It has emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sought to exert political influence in the US, an ambition that surpassed the dreams of any British royal since King George III.
Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Meghan Markle reportedly aspired to a US Senate seat then held by Kamala Harris, according to The New York Post.
A Contender for Harris’s Seat
Sources revealed that in the weeks before Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump, the Duchess of Sussex allegedly requested a private meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom. Her aim was to have her name considered for Kamala Harris’s position, as Harris was expected to vacate her seat for the role of US Vice President.
However, Newsom appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to succeed Harris. It remains unclear how far the Prince Harry’s wife’s request progressed. Simultaneously, a source from the Sussexes’ circle denied this information, while a representative for Newsom declined to comment on the matter.
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Meanwhile, a memorandum from Newsom’s office, which surfaced in February 2021, confirmed that the governor had a so-called “introductory meeting” with the royal couple in October 2020.
Meghan Markle hoped to gain political influence in the US Photo: Screenshot The Attempt Was Not the Only One
The NYP reports that other instances of the Sussexes attempting to gain political sway in Washington are known. For example, in late 2021, the couple requested a meeting with Joe Biden in the Oval Office and accommodation in the adjacent Blair House, a privilege typically reserved for foreign leaders during state visits.
The White House reportedly quickly rejected this idea, fearing a negative reaction from the United Kingdom. A former Biden aide noted that the President and First Lady Jill Biden, long-time admirers of Queen Elizabeth II, did not wish to become embroiled in a dispute within the royal family.
Jen Psaki, former communications director for Barack Obama and White House press secretary, even recalls an episode in her memoirs where Meghan Markle attempted to secretly deliver a box of lemons to Jill Biden.
Furthermore, it is known that in September 2022, the royal couple inquired whether they could return to the United States aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One after the funeral of the late Queen. They received a firm refusal.
We remind you that earlier Focus reported that:
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle intend to return to the United Kingdom;
- King Charles quarrelled with Prince William over differing views on the situation with Harry.
Additionally, Meghan Markle was previously criticized for fabricating claims about “Harry’s 10 years in aviation.”