When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their decision to leave their roles as senior royals in January, their passion for the American activism wasn’t among their many stated reasons. Even though she couldn’t actually speak up when Donald Trump called her nasty, Meghan never went totally silent on the issues she cares most about, like empowering women and combating domestic violence.
Earlier this month, Meghan discussed the death of George Floyd and her feelings about systemic racism in a commencement speech she gave to the girls at the high school she herself attended. According to a report in the Daily Mail, Meghan is excited about the role she can play in this moment of American history—and she might even take that energy all the way to elected office.
One friend told the newspaper that the duchess has been talking about the current moment could affect her plans for the future. “Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that she’s been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution,” the source said. “Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasn’t ruled out a career in politics.”
The sources who spoke to the Mail said that pursuing politics isn’t the reason she originally wanted to leave the U.K. after two years spent in the country. But one friend said that she does feel like it’s a bit of kismet. The friend said she was feeling a “gnawing urgency to uproot from England” but now feels “destined” to join in the fight against racism.
Lady Colin Campbell, the author of an upcoming biography of Meghan and Harry, thinks Meghan is aiming even higher. “I know the Duchess of Sussex has political ambitions and I’ve been told that one day she wants to run for President,” she said to the Daily Mail on Sunday.
Any political career in Meghan’s future will likely take some time. A source told People that Meghan and Harry are still working on their charity behind the scenes. “They have had the opportunity to speak with some incredible thought leaders, and those conversations have been deeply educational and helpful in identifying the work they want to with Archewell,” the insider said. “They are applying all their learnings to the future of the organization.” The insider also denied a report that the couple was facing roadblocks in their attempts to trademark Archewell.
After years of problematic coverage in the tabloids, it makes sense that Meghan might be more motivated to tackle the issue of race in her work. Some of Meghan’s friends have said that she felt uncomfortable in the U.K. because she felt isolated and attacked by the often racist tabloid coverage. Ultimately, the fact that Meghan and Harry have moved so slowly in launching their next venture could be a sign that they didn’t have too many expectations about leaving the royal family—they just wanted out.
In an interview with the Daily Star, Campbell said that Meghan’s discomfort came despite Queen Elizabeth’s attempts to make her feel included. “The Royal Family went out of their way to embrace her in a way that they have never gone out of their way to embrace anybody else,” she said. “Meghan was the only fiancee that was ever asked to Windsor before the wedding, and she was the only newlywed who was invited by the queen to accompany her on a daily engagement.” Campbell added that the queen does feel a special fondness for Meghan.