to Harry as her boyfriend numerous times, saying: 'We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people understand is that this is our time.'
18 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In early November 2017, it was reported that Meghan Markle was leaving Suits after seven series.
19 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Much was made of Markle's choice of outfit: ripped jeans and a white blouse called 'The Husband'.
20 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Although Prince Harry was sat next to First Lady Melania Trump at the event, rather than his girlfriend, she was only seated a few rows behind him.
21 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple made their first official public appearance in September, when Markle attended the opening of Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
22 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In mid-November 2017, bookies suspending betting on an impending royal engagement, as speculation grew that an announcement was about to be made.
23 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 27th 2017, Prince Charles announced the engagement of his younger son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after 15 months of dating.
24 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple later appeared at a photocall, with Markle wearing a white dress coat by Canadian brand Line The Label. The website has subsequently crashed.
25 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The engagement ring, by Cleave and Company, was reportedly designed by Prince Harry himself, using two stones that belonged to Princess Diana.
26 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
When asked by waiting photographers if the proposal was romantic, Harry joked 'of course!'
27 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple indulged in some PDA at the closing ceremony.
28 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Meghan wore a maroon midi dress with a pleated chiffon skirt by one of her favourite Canadian brands Aritzia.
29 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
She teamed it with a matching burgundy biker jacket by Mackage.
30 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry reportedly spent time with Meghan's mother Doria while at the Games too.
31 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry was photographed kissing Meghan.
32 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In late September 2017, it was reported that Meghan had met the Queen, prompting speculation that the relationship was getting serious.