Although our Royal Family’s history with American divorcees is not a happy one, I feel confident that they’re onto much better things with the previously married Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiancée.
Boy what a breath of fresh air she’s going to be. Like Kate Middleton she’s intelligent, independent and capable, “a woman of substance” as one commentator described her.
I’d never heard of her before she started stepping out with the prince but now look forward to watching some of her shows and reading about her campaigning work for gender equality. The only downside to this week’s happy announcement is that we’re now going to be subject to months of superficial press coverage. Already we’ve had a mountain of souvenir pull-outs and supplements and pages of bonkers articles. Here’s a genuine headline from one of the silliest stories: ‘From the writer who knew Harry’s mother best, a tantalising insight into how she’d feel today.’ Words fail me.
Being a royal reporter or correspondent must be a tedious job. Most of the time there is very little to say. Even during the engagement photo call on Monday journalists were running out of questions with one reporter desperately asking if Harry’s proposal was romantic. D’oh! Then they resorted to talking about what journalists in other countries were saying. Already the well of stories has run dry and we’re only in the first week.
More about the Royal engagement on page 30.
