Interview with Meghan and Harry: a blow for the monarchy, not necessarily "an earthquake"

"Honni be who thinks badly about it".

Freed from his obligations of royal representation, Prince Harry does not seem to care about the motto of the Order of the Garter, of which he may not be knighted like his brother William and his father Charles.

The interview he and his wife, ex-Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, gave to American television star Oprah Winfrey on Sunday not only made royal headlines.

In her long-awaited interview on CBS, in front of the American star of the talk show, the actress of the series "Suits" revealed what she had on the heart after her experience of life in the supposedly hushed universe of the crown British.

Accusations of racism, suicidal ideation, royal censorship, low blows from Kate Middleton ... only Elizabeth II escapes criticism from the couple.

A confession in the form of unpacking which will be a milestone, according to specialists, like that of Princess Diana in 1995.

“It is an additional blow that unsettles the British crown.

In their place, I would have chosen to be silent, ”replied Henry-Jean Servat to Le Parisien.

The social columnist notes bitterly that the love affair between Charles and Diana's second son and the Hollywood actress did not fit from the start with the atmosphere specific to Buckingham Palace.

“Unfortunately, Meghan ticked all the boxes for drama to happen.

Divorced, famous actress, American, mixed race, she did not come from the seraglio.

I'm not saying it's wrong, but the recent history of the royal family proves that with outsiders it doesn't work ”.

The precedents of Diana, Sarah Ferguson, or more upstream of Wallis Simpson, at the origin of the abdication of Edward VIII, are there to demonstrate that the weight of the crown is difficult to carry when one does not have been bred for it, he points out.

"Meghan was not ready to play this role"

“Meghan was not ready to play this role despite Harry's will to impose it.

They did not measure the weight of the archaic and ancient structures of the British monarchy, ”continues Henry-Jean Servat, believing that the couple has rushed in the stretchers but does not seem to want to assume the consequences.

"It is a lack of class compared to Queen Elizabeth, in particular the accusations of racism," said this specialist in the life of Lady Diana.

“The myth of the British crown is collapsing further, and the outside world has stormed into the palace.

The monarchy can no longer remain unmoved, ”concludes the author of“ So Chic ”(forthcoming, Ed. L'Archipel).

“It's not an earthquake, but they are making the institution out of date.

Meghan and Harry pass their families off as reactionaries, ”analysis for his part Aurélie Raya, reporter who follows the news of the British crown for Paris Match.

"It's very annoying for the image of modernity that Buckingham wants to impose, which is suddenly shattered, but it is not as serious as if it were Kate and William", nuance the journalist.

Should we then believe in Meghan's misfortunes?

The young woman has certainly suffered an abject campaign from the British tabloids, still observes the specialist, but some points seem exaggerated, the thirty-something having spent less than two years in the royal cyclone.

Buckingham's revenge "will be bloody"

And if the couple chose an American media to express themselves, the impact is still enormous across the Channel.

“They hit where it hurts: on the alleged racism of the royal family.

The Windsors are perceived as Wasps (in French: Anglo-Saxons Blancs and Protestants, Editor's note) little inclined to be open to diversity.

This distrust continues, although Prince Charles and Prince William have openly fought against racism in society.

If there was racism, it is surely not the result of the first circle but perhaps of the 2nd and 3rd royal circles ”, notes the Belgian journalist Marc Roche, correspondent for Le Monde in London and author of the book“ She did not want not be queen ”, dedicated to Elizabeth II.

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Meghan Markle, the revenge of a princess who challenges old England

If the interview causes a scandal, the shock wave is less than with Diana or the abdication of Edward VIII, confirms the French-speaking journalist, also a commentator for the BBC.

That doesn't threaten the Windsors, he says, as Harry is only sixth in line with virtually no chance of reigning.

Order of succession of the British royal family.

LP / Infographics / agencies

“The monarchy is at the pinnacle of its popularity. The Sussexes are perceived more as Hollywood stars than members of the royal family by the people ”, underlines Marc Roche. They are ultimately quite isolated from a British point of view. However, the correspondent of Le Monde in London predicts a revenge of the "Castle" and thinks it "will be bloody". “There will be no direct response from Buckingham, they are cold blooded animals. They will distill details on the lifestyle of the princely couple or additional elements on the harassment of the domestic staff of which Meghan would have been guilty during his time in the royal family, "advises Marc Roche. The reality is sometimes even more cruel than the series “The Crown” which tells the life of Windsor ...