- The Nigerian connection
A court in the United Kingdom (UK) has given an amazing legal victory to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, ruling that the owner of the Mail on Sunday violated her right to privacy by publishing extracts of a personal letter she wrote to her father after she married Prince Harry. Meghan said she was grateful that the tabloid was being held accountable for what she called “dehumanizing practices.”
The case highlights some significant differences between privacy laws in Britain and the United States (US).
The UK High Court judge in his ruling last Thursday held that publishing portions of the letter was a “manifestly excessive and thus unlawful” breach of privacy. Meghan called the decision “a comprehensive win.”
The ruling underscores a growing rift between British and American privacy laws. Legal experts note that had the letter been published in the US, Meghan wouldn’t even have had a case.
Meanwhile, the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry celebrated Valentine’s Day with the news of a second child. Markle’s pregnancy comes after a miscarriage experience that left her with many emotions. Last year, she publicly revealed the pain and grief of losing a child — a feeling that many women often have to bury inside.
“Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few,” the Duchess of Sussex wrote in a New York Times essay shared last year. “In the pain of our loss, my husband and I discovered that in a room of 100 women, 10 to 20 of them will have suffered from a miscarriage. Yet despite the staggering commonality of this pain, the conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning.
Becoming a Family of Four
Markle’s story is a source of inspiration and hope for many women. Her story shows that there is a chance to create a new life after suffering through a level of unbearable pain. The 39-year-old is getting ready for a new chapter in her life as she prepares for another child.
Markle’s not the only person who is experiencing a shift. Archie Harrison, the couple’s son, will take the reigns as a big brother. Archie will be two-years-old in May and will be closing the doors to life as an only child.
Megan and Markle made their royal transition last year. The couple stepped down as senior members of the royal family and opted in for “normal” family life. Now, the couple is making the most of their independence with their new family and ventures.
Markle’s Giving Birth to New Opportunities
Markle’s pregnancy isn’t the only big news that the former actress has shared in the last couple of months. She’s also making strategic investments in women. Last year, Markle announced her decision to invest in Clevr Blends. Launched by CEO Hannah Mendoza, this small women-owned company makes oat milk latte drinks.
“This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business,” the Duchess said in a statement to Fortune. “I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and [that] has a holistic approach to wellness. I believe in her, and I believe in her company.”
The Nigerian Connection
Misan Harriman, Harry and Meghan’s pregnancy photographer, shot to fame capturing Black Lives Matter protests is a Nigerian.
The black and white picture of the royal couple under a tree, with Harry resting his hand on Meghan’s head as she cradles her bump was taken by Misan Harriman a Nigerian-born British photographer, entrepreneur and social activist.
As well as being one of the most widely-shared photographers of the Black Lives Matter movement, Harriman is the first black man to shoot a cover of British Vogue in the magazine’s 104-year history.
Harriman, a friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, tweeted: “Meg, I was there at your wedding to witness this love story begin, and my friend, I am honoured to capture it grow.
“Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on this joyous news!”
Additional reports, credit: CBS News, Black Enterprise , BBC, Wikipedia
