Meghan\u2019s love for the limelight following her previous life on TV appeared to spark an irrevocable identity crisis for the Sussexes that still lingers more than seven years on. In the midst of her \u2018long British maternity leave\u2019 in 2019 and just two months after the birth of Archie, both Meghan and Harry were pictured greeting pop icon Beyonc\u00e9 at the Lion King premiere in London. Questions were also raised over why the Duchess had carried out a mere 22 royal engagements in the seven months she spent as an unpaid guest editor of British Vogue, compared to Kate who managed 42 engagements during her own maternity leave. \u2013 Daily Mail<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Royals and the Celebrity Double Standard<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea that Meghan somehow crossed an invisible line by associating with celebrities collapses under the weight of royal history. Diana\u2019s friendships with Elton John and George Michael were celebrated as part of her glamour. Charles cultivated ties with public figures, including Jimmy Savile, whose later exposure as a prolific predator made that association deeply troubling in hindsight. William and Kate invite footballers, pop stars, and actors to their high-profile events and even appear at film premieres such as the James Bond \u2018No Time to Die\u2019 or Top Gun: Maverick red carpet, yet their ties to celebrities are never framed as a crisis of identity.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n When Meghan and Harry greeted Beyonc\u00e9 at a London premiere, it became fodder for claims that she was chasing fame. When they stayed at Elton John\u2019s villa, tabloids branded them hypocrites. Yet this outrage rings hollow given the royal family\u2019s long record of enjoying celebrity proximity. The problem is not Meghan\u2019s circle of friends but the racialized double standard applied to her. A Black woman in elite spaces was always going to be framed as \u201ctoo much\u201d by a media that has historically struggled to accept diversity within the monarchy.<\/p>\n Maternity Leave and the Workload Smear<\/strong><\/p>\n The Mail\u2019s fixation on Meghan\u2019s 2019 engagements is particularly disingenuous. She was on maternity leave, caring for a newborn, yet still completed 22 engagements. More importantly, she curated British Vogue\u2019s Forces for Change issue<\/a><\/strong>, which became the fastest-selling in the magazine\u2019s history. It was unpaid, it elevated women leaders, and it showcased her ability to use her platform for meaningful impact.<\/p>\n By contrast, Kate Middleton has faced years of criticism for a weak work ethic. She was nicknamed the \u201cDuchess Do-Little\u201d long before Meghan arrived. Even Queen Elizabeth reportedly pushed Kate to take on more responsibilities. Yet Meghan, who balanced motherhood and an ambitious editorial project and countless royal engagements, is painted as lazy while Kate is spared scrutiny. Her numbers today remain low and stark. <\/p>\n The idea that Meghan was uniquely failing in her royal duties collapses when set against her record. She co-created the bestselling Together: Our Community Cookbook<\/strong> with the Hubb Community Kitchen, spotlighted women\u2019s employment through Smart Works, championed animal welfare at Mayhew, and supported the arts as Patron of the National Theatre. In her first year, she carried out over 100 public engagements, took part in overseas tours. She also helped expand the monarchy\u2019s outreach to younger and more diverse audiences. Her speeches on gender equity and mental health, along with her advocacy that influenced policy debates, showed she was using her platform to drive meaningful impact far beyond ribbon cuttings.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kate-Middletons-Lazy-Duchess-Era-Immortalized-in-Headlines.png\")
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