A Modern ‘Mix-Race’ Princess.

One week before the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, I overheard someone (in the workplace) describe her as “trailer-trash, mix-race and was therefore, certainly not worth any level of royalty”. I felt a sudden flush of hot fury, ‘mix-race’?

As a person of colour, born in Australia, and heritage from South Asia, I have never really encountered racism in all my life. Australia is often described as a very multi-cultural society, and this is usually said or praised in a positive context; but not always. I remember being a young girl in school the day after 9/11. A young boy (Caucasian, I was the only person with coloured skin at my local school), very patriotically asked me if I was Muslim; as if he we’re a young, and very newly appointed immigration officer. When I said that I was not, he then approved to continue to be my friend.

I have had a few relationships, all of which have varied in colour, race, ethnicity, and religious belief. We are taught to accept others for who they are, only paying attention to how they behave and how they treat us and others; not the colour of their skin, the jacket of their passport, or the birth country of their parents. I am now in a very loving relationship with my Australian partner, and although we delicately flirt around conversations that involve babies, puppies and future homes, I cannot wait to have children with him. These children will of course be, mix-race.

To hear someone, speak so derogatory of Meghan Markle, because being mix-race formed part of her identity raised this prickled heat through me, but I also knew that I was taking this personally. In (over) identifying myself with the soon to be Princess (because which 27-year-old female does not want to find similarities between herself and Prince Harry’s Bride?)…
× my father too will be absent at my wedding,
× my mother will be the only direct member of my family present at my wedding,
× I will walk in alone, and down the (whole) aisle unaccompanied,
× family photos will be blended in colour and culture.
But this is something to celebrate, not be ashamed of.

Whilst I am not naïve enough to think the world is at a place of acceptance and equality (in fact, sadly far from it), hearing conversations about her mix-race status and the fact that it removed any sense of royalty from this momentous occasion, as if it tarnished it with streaks of distaste, was a rude awakening. If the Queen could approve, surely this meant that as a global society, we are moving forward?

Some people find it challenging to see the relevance of the Royal Family in 2018. Besides being on coins and legal tender, and providing an additional public holiday, what role do they play? Well, I think the recent occasion of an ancient tradition, meeting modern romance, in a celebration of love and uniting of cultures is highly relevant in today’s global society.

The acceptance of a foreign national, transatlantic Princess, into the Royal Family is not just a milestone; it is the beginning of a new era. This represents so much that is easy to overlook, not just for the Royal Family, but also for the whole world. Meghan Markle is able to create and provide a platform, not only for women, but women of colour (and multi-colour – because I am tired of saying mix-race). This platform is also extended to women who are children of divorce (Meghan’s parents divorced after 8 years of marriage) and/or divorced themselves (Meghan divorced her first husband after 2 years of marriage) – and says that this is okay. This does not make you a stained human being. You are loved, and worthy of love, and this should be celebrated. These messages are not just relevant for today they are necessary.

1.9 billion people watched the Royal Wedding, and I was happy to be one of them.

Choose love, so love will choose you.

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