As a Colonial from Down Under, I have had only a mild interest in the Royal Family, and their occasional scandals, just make for some amusement. However, I did feel that the introduction of Ms Markle (Foreigner, Divorcee, Person of Colour, Commoner) into the Family would be, in the long run, a Very Good Thing for helping to drag the monarchy into the modern world and to adjust to it. So, I watched That Interview, and like Steve, thought Megs came over quite well.

Then I started watching News clips and YouTube clips to gauge reaction and was interested to find that I was left wondering if we had all watched the same Interview!!??    Yes, "Context is Everything"!
I rather think that those who only saw the advertising and news clips, came away with a different perspective (surprise surprise :) and reacted to just what the mischief-makers amongst the media, wanted.
(I come from the country that gave the world Rupert Murdoch - and yes, we're really very sorry about that :(

As Meghan & Harry - and a great many others - have tried to point out, the tabloids that so many of the population are addicted to, have no interest in the concept of Truthfulness.    Down Under, we have a huge market in what are sadly termed "women's magazines", which are our version of British tabloid newspaper fiction and which keep pumping out the gossip and falsehoods - but it would seem huge numbers of people actually believe their content ……… and keep buying them.

If I watch a YT clip, I tend to also browse many of the Comments which, I find, can be very instructive!    In this case, re most of the clips that I saw reporting the M-H Interview, I was then astounded - and completely appalled - at the quantity and level of Vitriol - Venom - Misogyny - Hate (and Racism too) that was being flung at the couple - but esp at the woman - and in more than a few comments, the view was expressed that "Poor Harry" was just really stupid in allowing himself to be snared by The Evil One.   [BtW, I didn't get the impression that these were just adolescent time-wasting Trolls!]    It's really quite incredible, the amount of BAD things that are attributed to her (and she’s not even made 40 yet!) - sociologists will, I feel, study this phenomenon for years to come!

The Commenters also seem to feel safe in their self-righteous indignation, to use what may even be their real name (at least, it's not often an obvious coverup moniker) and there are probably more female than male - but not exclusively. Of course it's difficult to assess what country they may be from, though some do say "I'm American and I think she's evil too"!! Although, some then bring in the absolutely shocking idea of Meghan being a Woke Democrat, so you know what level of thinking and prejudice is being displayed there!! Certainly any level of compassion or empathy - or tolerance - is rare. And these people so rabidly consumed by it all, are likely Parents too ..........

In the short term, I don't think this Interview has had the results they were perhaps hoping for, as it's brought out even more hatred, but a few years down the track, things could (hopefully) be different.
And maybe that's their job in this lifetime : Agents of Change.

So as a Colonial 'Catter, that's my 2cents worth on the controversy. If I was an avid Conspiracy Follower, I may even contend that there are Dark Forces at work, shaping our dramas and fuelling our distrust of folks who don't look or think the same as us - but that couldn't be true, could it? Coz surely we're not silly enough to allow that kind of manipulation of ourselves ...... are we??!!

R-J

"What the World needs now, is Love, sweet Love; It's the only thing that there's just too little of ....."