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The Dumbest Anti-Sussex Argument

This criticism just doesn't fly.

By S. FrazerPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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"I thought they wanted their privacy."

The most asinine combination of words in the English language.

Why, critics ask, are Meghan and Harry always in the limelight? Didn't they ditch the monarchy because they wanted their privacy?

Okay. I'll bite. Let's talk about that. Why are Meghan and Harry still putting themselves in the public eye?

First, the Sussexes aren't getting money from the Queen or British taxpayers anymore. In 2020, it was reported that Meghan and Harry hadn't made an income since relocating to the United States.

Second, when they stepped down as senior royals, the Duke and Duchess were asked to repay $3 million in renovations to their home, which they did in full in September of last year. They pay for their own security; according to Forbes, that's an estimated $2-3 million every year. They need a large home with space, because they're human beings with children who deserve to play in their own backyard with their chickens in peace. Meghan is involved in what is probably costly litigation, doing what she has expressed she believes is right in asserting her right to privacy.

And third, according to a 2021 report by Forbes, Meghan and Harry have a combined net worth of $10 million. The cost of security alone would eat through those savings in less than four years. Sitting on their asses isn't an option.

The Sussexes are being criticized for working as if they have a choice. How are they supposed to support their family in a way that doesn't draw attention to the fact that they're making money? They're literal royalty. Meghan could start working at Wal-Mart, and it would still be front-page news. They don't live in a castle paid for by the taxpayers anymore.

(Seriously, these are the guys people have a problem with? Not the pedophile? Not the tampon wannabe who cheated on his child bride? The royal family is worth an estimated $88 billion, and these critics choose to take issue with the ones who are trying to pay their own way? Monarchy bootlickers.)

Excuse the Sussexes for promoting their brand. Can you imagine the criticism if Meghan started acting again? Harry has never held a "real" job in his life. How exactly are they supposed to support themselves without capitalizing on the fact that they're members of the royal family? People see them first and foremost as a prince and duchess, which means that they'll only ever get the high-paying jobs they need in that capacity.

The Sussexes' critics hate them so much they'd rather see them starve than splashed across the font page. And if they did stop working, they'd be criticized as lazy, as bad parents who refused to provide for their children, as pampered elites who never learned the importance of a hard day's work.

The whole "I thought they wanted their privacy" argument is even more ridiculous considering that it's these critics' constant threats, harassment, and violations of the couple's boundaries that has forced them to foot a multimillion-dollar security bill. It's the media's infringement of their legal rights that has dragged them into court. The Sussexes' haters are the ones who have made it necessary for them to get out there and make bank.

I'm sure there's nothing Meghan and Harry would love more than to live in obscurity with their children, away from the prying eyes and unrelenting harassment. Unfortunately, total anonymity will never be an option for them. And it's just asinine to crucify them for supporting themselves. Gotta find some way to pay for that human rights abuse-fueling avocado toast.

They are allowed to leave their home. They're allowed to go out in public, to attend events, to speak to the media on their own terms. They are allowed to promote their charity, to talk openly about vaccine equity and maternity leave, and to teach refugee children their ABCs.

And if people have such a problem with always seeing them in the news, maybe they should take it up with the tabloids who insist on camping outside of the couple's home and reporting on every little thing they do. Meghan and Harry can't control what's written about them. Hold the press accountable if it bothers you so much.

What the Sussexes wanted when they left England was safety. Their requests for privacy didn't stem from a desire to evade the public gaze; to the contrary, they expressed their regret at not being able to continue serving the Queen and the British people. It wasn't being in the spotlight that they took issue with—it was being harassed, dehumanized, disrespected, and lied about. And yes, things have markedly improved for them in that regard since they arrived in California.

"I thought they wanted their privacy" will continue to aggravate me as one of the most nonsensical and obtuse criticisms of this couple. Meghan and Harry are allowed to make a living. The Duke and Duchess are public figures, and media attention is an inescapable part of that. Their critics will simply have to get over it, because the Sussexes aren't going anywhere.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story, subscribe and click the 🖤. And check out some of my other stories about the royals below:

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About the Creator

S. Frazer

She/her • 29 • Aspiring writer

Email: [email protected]

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