The Royal Revolutionary

From feminism to fashion, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been leading by example, fighting injustice and supporting women’s rights. They’re causes she feels strongly about, discovers Julia Braybrook.

- Julia Braybrook

It’s been a mere 18 months since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace to announce their engagement to the world’s press. In that time, she has generated a lot of debate of what it means to be part of a modern monarchy – and a lot of headlines. From wearing dark nail polish at the 2018 British Fashion Awards to speaking out on political issues, Meghan has continued to subvert expectations of what it means to be a member of the royal family.

In an establishment that attracts a lot of public interest, Meghan and Harry have chosen to keep much of their life private, especially when it comes to their family. The family have shared just two photos of their son, Archie Harrison – one of little Archie’s feet cradled in Meghan’s hand to mark Mother’s Day, and another partial photo of Harry holding his son on Father’s Day. They have also chosen to opt-out of a courtesy title for Archie. Instead of being called the Earl of Dumbarton, his father’s secondary title, or Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, he will simply be known as Master Archie.

These choices were cited as reasons Meghan was named in the 2019 Vogue 25, a “line-up of the high powered and visionary women whose work is shaping Britain’s future”. With model Naomi Campbell, actress Olivia Colman and scientist Margherita Turco sharing the honour, Vogue wrote that Meghan “is still very much a modern princess.”