On Wednesday, King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales made statements on Israel and the Hamas terrorist attacks which have left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead. The amount of statement-making and noise from celebrities, edgelord commentators and deeply problematic people has been a lot this week. I would not blame anyone if they simply avoided making public statements entirely. But many people feel it’s necessary to say something. At least the Duke and Duchess of Sussex kept it very brief. They posted this message on their Archewell site, titled “With Heavy Hearts.”
At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality. We are supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.
Yeah, that’s fine – please don’t get into the politics, just focus on the humanitarian disaster. I’m interested in the timing of the Sussexes’ statement, which came chronologically hours after Charles, William and Kate’s statements. While the Sussexes obviously do not coordinate with the Windsors, they followed the kind of protocol which the palace would have approved of. This wasn’t what happened when Russia invaded Ukraine last year. The Sussexes made a statement on the day of the invasion… while William and Kate were tweeting about their upcoming Caribbean tour. The Sussexes were called “breathtakingly arrogant” for their statement last year.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- Invictus Games Prinz Harry und Meghan beim Rollstuhl Basketball Finale Prinz Harry, Herzog von Sussex gemeinsam mit Ehefrau Meghan Markle, Herzogin von Sussex beim Rollstuhl-Basketball Finale zwischen Frankreich und der USA im Rahmen der Invictus Games 2023, Duesseldorf, 13.09.2023 Duesseldorf Nordrhein-Westfalen Deutschland *** Invictus Games Prince Harry and Meghan at the Wheelchair Basketball Final Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex together with wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex at the Wheelchair Basketball Final between France and the USA during the Invictus Games 2023, Duesseldorf, 13 09 2023 Duesseldorf Nordrhein Westfalen Germany,Image: 805086128, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO / Avalon
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- Invictus Games 2023 Rollstuhlbasketball 13.09.2023 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex und Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex lachend waehrend der Siegerehrung Invictus Games 2023, Rollstuhlbasketball Finale USA – Frankreich, Duesseldorf, Merkur Spiel Arena am 13.09.2023 *** Invictus Games 2023 Wheelchair Basketball 13 09 2023 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex laughing during the award ceremony Invictus Games 2023, Wheelchair Basketball Final USA France, Duesseldorf, Merkur Spiel Arena on 13 09 2023 Copyright:,Image: 805707470, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl / Avalon
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex during day 4 of Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 13 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex during a medal ceremony on day 4 of Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 13 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex during day 5 of Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 14 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the sixth day of the Invictus 2023 Games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf. The royal couple was very participative interacting with the athletes. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 17 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
H&M won’t win with some either way. If they had put out no statement they would have been “heartless” and they “support terrorism”. If they put out a statement, they’re “arrogant”.
^^ This 100%
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Also not making any statement would have seen them attacked.
The reality is that this is a horrible situation for the people in the region and we are all armchair spectators who think we know what is going on but in actual fact are insulated from the very real suffering on the ground.
Harry and Meghan have even donated to the organization Humanity Crew for Palestinians and Israelis!! that’s how you do it!
The ones that are criticizing Harry and Meghan’s brief statement ( or any statement at all) are just keyboard warriors that probably won’t do a damn thing to help. All they want to do is pick a part and say they”They should have said this” or “How dare they mention this and not that”
H&M have proven that they’re not trying to rock the Royal Family’s putrid leaky ass boat
Why do you think its BRF related? They were in NYC.
The location doesn’t matter. The BRF likes announcements made in a hierarchical order🙄.
My guess is journalists were asking them if they were going to make a statement after the left behind royals made theirs. In fact I know at least one who said she did ask their team if they were going to make one. It’s fine. I think they were very careful in what they said.
I don’t really care about their timing I’m just glad that they acknowledged and it sounds as if they are helping which is what they do. I’m sure the tabloids on salty isle will find a way to spin this in a negative light but it won’t stop the Sussexes from being helpful.
@susanCollins, exactly Susan, the tabloids at this moment have gotten together every nasty mouthed troll they can, to come up with a word salad of vitriol against Harry and Megan, BUT, at least the world (who are paying attention), will see that the Sussexes and Archwell, DONT just offer words, they actually try and help.!!
