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The departure of Meghan and Harry will be good for them – and the royal family

Short term it is damaging for both; long term it is probably better, writes Hamish McRae

Sunday 21 February 2021 21:30 GMT
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<p>Prince William is reported to have been saddened and shocked at the behaviour of Meghan and Harry towards the Queen  </p>

Prince William is reported to have been saddened and shocked at the behaviour of Meghan and Harry towards the Queen

The rift between Meghan and Harry and the rest of the royal family may turn out to be good news for both sides, after what currently seems to be an acrimonious break-up. Short term it is damaging for both; long term it is probably better.

You are almost not allowed to say this because such family fissures are inevitably painful. Nothing here should take away from that. We will learn more from the interview with Oprah Winfrey. But step back from the headlines and look at the long-term interests of both sides. The key is the word “service” and the different interpretation of that in the interchange last week.

For the royal family, it means service to the nation in the traditional way: family members work away at civic duties, not only in the UK but around the world in the commonwealth. For the American team of Meghan and Harry it means making the right noises on subjects such as the environment and supporting the right causes that the Hollywood elite endorses. 

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