Harry and Meghan’s decision to break their silence on the US presidential election is a thinly veiled attempt to “harvest” votes for Kamala Harris and impress the “woke Hollywood elite”, critics told MailOnline today.
The head of the UK’s republican movement has said the Sussexes “just can’t help themselves” when the US is in an election year, dismissing their claim that they are politically neutral.
In 2020, the couple did not endorse any candidate, but urged Americans to vote in the “most important election of our lifetime.” Meghan even called Americans on the phone to urge them to vote.
Many interpreted this as an endorsement of Joe Biden, including Trump, who said he was “not a fan” of the former Suits star and Harry’s luck “because he’s going to need it.”
But it has emerged that with just two months until the US goes to the polls, the couple’s Archewell Foundation has been sending personalised letters to unregistered voters and insisting that “every voice matters” – but insist they are politically neutral and have not mentioned any candidate.
The couple’s video statement on the 2020 election, which they filmed from the garden of their Montecito mansion, urged Americans to vote in the “most important election of our lifetime.” They denied they were not politically neutral, others disagreed.
Trump said he was not a “fan” of the duchess and said he would consider it.
Trump faces Kamala Harris in US presidential election
Experts have said Harry will “fear” a Trump victory because the Republican candidate has been clear in stating that the British royal could be deported from the United States if he lied about drug use on his US visa application.
Greg Swenson, a London-based financier and chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, told MailOnline today: “They can’t help it. By encouraging people to vote, they are essentially harvesting votes for Kamala.
‘You don’t have to say it. Like the man sitting in his car, alone, wearing an anti-COVID mask: you don’t have to put a bumper sticker on it, we know who you voted for.’
But Mr Swenson believes his latest political intervention will not sway Americans but may ingratiate himself with the “woke Hollywood elites” he is keen to impress.
“Every move Harry and Meghan make is carefully orchestrated to maintain their popularity among their elite circle. Most of the progressive Hollywood elites are voting for Kamala, but I’m surprised they haven’t openly endorsed her,” he said.
‘The only thing left for her to do now is to run for office.
“I don’t think they’ll change the situation, they’re known as progressive celebrities. I don’t think there’s any mystery about their views, which are consistent with the progressive left (Kamala). Voters who like Harry and Meghan would probably vote for Kamala anyway. I don’t think they’ll change anyone’s vote.”
Investigative journalist and biographer of the couple, Tom Bower, told MailOnline that it was another attempt to get noticed and a sign that Meghan’s political ambitions are not dead.
Ms Markle is said to have approached California Governor Gavin Newsom to ask if he would support her in replacing Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Mr Bower said: ‘Ambitious to be famous and influential, Meghan Markle yearns to belong to the American political establishment, especially the Democratic Party.
‘Shortly after returning to California in 2020, she approached the Governor of California seeking an opportunity to secure a nomination for political office, particularly as a candidate for Congress.
‘However, his support for Biden against Trump in 2020 ended in disaster. Harry’s foolish contribution to urging Americans to vote was ridiculed because he was a foreigner ignorant about American politics.
‘And Trump’s response was ferocious. If elected, he threatened to expel Harry from the US. It is no surprise that the Sussexes are now more cautious. They cannot resist having their say – and Meghan has not given up on her political ambitions – but they rightly fear Trump’s election.
‘Their bland message that Americans should vote will be ignored nationwide, but it fuels their self-importance and gets them noticed in Britain – an important marker for Harry.’
The statement did not go unnoticed among American academics in the UK either.
Thomas Gift, professor of political science at University College London, said that unlike other stars, the Sussexes were trying not to be controversial following the row over their support for Joe Biden.
He said: ‘Unlike Taylor Swift and many other high-profile celebrities, the Sussexes apparently don’t feel the need to alienate some of their fans by supporting a candidate, or to provoke even more backlash from critics by doing so.
‘Urging Americans to vote is unobjectionable and unlikely to generate much criticism that they are inappropriately meddling in American politics.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will remain publicly neutral in the upcoming US presidential election, it has emerged. They are pictured during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games.
The couple celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by inviting the Archewell team to participate in a letter-writing activity.
Staff sent letters to unregistered voters to encourage them to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
The statement said: ‘Voting is not just a right; it is a fundamental way to influence the destiny of our communities.
‘At the Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, regardless of one’s political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world.
“By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters.”
The telegraph The letters reportedly stopped short of endorsing a particular candidate, but instead urged voters to simply use their voice.
The couple invited readers to “join us in this important effort” and volunteer their time to write letters to unregistered voters.
The couple celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by inviting the Archewell team to participate in a letter-writing activity; the couple is pictured here in Bogotá, Colombia.
The statement concluded: “Together, let’s ensure that every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.”
This comes after the couple were accused of backing Joe Biden in the last US election, as they filmed a video statement from the garden of their Montecito mansion, which they had just moved into at the time.
In the video address, Prince Harry told American voters to “reject hate speech,” while Meghan called the 2020 presidential race “the best election of our lifetime.”
The Duke said at the time: “I cannot vote in the US this election, but many of you may not know that I have not been able to vote in the UK in my entire life. As we head into November, it is vital that we push back against hate speech, misinformation and negativity online.”
Although Harry and Meghan did not name their preferred candidate, many viewers thought it was “obvious” that they were supporting Joe Biden rather than Donald Trump. As a result, the Sussexes were accused of “violating” the terms of their “Megxit” deal.
In September 2020, Trump said he was “not a fan” of the duchess after the couple posted their video.
Following the events, republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their titles, branding the duke and duchess’s interference “inappropriate”.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: “We will not be commenting. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in his personal capacity.”
Unlike last year, the Sussexes’ statement was released this year through the Archewell Foundation rather than the couple’s private office.
Both the Duke and Duchess are expected to remain neutral ahead of the November 5 election, according to The Telegraph.
They will not make an official endorsement.