Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, explored avenues for significant political involvement in the United States, including an alleged request to be considered for the Senate seat vacated by Kamala Harris. According to sources, Markle approached California Gov. Gavin Newsom weeks before Joe Biden's presidential victory in 2020, seeking consideration for an appointment to the seat Harris left before becoming Vice President in January 2021. Newsom ultimately appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who subsequently won election to a full term.
A representative for Markle denied the report, and Newsom's office did not comment on the request, though a memorandum from the governor's office confirmed an "introductory meeting" with the couple in October 2020, described as a social occasion.
Such an appointment would have faced constitutional challenges. Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution prohibits individuals holding federal office from accepting titles or offices from foreign states without congressional consent. Furthermore, historical interpretations, such as those by Alexander Hamilton in "The Federalist Papers," emphasize the prohibition of titles of nobility as a cornerstone of republican government.
Beyond the Senate bid, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also reportedly sought a meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office in late 2021. They also requested accommodations at Blair House, a guest residence typically reserved for foreign leaders. White House staff are said to have rejected these requests, citing potential diplomatic complications with the United Kingdom and the British Royal Family, and a desire to avoid involvement in a "family squabble."
Sources suggest these pursuits were part of the couple's effort to gain prestige and stature following their withdrawal from royal duties in January 2020. They reportedly hired consultants with experience in the Obama White House, including Harry's chief of staff, Miranda Barbot, to act as a liaison with the Biden administration. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, in her memoir, recalled Meghan sending her lemons to deliver to Jill Biden's office.
The couple also made public political statements. In a September 2020 interview with Time magazine, they urged Americans to vote and "reject hate speech," an appeal that then-President Donald Trump dismissed.
Meghan Markle, who retained her American citizenship, also reportedly contacted senators in November 2021 to advocate for federally mandated paid family leave.
In September 2022, after Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex inquired about traveling back to the United States on Air Force One, a request that was also denied.
The Bidens reportedly had some personal sympathy for Prince Harry, given their own experiences with loss. President Biden's first wife and infant daughter died in a car crash, and Jill Biden had frequently attended Harry's Invictus Games before becoming First Lady. However, optics surrounding Harry's departure from royal life ultimately influenced their interactions.
These reported attempts to leverage American political institutions and figures appear to have ultimately fallen short, similar to the couple's other ventures in Hollywood and the lifestyle sector.