The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have campaigned against kids using social media – but one expert pointed out that they have posted family snaps to promote their endeavours.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle(Image: Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been branded “hypocritical” over their use of their children on social media. The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of posting images of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to help promote her endeavours, like her Netflix reality show.
They never show the faces of the children but do post about them occasionally on the likes of Instagram. But recently the couple welcomed the Australian Government’s ban on under-16s using social media, writing in a statement: “We hope this ban is only the start of a reckoning between society and the tech companies that built these platforms with growth as their first principle instead of safety.”
But Daily Mail diary editor Richard Eden accused the couple of adopting a “hypocritical strategy” when it comes to their children’s visibility on social media for the “benefit of Meghan’s company”. He said: “Prince Harry and Meghan have long been campaigners on the dangers of social media, particularly when it comes to children and young people.
“What we’ve seen is Meghan relentlessly using social media, whether that’s Instagram or other forms to promote her company, and interestingly, we’ve seen them use their children more and more in videos.” He then referenced the video of Archie and Lilibet at Disneyland which was uploaded to the Duchess of Sussex’s Instagram.
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He went on: “You never see their faces full on. You sometimes see a side view, or you often see them from behind. It just seems a very strange strategy to me. They’re definitely very much aware of the appeal of their children. Remember they insisted on the titles of their children, ‘Prince and Princess’, and to me it looks like they’re exploiting their children for the benefit of Meghan’s company.
“They’re aware they want to keep their identity secret so no one will know exactly what their faces look like. To me this is hypocritical. Either they shun social media or they use it. They can’t criticise it on the one hand and then ruthlessly use it, showing videos of their young children.”
Harry and Meghan with Archie and Lilibet at Disneyland(Image: Instagram @meghan )
Recently, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, featured in a Christmas family photo on Meghan’s Instagram. Archie is seen hugging his father, while Meghan is bending down and holding hands with Lilibet. They are standing on a small, wooden bridge, thought to be in their garden.
Separately, the Duke and Duchess released an end-of-year video highlighting their charitable endeavours, featuring their children. Archie and Lilibet helped their parents bake cookies ahead of Thanksgiving with a local charity, and the video highlighted work the couple have done under their Archewell Foundation.
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Recently, they announced a name change for their organisation, with it being renamed Archewell Philanthropies as it marks five years since it was launched. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex set up the Archwell Foundation, which follows the mission statement “Show up, do good”, after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family and moving to the US in 2020.
In a statement explaining the change, the company said: “This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavours as a family.” Mr Eden believes that this is a hint they will be involved in the charity. He said one of Harry’s friends told him: “I am genuinely confused. Harry and Meghan were always so insistent that their children would be able to make their own way in life without the pressure of expectations or titles. I can’t believe Harry is behind this. It must be Meghan’s influence.”
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