Sussexit: Are Harry and Meghan Relevant to Us?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to “step back” from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family has, inevitably, sent the media and Royal commentators into a frenzy. The couple — an ex-party-loving Prince and a Hollywood actress — were widely viewed as a driving force in the reinvention and refreshing of the Royal institution. However, the manner in which they allegedly “blindsided” the palace with an Instagram post has caused a shock, evident in the media’s obsession with it. But with their departure comes questions about the continued relevance of the Royal Family to our modern day society. With Prince Andrew’s exodus and now ‘Megxit’, how relevant is the Royal Family really? To answer this question and more we spoke to Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre, from the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide, whose research interests include European and British politics.