Dear Editor,

As I watched the Harry & Meghan docuseries on Netflix I couldn’t help but wonder: What if?

The series was brilliant, very well produced and scripted. It showed how multimedia can be used effectively when one is in full control of a narrative. Snippets of Prince William’s and Kate’s, Duchess of Cambridge, visit to Jamaica last year were shown amidst the protests and demands for reparation. There were also some controversial images from the visit, which were previously beamed around the globe.

Britain’s long history of colonisation and the lingering impact — mostly negative — on these countries were also shared. The series also included protests which overshadowed the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s, Prince Edward and Sophie, visit to the Caribbean last year, also part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tour. The Wessexes were forced to cancel the end of their trip abruptly.

I recall when Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Will and Kate that Jamaica was “moving on”. Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne did the same, telling the Wessexes, “We are not trying to embarrass you, we just want you to be aware.”

Although many Jamaicans opposed the royal visit, they were more open to a visit from Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who made the bold move to step away from royal duties and live an independent life in the USA. Many felt they were more relatable and in touch, plus the fact that they were a mixed-race couple brought the issue of race to the forefront of an institution which many felt was outdated.

Harry and Meghan’s rising popularity caused rifts which threatened an institution steeped in tradition, formality, and stiffness. The couple continued to talk openly about racism and unconscious biases, and there are more revelations in Harry’s memoir Spare, which speaks to the dysfunction behind palace walls.

I believe the Commonwealth will be critical to the survival of the monarchy. In 2018 the late Queen Elizabeth II appointed Harry and Meghan as president and vice-president of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a charity which supports youth leadership and initiatives. The Queen, as ceremonial head, saw their potential to impact the future and appeal to the young.

Britain, as a colonial power, profited for hundreds of years at the expense of colonies. The Commonwealth is comprised of mostly former colonies, which collectively account for one-third of the world’s population.

I think that the royals missed a huge opportunity to use Prince Harry and Meghan to their advantage to build relationships globally and transform the monarchy into a more modern and relatable institution.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com