We want to break free...

Mona

Less than two years of the fairytale wedding that welcomed the fiercely independent, biracial divorcee Meghan Markle into the royal fold for the very first time in the Brit history, the Sussexes gave their two weeks’ notice not only to step down as ‘senior’ royals while also making their intension clear that England isn’t going to be their ‘only’ home!

St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle saw on May 19, 2018, stuff that dreams are made of. As much as Meghan Markle is celebrated for independent, feminist streak; her maiden family tried it all to bring her down. On-off rift with her father, step siblings opening a can of worms to Meghan’s ethnicity — all took a back seat, as Prince Charles graciously stepped in for the missing father and walked the bride down the aisle.

The modern couple was hailed for being reflective of a time when boundaries melted and power of true love won over the proverbial parochial walls. But then along came some rough and rather tough time for the Duchess of Sussex, who had to bear the onslaught of tabloids. But then what matters, matters! Harry had his wife’s back when she decided to sue a paper for publishing a handwritten letter she sent to her estranged father and took on British tabloid press refusing to be ‘silent witness to her private suffering’. He wrote, “I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

#Megxit didn’t sober up the Sussexes’ detractors – ‘They didn’t even tell the Queen’ – is a common clamour. Choosing the commoner life over royalty was ridiculed at; however, another section backed Harry for having the nerve of steel for standing up for his wife’s happiness. Little effect did it had, the Megxit was levelled to Prince William’s bullying attitude towards the Duchess to Sussex, to which William and Harry issued a strong statement.

Heart wants what it wants

“Most essential for life is freedom of being,” says Princess Diviya Kumari of Jubbal. It’s not like the British royalty hasn’t seen something like this before, she points out. Prince Edward abdicated his throne to marry twice divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson back in 1937. “People like Prince Harry are ruled by their heart and have every right to follow it. If he wasn’t able to have the basic needs of life – peace and freedom to be, his step is one in the right direction,” she supports.

Princess Diviya’s grandfather, Raj Kumar of Jubbal, married the Princess of Kapurthala, inviting ire of royals for a Rajput taking a Sikh bride but then Princess Diviya feels hers is a progressive family. “It works to marry within similar value system, struggles to adjust are lesser, but then I have never felt restricted in any way,” says the Princess, who is currently working on reviving the Pahadi culture.

Actor Riya Sen never felt her life being constrained at any point on account of her royal heritage either. “I grew up with a lot of independence while at the same time was fortunate to have iconic figures like my great aunt, Maharani Gayatri Devi as mentor,” she puts. But then, everybody’s experiences are different. Riya, not much of Sussexes’ fan, feels for Harry. “The press made Princess Diana’s life quite a nightmare and I can’t blame Prince Harry for wanting to keep his family away from the media.” She also stands for his wife, “Meghan has made her own career independently in Los Angeles and faced all the trials and tribulations of doing so on her own. I’m sure it’s difficult for her to suddenly conform to a life that’s probably quite rigid in its own way.”

Post the shock, the dismay, short two-week’s notice, now that Her Majesty has lent support to the Sussexes to lead an independent life, the royal chapter may have ended for the couple, but they are finding support slowly but surely, “I’m rather on Harry’s side,” said actor Hugh Grant. “The tabloid press effectively murdered his mother, now they’re tearing his wife to pieces. I think as a man, it’s his job to protect his family, so I’m with him.” Are you?