This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Meghan Markle has been told to “stick to acting” following the “politically motivated” letter she recently sent to US Congress leaders. Yikes! The comment was reportedly made by “furious” Republicans, after the Duchess of Sussex made an emotional plea “as an engaged citizen and a parent” to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) advocating for paid parental leave.
At present, the US is one of just three of the most developed countries in the world without a national statutory paid parental leave, which could leave new mothers risking their lives in order to return to work just weeks after giving birth. According to reports, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows some employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only around 60% of employees are actually eligible. Meghan’s letter, to put it simply, was aiming to put an end to the current laws, to allow for new parents to receive paid parental leave akin to most other developed countries in the world. FYI, Estonia, Austria, and Japan top the list in terms of how many weeks of full rate equivalent maternity pay is given, with 84 weeks, 49 weeks, and 36 weeks respectively.
As you can imagine, the letter was not well received by many politicians, including many Republican leaders who were not only quick to criticize the Duchess, but even suggested that both she and Prince Harry should be stripped of their royal titles. "Ms. Markle's latest interference in US politics reignites the question in my mind as to why the Royal Family does not simply strip her and Harry officially of their titles, particularly since she insists on sending this under the pretense of being the Duchess of Sussex," Jason Smith, US Representative for Missouri's 8th congressional district, told The Daily Mail.
Lisa McClain, US Representative for Michigan's 10th congressional district, added: "Meghan Markle is incredibly out of touch with the American people and should stick to acting instead of trying to play politics. The last thing we need right now is wealthy celebrities pushing their liberal agendas on the American people."
In her 1030-word letter, which was written on official Sussexes headed paper, Meghan said: "I’m writing to you on behalf of millions of American families who are using their voices to say that comprehensive paid leave should not be a place to compromise or negotiate. In fact, most nations already have paid leave policies in place.
"Over the past 20 months, the pandemic has exposed long-existing fault lines in our communities. At an alarming rate, millions of women dropped out of the workforce, staying home with their kids as schools and daycares were closed, and looking after loved ones full-time. The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost."
Meghan went on to say that her family struggled when she was growing up, referencing the "$4.99 salad bar at Sizzler" and remembering "how hard my parents worked" to afford it. "People in our country work incredibly hard, and yet the ask is soft: for a level playing field to achieve their version of a common dream—what is fair, and equal, and right," she continued. "Many of our economic systems are past their expiration date, and as you well know, too many Americans are forced to shortchange themselves when it comes to what matters to them."
Meghan finished her letter by saying that she was grateful that neither she nor Harry were "confronted with the harsh reality" that other parents suffer when they welcomed their daughter Lilibet into the world back in June, adding, "No family should be faced with these decisions. No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child (or a loved one, or themselves, as we would see with a comprehensive paid leave plan)."
"Paid leave should be a national right, rather than a patchwork option limited to those whose employers have policies in place, or those who live in one of the few states where a leave program exists. If we’re going to create a new era of family first policies, let’s make sure that includes a strong paid leave program for every American that’s guaranteed, accessible, and encouraged without stigma or penalty. I know how politically charged things can—and have—become. But this isn’t about Right or Left, it’s about right or wrong. This is about putting families above politics. And for a refreshing change, it’s something we all seem to agree on. At a point when everything feels so divisive, let this be a shared goal that unites us."
The royal family traditionally remains neutral when it comes to politics, but Harry and Meghan have both been fairly active in US politics since their move, most famously urging Americans to vote in the US Presidential elections last November. If you’re wondering how the royal family is reacting to Meghan's letter, an insider suggested that the Palace wouldn’t be "shocked" upon learning about what she had written, before adding that her political moves are unlikely to cause a stir as she is "unlikely to return" to royal duties in the UK, as per The Daily Mail. "She's an American citizen, highly political and it's not the first time she's lobbied using her title. The Palace won't be shocked at all," the royal expert said.
