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The latest episode of The Graham Norton Show has certainly caused a stir. Actor Hugh Grant's scathing remarks about Meghan Markle have ignited further debate about the Duchess of Sussex and fueled the intrigue surrounding her time as a working royal.
During the BBC program, Grant referred to Markle as an "incompetent" royal who is only interested in money. This bold statement has shone a spotlight once again on Markle's controversial exit from the royal family in early 2020 and the numerous questions that still surround her motivations.
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While Grant's comments were incendiary, it's understandable why they have resonated with some. Ever since marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Markle has faced intense media scrutiny and criticism over nearly every move. Her departure from frontline royal duties last year and subsequent career paths in television and podcasting have led critics to speculate she was more interested in commercial opportunities than service.
Skeptics point to Markle's involvement in lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify as signs she has exploited her royal status for financial gain rather than community impact. A $100 million contract and a brand new media production company have done little to placate those who see her prioritizing money over public duty. Supporters counter that as a divorced, mixed-race American, she has faced unrelenting racism and hostility from the press and simply wants stability for her young family.
Beyond business matters, Markle's fractious relationship with the tabloids continues to make headlines and attract commentary. She has openly accused some outlets of racist coverage and harassment. While condemnation of genuine racism is warranted, the Duchess has also been accused of courting media attention at times through public spats that inflame rather than resolve tensions. Comments like describing life as a royal as "almost unsurvivable" have hardly endeared her to the traditionally-minded public.
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The transatlantic move to California during the pandemic seemed to confirm in the eyes of critics that Markle always intended to leave the confines of the royal system. Yet her supporters see a resilient biracial woman who bravely faced discrimination and carved out a new independent path on her own terms, with fans drawn to her poise and determination in the face of adversity.
It is this dichotomy - between victim and opportunist, crusader and fame-seeker - that ensures ongoing debate around each of Markle's public steps. Her recent children's book, though a boost for literacy charities, was also branded as 'preachy' in its promotion of positive change. Every interview and production deal will face intense examination of perceived integrity versus commercialism for the foreseeable future.
While Harry and Markle have launched an admirable foundation focused on mental health and environmental and community issues, questions remain as to whether their current celebrity projects further these goals more than their own branding. Reconciling public service with commercial livelihood is a challenge all royals now face, but Markle's career transitions cut especially close to long-held notions of noble duty.
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Both sides in the ongoing 'Megxit' saga have arguments, with complex realities unlikely to be solved by simplistic attacks from political firebrands like Piers Morgan or Grant, however provocative their barbs. As with any royal split, subjective views on honour, duty, privilege and victims' rights will continue fueling debate. Meantime, an undercurrent of prejudice towards Markle as a divorcee of color ensures her every action is polarized through a prism of bias, fair or not.
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Ultimately, assessments of her legacy may depend on her longer-term impact and how she uses her platform in years to come. For now, she remains one of the most talked-about women in the world with a story set to fascinate and divide people for the foreseeable future. While Grant's comments exposed raw nerves, the discussion they triggered is a reminder that reasonable minds may see two sides of the woman who fractured one of the world's most storied institutions.
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