I am a little disappointed that they did not show solidarity for all innocent civilians that are being targeted. The same with Charles, William and Kate. Hamas is not representative of all citizens of Palestine and the besieged Gaza strip, the same way that the Israeli government is not representative of all Israelis. The death of innocents on both sides is heartbreaking and should be condemned by everyone. By denying the Palestinian suffering it reinforces the idea that Netanyahu and his government are right to continue their illegal occupation to the detriment of people who are not involved in the political decisions. The Israeli government is using this as a reason to effectively commit genocide of those living within Gaza in particular by not only military attacks but also by cutting off supplies of food, fuel and electricity.
Well put.
i kind of agree but i also think they have a fine line to walk. they’ll get criticized regardless so they played it safe. from my perspective, the last line of “helping all innocent victims” was in reference to Palestinians in Gaza as well. i just don’t think they can outright say they support Palestinians bc they’re in the US which leans pro-Israel (definitely can fill a whole entire chat about this…) and the social circle/rich/elite they are in in is very pro-Israel. and so far a lot of people have been jumping to pro-hamas when you say you support palestinians…it’s just walking on eggshells for a PR nightmare
I agree with you @hangonamin. It’s a very fine line to walk. I’ve seen the hatred and vitriol aimed at people online for even mentioning that innocent Palestinians as well as Israelis are dying.
Completely agree with you, Mei. Interesting that here (in the UK) there are starting to be some more nuanced takes on this hideous situation thankfully. I was very disappointed in Starmer’s original statement & hope that Labour might elaborate with another less simplistic view soon. Extraordinary that at the moment the Met Police are amongst those striking a balanced tone, Wouldn’t have expected that.
@MEI: I think they conveyed it by saying they were against ALL acts of brutality and terrorism and that they would help ALL through their partnerships.
@susanCollins, your spot on Susan
Susan Collins -yes, that was my takeaway too – I thought they made it clear and that they worded their statement perfectly.
Yes @SusanCollins, given the current political climate in the US, I think their statement went as far as it could go to express any compassion for Palestinian victims without attracting a huge pile-on. Being against “*all* acts of terrorism *and brutality*” seems to me to condemn both the Hamas attacks and the murder of innocent civilians on both sides of the line. Likewise, by expressing compassion for “*all* innocent victims,” I think they meant to recognize that Palestinian civilians in Gaza are among the innocent victims.
But rn in the US it’s anathema for a public figure to say that any more explicitly than they did.
I support the Sussexes statement because the statement is focusing on humanitarian aid, nothing more. Getting aid to theses suffering is far more important to me than condemning.
But they did. Are we reading the same statement?
We read the same statement. Obviously I did not provide clarity. Your point is spot on. My point which I did not clarify was intended to speak to the Sussexes focusing to the humanitarian side without taking a political side.
@Susan Collins, exactly. The statement focuses on the suffering of all without taking sides. MEI seems to feel that they should be condemning Israel and Netanyahu for how they have handled things and that’s not the purpose of their statement.
Don’t want to try to speak for Mei but the reason *I’m* slightly disappointed by the statement is because Palestine & the Palestinians didn’t get mentioned at all whereas Israel did. Either don’t mention Israel OR Palestine or mention both. That’s why I commented above,
Agreed. This statement only mentions isreal as if the indiscriminate carpet bombing of gaza who is under siege with 2M people no longer having access to water is not worth mentioning. I would have preferred that they said nothing, they are under no obligation to. No one was expecting them to.
The BRF is similarly tone deaf but that i expected.
Ok I think all points have been made. If we really think about it the Sussexes made a humanitarian statement that they will help all. Yes they mention Israel and didn’t mention Palestine. Ok so here we are. Let’s just acknowledge that the Sussexes will help ALL. We can nit pick this statement to death on who should or shouldn’t be mentioned but let’s not do that. Let’s just agree that the Sussexes are going to help ALL the innocent victims of this horrible situation and call it done.
I thought H&M began their statement strongly but, like @Pip, I was slightly disappointed they mentioned Israel but not Palestine, or Palestinians. Completely agree with @Pip: either mention both or neither. It felt like a one step forward, one step back kind of statement.
