Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issue statement as they wade into USA election
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made an unexpected foray into the US political scene with a fresh announcement. Their non-profit organisation, The Archewell Foundation, commemorated National Voter Registration Day by having its team pen letters to encourage voter sign-up before the November 5 election.
The foundation's website shared details of the initiative, stating: "Using Vote Forward's impactful letter-writing tool, our team wrote personalized letters encouraging unregistered voters to take a crucial step: registering to vote." In a powerful call to action, the foundation stressed the importance of voting: "Voting is not just a right; it's a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.
"At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one's political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world. By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters."
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They concluded with a rallying cry: "Together, let's make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America's future."
It's important to note, however, that neither the couple nor their foundation has officially backed Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the presidential contest.
While working royals in the UK typically avoid political commentary or voting, it's not the first time Harry and Meghan have encouraged US citizens to exercise their democratic right. Back in September 2020, during the presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the pair appeared in a video message urging Americans to 'vote against hate speech'.
In this video, part of Time 100 magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people, Harry also shared that he wouldn't be able to vote and had never voted in the UK due to his Royal status.
Although they didn't name anyone specifically, their comments were widely interpreted as a dig at then-US President Donald Trump, leading some to claim it was a violation of the Sandringham Summit agreement, penned when the couple stepped back from their Royal duties in 2020.
Royal aides told The Sunday Times at the time that the remarks broke the pledge, leaving the Royal Family "wringing their hands". "The feeling is it's a violation of the agreement," one source said.
In 2021, she reportedly spent time cold-calling US senators as part of her campaign for paid parental leave. It's said that the Duchess reached out to senators Shelley Moore Capito and Susan Collins using a withheld number, introducing herself as Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Also, during the last US election campaign, Meghan joined forces with feminist Gloria Steinem as they called on Americans to vote. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Gloria said: "She came home to vote. The first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table where I am right now and we cold-called voters."