'Canada, let’s quit the Commonwealth': Canadians react to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Oprah interview
People around the world were glued to their screen on Sunday, watching Oprah Winfrey interview Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Detailing their struggles with the royal family, the "institution," revealing there were questions around "how dark" Archie's skin would be, and Markle's mental health and suicidal thoughts after entering the British royal family, people were left with their jaws dropped after the two-hour special.
Comments and reactions to the interview have been in full force on social media, including Canadians who are questioning whether Canada should drop the monarchy and have an elected head of state.
Anyways, while we’re all here let’s just burn the monarchy to the ground. Or at least, Brits you do you but Canada let’s quit the commonwealth and get that dinosaur off our money
— Tarin Gill (@TarinGill) March 8, 2021
The main reasons we can’t get rid of the monarchy in Canada are:
a) political cowardice
b) provincial opportunism
A well organized campaign could unite a majority in favour of constitutional change, but the problem is what will be asked for in “payment”.— megphisto 🏳️🌈 (@themeganpurdy) March 8, 2021
For the first time in my life I’m embarrassed that Canada is tied to the monarchy.
— Sarah Hollins 😷 (@shollins77) March 8, 2021
We must never spend even a penny more on the British monarchy. Get Canada out of the commonwealth now. @CanadianPM @JustinTrudeau @viraniarif https://t.co/yduhK1FaYB
— dishonour on your cow (@ohnoisaidit) March 8, 2021
How can we in Canada justify maintaining our link to such a poisonous institution?
— Sean 'No Exit" Marshall (@Sean_YYZ) March 8, 2021
An online poll of 1,000 adults in Canada, conducted by Research Co. between Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, found that 45 per cent of Canadians would prefer to have an elected head of state instead, with 24 per cent of respondents indicating they would rather see Canada remaining a monarchy.
Other Canadians shared how they believe Princess Diana would feel if she was able to watch the interview.
"I think she would feel very angry with how this has panned out and very sad. But ultimately, all she’d ever want is for us to be happy," Harry said in the interview with Winfrey.
Princess Diana smiling down from heaven as she watches Meghan take down an entire EMPIRE. 🙏🏾#HarryandMeghanonOprah pic.twitter.com/P9X3j47fWY
— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) March 8, 2021
This is SUCH a f*ck you to the way that family treated Diana. I love it.
— Michael Yerxa (He/Him) (@mikeyerxa) March 8, 2021
Diana would have given them keys to her Jag and a couple of pairs of Groucho glasses and whispered "run"
— Elizabeth Renzetti (@lizrenzetti) March 8, 2021
Hearing about Diana’s trust and the way Harry is using it to protect his family. That really hit me. God bless all the Moms looking out for their children, even in death 🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Saadia Sediqzadah (@Saadia_Sediq) March 8, 2021
I know that interview was meant to draw a lot of parallels between Meghan and Diana but all I saw was that Harry is definitely his mothers son 💙🙏 #OprahMeghanHarry
— Manisha Gupta (@ManiiiiG) March 8, 2021
Others continue to call out the racism claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their interview, in addition to how she has been treated by the British press.
"If the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society," Harry said in the interview.
Still processing last night's interview with Meghan Markle and how on the eve of #IWD it was such a gut blow of deeply rooted institutional racism & misogyny. If you are still processing too, this may help https://t.co/rh1Vr3OeQb
— Julia Hanigsberg (@Hanigsberg) March 8, 2021
the royal family is the perfect example of systemic racism:
although the queen was pleasant, warm and welcoming towards Meghan, she still benefits and contributes to an institution upholding racism and bigotry.
and that’s on white supremacy.— Aidan (@aidantooth) March 8, 2021
You might think that the Harry and Meghan interview is ‘frivolous gossip’ but it’s not a cool hot take to ignore the legacy of racism and colonialism in a centuries old institution that continues to profit from its power. https://t.co/EARTAWvHiO
— Abby Lendvai (@abbylendvai) March 8, 2021
All chatter about titles is a misdirect. Harry, Meghan and Archie faced escalating death threats and racism to the point of suicide and not only was help not given, security and the funds to cover it were removed. #HarryandMeghanonOprah #RetireTheFirm
— Catriona Delaney (@rossamama1) March 8, 2021
Meghan is confirming what we already know about racists & colonizers. Glad she found the strength to tell her story #MeghanandHarryonOprah
— Dr. Ann E. Lopez (@DrAnnLopez) March 8, 2021