Meghan Markle ‘has no class’. But isn’t that the point?

In recent days I have been watching the fallout of the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary. A common criticism I have seen is that Meghan has no class and my internal monologue is always, but isn’t that the point?

An upfront admission, I haven’t watched the Netflix series. In a home with three teenagers, I rarely get access to the remote and do have a preference to escape to bed in the evenings with a good book. My kids tell me I am such a boomer. For the record I’m not even 50 - yet. Teenagers can be so offensive!

What I do think is that Harry and Meghan are attempting to tell their truth and one of the things it is shining a spotlight on is this issue of class. I know that when critics accuse Meghan of ‘having no class’ what they are really saying is that she has stepped outside the boundaries of what is considered acceptable behaviour, which is a preference for stoic silence and a stiff upper lip!

But there is also this issue that the Royal Family sits at the top of the British class system that has been in existence for centuries. Meghan Markle, an American-born actress, is in no way part of this class system. So to her many critics, you are correct, she has no class!

We think of Australia as a relatively egalitarian society and there is some truth in that. There are some elites, friendships and connections made at exclusive private high schools and sandstone universities. However, for most of us those things don’t matter or make a difference to our everyday lives – just the occasional raised eyebrow when high level appointments are called out or bad behaviour is covered up, linked to these connections.

My experience living and working in the United Kingdom was the first time I more clearly saw the concept of ‘class’. I worked at a dot-com start-up, and a board member was a member of the – albeit extended - royal family. It opened my eyes to real class and privilege, and an understanding of the divide between ‘us’ and ‘them’.

Harry and Meghan do seem to be questioning this unthinking acceptance and deference to the Royal Family, its protocols, how its treats individuals that are a part of it, and how it uses the media. And by doing this they are questioning that by privilege of birth these individuals sit at the top of the class ladder. I believe this is a good thing.

They are also challenging the other concept of ‘class’ – the stoicism and stiff upper lip – saying we have had enough, this is unacceptable and in this modern world it’s out of touch and just wrong. For them both, being a part of the Royal Family has impacted their mental health and wellbeing, and they are right to take a stand.

So for that I say, well done.

And I’m more than happy to join Meghan in ‘having no class’.