Clare Foges, a former chief speechwriter to the prime minister, has detailed her experience applying for a role to help shape the public voices of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and offered her perspective on their relationship with the UK.
In November 2019, Foges was approached about a discreet position to assist the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their speeches. At the time, the couple was on a six-week break in Canada. Foges, a self-described royalist, was eager to assist the couple, whom she believed possessed enough charisma to sustain the monarchy. However, the announcement of "Megxit" in January 2020, signifying their departure from royal duties, led to the withdrawal of the job offer.
Foges expressed disappointment not only professionally but also as a patriot, viewing the Sussexes' rejection of royal life and Britain as a personal slight. She recalled the couple's glamorous wedding and initial public appeal, suggesting they represented a significant asset to the Royal Family and the nation's soft power abroad.
Despite acknowledging that the couple made "serious errors" and that their actions caused "hurt and embarrassment to the Royal Family," Foges noted a shift in public sentiment. She cited a YouGov poll indicating that 71% of the public believed the government should not fund Harry and Meghan's security, despite their high profile and potential security risks. Friends' opinions she gathered were similarly harsh, describing the couple as "toxic" and "grifters."
Foges suggested that a potential return to public duties by the Duke and Duchess could benefit the House of Windsor and enhance Britain's international standing. She envisioned a reconciliation that would serve as a "tonic for us all, too; a sign in torrid times that forgiveness is possible," and pictured a scene of familial unity on Christmas morning at Sandringham.
She urged the senior royals to "be the bigger people" and welcome the Sussexes back, advocating for their security to be paid for and for them to gradually re-engage in royal engagements, such as supporting charities for the elderly and disabled. Foges advised Harry and Meghan to "lie low for a year or two" and to focus on "unglamorous causes that are close to the nation’s heart" rather than commercial ventures or public criticism of the UK.
"Be cheerleaders for Britain and perhaps once again Britain will be cheerleaders for you," Foges concluded, adding that she remains available to assist with speeches if needed.