Dear Meghan,
I see you've moved back to England. While I'd like to congratulate you, that form of thoughtfulness escapes me. On the surface, it would appear you've undertaken this rather selfless gesture for the benefit of your husband so he might mend the rift between himself, his father, and his brother. A rift, I might add, that came about because of you and Harry’s desire to air family grievances in front of the entire world.
So, why did you move back?
Did you do it to mend fences between you and the royal family? If so, that would truly be one of the most selfless acts you have ever undertaken. Such an opportunity would allow you to end those nasty little disagreements with the whole family, and it would give you the chance to apologize for taking your grievances public. A royal reunion with everyone smiling for the cameras, which I’m sure you would be more than happy to do.
Sounds like a Hallmark Christmas movie, doesn’t it? The only problem with that is you stepped away from the public spotlight and the royal family because, as you said, they were making your life unbearable. So, why the abrupt about-face?
I mean, after everything you've said about the royal family, the British press, and your desire to escape the spotlight, I find this sudden change of heart rather perplexing, as it does put you back in the public spotlight.
I can't help but wonder whether your return has something to do with your failed attempts to establish yourselves as the IT British couple in America.
You know, the glamorous former British royals who were going to take Hollywood by storm.
From what I've observed, the overwhelming devotion and adoration you expected never quite materialized, did it? No matter what you did.
There were the interviews, the documentaries, the podcasts, the television appearances, and those unofficial international tours that looked suspiciously like royal engagements, minus the actual royal responsibilities and backing.
I understand you and Harry need to make money. After all, maintaining multiple homes and the lifestyle you've become accustomed to can't be cheap. If you hadn’t left England in the first place, money wouldn’t have been an issue, would it have been?
Which brings us to your many failed attempts to reinvent yourself in America.
The most noticeable is your many attempts at establishing yourself as something of a lifestyle expert, offering the world a glimpse into your domestic life from your rather palatial Mediterranean-style home in Montecito.
A homemaker and lifestyle creator.
Really, Meghan?
What were you thinking? Perhaps this is just me, but when I think of the average homemaker, I don't immediately picture a former duchess wandering around her multimillion-dollar estate arranging flowers and preparing elaborate meals, which were probably created by a chef, in a kitchen that probably costs more than most people’s houses.
Then came your lifestyle brand, As Ever. That didn’t start well because there was that whole name thing, American Riviera Orchard?
You certainly seemed to have had a few difficulties getting yourself set up, haven’t you? How many different directions have you taken in your attempts to establish an identity outside the royal family? There were the podcasts, the Netflix productions, the lifestyle programs, and several other not-so-successful business ventures.
It seems you've spent an extraordinary amount of time trying to convince the world that you're something other than what made you famous in the first place.
The woman who married Prince Harry.
Some people would be happy with that, but not you. Why is that? You had palaces, an endless budget to keep you in a lavish lifestyle, but you gave that all up so you could escape the institution and the press to be a private person.
Which leads me to wonder whether your return to England is less about escaping the spotlight and more about finding a different one, especially since the spotlight you “didn’t” want in the States never materialized.
Which begs the question: Why do you continue using the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles if your goal was to establish yourselves independently of the monarchy? Oh wait, those titles are simply too valuable to let go of, aren’t they?
And therein lies the problem. You wanted to escape the institution that gave you worldwide recognition, but at the same time, use that connection to your benefit.
Which brings me back to your return to England. Why do so many of your activities resemble those of working royals, especially when you aren’t a working royal?
You announced to the world you wanted to quit your job, but you keep showing up at the office because you apparently miss the recognition it gave you.
Could this move be an attempt to establish yourselves as something resembling a second royal court?
I ask that question because, well, you've continued making public appearances, supporting charitable causes, and traveling internationally in ways that resemble activities of working members of the royal family.
There's just one tiny problem with that. You aren’t a working member of the royal family.
The King has recently said so himself. Yet you continue making public appearances. Why is that? Undertaking those activities doesn't automatically make you a representative of the monarchy. They already have the Prince and Princess of Wales for that. And no matter how many public appearances you make, you aren't going to become a working royal simply by acting like one.
Perhaps you moved back in order to raise your children in England so they could be closer to their grandfather, the King? Although, considering your willingness to release carefully selected family photographs, I do wonder how much of that is about sharing family moments and how much is about managing your public image.
So, after returning to England, you're already preparing to head halfway around the world for another television opportunity.
How very private of you!
I suppose the desire to escape the spotlight doesn't extend to television cameras.
I do find it interesting how quickly your public activities seem to resume whenever there's another opportunity to appear in front of a camera.
I suppose old habits are hard to break, especially where you are concerned.
Well, whatever the reason is, I do hope you and Prince Harry are able to settle into life back in England.
I do have one final question.
For someone who wanted so desperately to escape the royal spotlight, why do you seem so determined to keep finding your way back into it?
With considerable doubt,
Mz. Taylor
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