Meghan Markle's Exit from Royal Family Caused Damage, Author Says Catherine Mayer, author of Divide & Rule, argues that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal life dealt a significant blow to the monarchy’s connection with younger generations. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mayer described the couple’s exit as a “rupture in the family” that has “done very serious damage” to the institution. The Duchess of Sussex, now a private citizen, has become a symbol of the tensions within the royal family, with Mayer suggesting their absence has left a void in the monarchy’s appeal to younger audiences. The Sussexes stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing intrusive media coverage and a lack of support from the palace. Their decision to move to California and publicly air grievances in interviews and documentaries, including Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, further strained their relationship with the royal family. Mayer noted that the couple’s departure marked a turning point, with their influence on the monarchy’s modern image diminishing. “Harry and Meghan are basically the same age, but they had this appeal, a much broader appeal, and that’s been lost now,” Mayer said, highlighting the lack of a younger generation figure to bridge the gap between the monarchy and the public. Security concerns have also played a role in the Sussexes’ estrangement. After stepping down as working royals, they lost their taxpayer-funded protection, a loss Harry has long sought to reverse. Despite a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla in July 2023, which marked the first time since 2022 that Meghan had returned to England, she did not make any public appearances. Mayer pointed out that the couple’s inability to reintegrate into royal duties has underscored their marginalization.#meghan_markle #queen_camilla #king_charles #prince_harry #catherine_mayer
King jokes plaque for Oxford visit will go in 'downstairs loo' The King joked during a visit to a solar panel company that a plaque commemorating his appearance would be placed in the firm's "downstairs loo." The visit occurred at a "trailblazing" company developing advanced solar panels capable of converting more of the sun's spectrum into clean energy. The King described the technology as "so vitally needed" during the meeting. A lighter moment arose when Charles pulled a sheet to unveil the plaque, only for it to tumble from an easel. He quipped "disaster" before joking about its potential location. "Have we got somewhere to put it?" he asked the crowd, suggesting the "downstairs loo" as a humorous option. The King was later presented with a custom solar panel cell engraved with the company's name and the date of his visit, which he called "marvellous." The head of state, who has long championed sustainability and climate action, praised the company's efforts during the visit. He told employees: "I hope you can speed up the transition a bit," referencing the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The King also acknowledged the challenges of commercializing such technology, stating: "It does take time to get to the point where you can actually commercialise all these things," while emphasizing the urgent need for their products. David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV, noted that the firm is shipping "pilot volumes" of its products to early customers. He highlighted the decade-long journey of transforming scientific innovation into a commercially viable module, stating: "There's been a decade of work, getting it from a brilliant piece of science into a real module that you see here, that we could give to a customer and they put on a roof.#solar_panels #oxford #oxford_pv #king_charles #charles
