In a bid to emulate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s intoxicatingly genuine love story, the heir to the throne and his wife have embarked on a mission. The goal? To capture their decades-long loveless, cold marriage in a whopping three-minute romantic video. Yes, it’s love on a tight schedule with no expenses spared!
The Royal couple's big day starts with a crack-of-dawn shot at one of their many taxpayers’ castle residences. Cue the swoon-worthy moments: twirling under blossoming cherry trees, a picturesque picnic, feeding the ducks perhaps (who didn’t sign up to be part of this romantic charade), and using their children as props in this Hallmark, cringy, cliched video—the royal family’s mouthpiece, Liz Jones, from the daily mail’s words, not mine. Already, the quest to Meghanised love seems daunting.
First, we see William in a crisp light blue shirt, sleeves casually rolled up, and Kate in a flowy summer dress. They laugh, they frolic, and they battle the unexpected gust of wind threatening the integrity of Kate’s perfect hair and skin after months of preventative chemotherapy. My heart goes to the millions who are still waiting to get treatment for cancer and those who’ve lost relatives due to a lack of treatment and care. It's not quite the love tornado the Wales were anticipated, but the royal camera crew powers through.
Next, the regal duo follows up with their children, who wonder if the cameras in their faces are still recording. The scene – is a copycat of Harry and Meghan’s California lifestyle, in which they don’t pretend to be stiff-upper-lip royal one day and let their hair down in a romantic escapade the next. The Sussexes choose the laid-back Montecito lifestyle because they always want to be human, not just for a three-minute Hallmark shampoo commercial video masked as happy and in love. But what can I say? You can’t fault the royal family for trying to Meghanised the future king and his wife’s romance. But wait! Kate trips over William’s foot (possibly foreshadowing what happens when you try to speed-run romance) and lands on a picnic blanket in what appears to be intimacy. Seven takes later; they finally nail the perfect cuddle and a hand pat by the future king with a glance that screams, let’s get this production over with. The clock is ticking, but the laughter is far from infectious; it’s cringing, Liz Jones’s words, not mine.
Finally, after a whirlwind day of orchestrated affection, the three-minute video is ready. It’s revealed in all its glory to the world. There’s no denying it’s a charming, beautifully expensive shot montage that even Netflix couldn’t produce. But as hearts flutter and tears are (perhaps) shed, a familiar whisper surfaces: “Is this love authentic?” Who’s asking? Oh, right, the onlookers! Oh, that’s us royalists and republicans alike watching from our cramped apartments in the city. A crowd of royal fans discards any semblance of royal reserve; we’re not cheering on every grin and giggle; we’re asking for Harry and Meghan to give us a glimpse into the many great charitable work they are doing effortlessly by just being themselves, looking in love and authentically happy. After all, a peek into the royals’ reality show is missing a vital ingredient: authenticity. A Meghanisation effort that needs more work, not more money from the taxpayers’ purse, but authentic work and relations.
After all, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did set the bar high. Their public moments exude a spontaneity and genuine affection that is hard to replicate in a staged video shoot. From shared glances to private jokes that spill into public laughter, their love story is an open book cherished by many.
Will William and Kate’s three-minute reel earn them the admiration Meghan and Harry receive? Well, as skeptical fans might quip, “You can’t Meghanise love in a flash.” True admiration springs from moments unplanned, kindness unspoken, and truths unshared. The Meghanisation of the royal family might indeed take a century or two—or offer us comic relief along the way.
Until then, keep the popcorn ready. The royal reality show is here to stay, one meticulously planned video at a time. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see a two-minute sequel! The anticipation is part of the fun.
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L J Louis is an aspiring international trade lawyer, writer, foodie, and women's advocate with a double major degree in psychology and criminology, a Bachelor of Law(Hons LLB) degree, and an advanced fitness and health promotion diploma. She writes and creates content about human sexuality, sex positivity, health, psychology, and Meghan Markle.
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