Meghan Markle’s Political Ambitions Draw Criticism as She Advocates for Paid Leave

In a surprising move, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has recently taken a step into the political arena by advocating for paid leave for parents in the United States.

However, her claims of a humble upbringing and financial struggles have been met with skepticism, considering her current lavish lifestyle in a $14 million mansion in Los Angeles alongside Prince Harry and their two children.

Meghan's plea for paid leave was expressed in a lengthy 1,030-word letter addressed to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Chuck Schumer, the Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate, both of whom are Democrats.

She emphasized that her request was made as an engaged citizen and a parent, rather than as a politician or elected official.

Despite her intentions, Meghan's latest move has faced criticism from royal expert Angela Levin, who believes that the Duchess harbors ambitions beyond her current role.

Levin stated, “This is what she wants of course, I mean she really does want to try and be a politician.

She also wants to make films, she wants to star in them, she also wants to tell people how to invest their money.

I mean the list is becoming endless and actually, nothing really gets done.”

Levin further commented on Meghan's tendency to dip in and out of various endeavors, describing her as restless and lacking focus.

According to Levin, the Duchess fails to concentrate on one thing in order to make it succeed.

This observation aligns with predictions that Meghan may pursue a career in politics, especially considering her previous interventions and public statements throughout the year.

One such instance occurred during the last presidential election when Meghan and Harry urged Americans to vote, which was seen as a violation of the terms of their agreement with the Queen regarding their departure from royal duties.

These actions strained relations with Harry's family, leading to discussions among senior courtiers on how to create further distance between the London royals and the couple.

Critics have also pointed out a significant omission in Meghan's letter.

While she portrays her family as impoverished, she fails to mention that her father is an Emmy Award-winning lighting director and that she received a private education, including attending the prestigious $16,000-a-year Immaculate Heart High School, which was funded by her father's salary and lottery winnings.

Although many of Meghan's supporters back her call for universal paid leave for parents, they have noted that her letter does not acknowledge President Joe Biden's efforts to enshrine this policy into law as part of his $3.5 million Build Back Better agenda.

Meghan's public statement advocating for paid leave is likely to provoke further speculation about her political ambitions, despite her insistence that it was sent solely as an American mom.

This follows the controversy surrounding her and Harry's previous urging of Americans to vote, which angered Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and former editor of International Who's Who, suggests that Meghan's use of her past struggles, such as the $5 salad bar reference, is an attempt to connect with the difficulties faced by many families in paying their bills.

However, given her privileged upbringing and her father's successful career, it remains to be seen whether the audience she seeks to impress will be swayed by her account of hardship.

While the issue of paid leave is undoubtedly important, Meghan's behavior has been perceived by some as ruthless, which may need to be tempered if she ever decides to pursue a political career.

As she currently remains estranged from both her father and the royal family, her path forward in the realm of politics remains uncertain.