Charles, William and Kate made the same mistake.
Personally, I think people are asking way too much of people like the Sussexes. Like Kaiser said, stay out of the politics and just keep it humanitarian is the best strategy. Why would we want the Sussexes to start going down that rabbit hole of what’s going on in Gaza or in even in Israel? We keyboard warriors like to comment on things that we really have no verified facts about, and I’m glad the Sussexes are staying clear of that. I’m satisfied with their statement them and their team issued, the focus is on the humanitarian aspect of these heartbreaking events that seem to have no end in sight at this point. No picking any sides, just ” We are supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering” simple. Innocent victims are on both sides, not just Israel.
That’s the part I’m struggling with, too, Mei. By calling all Gaza occupants Hamas, Netanyahu is dehumanizing the actual, real people (including women and children) who are not soldiers in the war and are just trying to exist. They are bombing entire civilian buildings; they’ve shut off water, electricity. It is not okay.
this was the statement that walked the line and i’m glad it was short. hope they don’t put out any more statements or get more involved. this acknowledged the suffering on both sides (although not directly saying they will support Palestinians in Gaza, it’s implied) and focuses on the victims of this conflict rather than who is responsible. Harry and Meghan are great but it’s not their business nor their experience to get into geopolitics so I think this walked the line well. also a PR nightmare if they said anything remotely in support of either side.
They are very careful in what they said, I think its fine. I appreciate that they are focusing on the humanitarian aspect of this as well and not wading into the politics.
Sadly some are dissecting everything word trying to turn a statement focused on the humanitarian crisis happening there and trying to drag the statement into being political. The AWF is supporting the charities they partner with who are on the ground trying to help all civilians caught in this. That is immediate help and these are the organizations we should focus on because everything else is just to political raw and volatile for many.
I like how this couple’s statement reflected the humanitarian side. Well done. Brief and to the point which reflects how they are living their lives, as humanitarians.
They can’t win. I saw that Elizabeth Holmes posted to her Instagram that she had reached out to the Sussexes and was waiting for their response. If they had ignored it they would have been condemned. The royal watchers are so desperate for content they will even use this horrific situation for clicks.
Read your comment and was like “How is Elizabeth Holmes on IG? Do they allow IG in jail?” Clearly it’s early. 🤣 🤣
I like that the statement was short but for the love of God be like Beyonce you don’t have to comment because you were asked especially such political issue. Simple no comment I’m aware they don’t do social media but surely they can’t be so out of touch to realise the criticism many celebrities have faced for simply saying “no more killing or peace for all”. AT this stage meghan and Harry should be aware whenever journalist asked their opnion it’s not from a good point, they wab t to criticise everything you do.
Harry and Meghan have released statements for all major events that have happened. Wars, natural disasters, etc. It’s what they do. They are not Beyoncé or Taylor Swift.
This. It’s in the very nature of the humanitarian work they do that a statement would be expected. They comment on virtually all world events and disasters — if they said nothing about this it can be assured that they’d be ripped apart even more than they are for saying something. I think this was done as diplomatically as possible.
Nobody was ripping them apart for saying nothing . Enough of this narrative. People were not clamouring outside of their home in montecito begging them for a statement.
As the french say : they missed an opportunity to stay silent.
@Julie They have been criticized for saying nothing before. Not yet in this incident, but likely would have. Meghan got panned for saying nothing about a former co-worker dying. And people might not have been “clamouring outside their house”, but they had been asked about a statement.
@Julie, except reporters were reaching out to the foundation to see if they had a statement. Due to the nature of their work, it would have seemed odd had they not released one (especially given that they’ve done so in other matters of crisis).
And while some consider H&M to be ‘celebrities,’ they’re first and foremost using their enormous platform to be humanitarians…not to act or sing or sell stuff. Their work is focused on helping people. So I don’t get comparing them to music or movie celebs and saying they should be silent on this issue.
They’re right. Every war makes innocent victims. Every war is caused by politicians. It has parallels in the Animal Kingdom. It’s just about grabbing resources. Ecologists may say it’s just Resource Competition. I’ve studied Ecology . Well done Harry and Meghan.
I thought it was very well done actually .
Simple and sympathetic to all victims .
The statement is down the middle for the victims but the Sussexes are living in a country that is throwing its weight behind Israel.
So I’m irritated that they were kind of pressured into saying anything but do appreciate the overall humanitarian view that the statement took. This actually sounds like a statement that would have been made by Jose Andres.
Sidenote: I’ve been seeing a ton of black creators being targeted for not making statements about this issue when most are thinking and learning before they speak. There’s a lot of vitriol with comments like “You only care when it’s white supremacy” and what not. It’s not a crime to learn about an issue and think before speaking, but evidently in 2023 it is.
:Rant Over:
Luvvie Jones had a whole spiel on this yesterday, the way people were coming for her in her DMs because she wasn’t saying enough or saying what people thought she should be saying was appalling.
We were reading the same thing. My favorite line was “I’m not your social justice mammy!”
Elizabeth Holmes, whom I thought only covered royal fashion, shared that she reached out to their people specifically asking if the Sussexes were going to make a statement after statements were released from the other royals. So my guess is other reporters were doing the same which resulted in the statement that was released last night.
I think they were going to release a statement anyway and were waiting till they got home. I don’t think Elizabeth Holmes has that kind of pull with the Sussex’s.
For some reason, I thought you were talking about former Theranos grifter Elizabeth Holmes and could not figure out why she was being brought into this conversation.
@Eating Popcorn…at least there are 2 of us 🤣
People who are committed to hating Harry and Meghan will always find fault. These people do not matter. Hatred is the only language that they speak. They are already lost.
H&M always stay true to who they are in their hearts and at their core. Which is their dedication to being of service to the world. They condemned ALL acts of terrorism and seek to help ALL victims in this cruel and senseless war. I respect their position.
It’s very difficult to deliver “nuanced” statements when Hamas is showing itself to be ISIS by beheading babies and kidnapping, torturing, and then killing 80 year olds. One can imagine now how Hamas continues to hold power in Gaza–by the most brutal means required. I am no fan of the current Israeli government and I hope this might lead to a change eventually in Israel. But in this particular instance, any suffering inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza is the direct result of Hamas’ actions. As I understand it, the international community is working hard to get innocent Palestinians out of Gaza. Hamas is making that extremely difficult.
I think the Sussex statement struck just the right note and was very balanced and compassionate toward all those suffering.
The international community then needs to speak about helping Palestinians then. Because right now their suffering has been unacknowledged.
Israel is responding by also targeting and killing innocent people in a bid to catch the terrorist Hamas – (9 UN workers killed by air raids). an eye for an eye does not work 🙁
💯
Hamas is as evil as the current israeli government that is as we speak raining bombs on the head of babies condemning them to certain death. I don’t know how you think that this somehow a lesser evil than beheading, when the end result is exactly the same : DEATH.
The difference here is that western countries are throwing their weight behind isreal , completely disregarding that this situation didn’t occur in a vacuum but as a result ot 70 plus years of oppression of the palestinian people.
The suffering of the Palestian people is being caused by the IDF, they are the ones dropping the bombs. It’s utterly callous the way, some people simply shrug it off and say : well its their fault for supporting hamas.
Would you say the same for those 1200 israeli that were killed by hamas : well its a their own fault for having a right wing netanyahu govt.
Absolutely Julie.
& now is precisely when “nuanced” is required, more than during any fragile supposed peace.
@brassyrebel, THIS 👋
Yes the Hamas are terrorists and commiting horrendous crimes against civilians. And Israel has a right do defend itself.
But does that give the Israel goventment the right to disregard all rules of war and taking the gaza strip hostage by cutting civilians of from all ressources? Water, food, energy, medicine? Bombing villages without regard for civilans?
There is a reason the geneva convention exists, and that hamas is a terrorist organisation and nit following the rules, does not give Israel the rigth to indicriminatly kill civilians.
At the end, the israeli goverment is doing what hamas wants, creating more civilan martyrers and strenghtening hamas position.
The worst thing for hamas would be a functioning peace process.
I’m so sad that people were hounding them for a statement that they had to make one. They’re private citizens, leave them alone. I also wish they had just said “no comment” and kept their support and work behind the scenes, coz they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.