The drama surrounding Meghan Markle and the royal family is heating up once again, as fans express outrage over what they perceive to be her exclusion from a birthday photo of Prince Harry.
However, the truth might not be as scandalous as it seems.
Recently, Buckingham Palace stepped in to clarify the situation, and the backstory is quite intriguing.
So, here’s what went down.
The royal family shared a celebratory post for Prince Harry’s 40th birthday on their official social media accounts.
The image featured Harry smiling at a table, but eagle-eyed observers quickly noted that Meghan appeared to be cropped out of the photo.
The original image, which surfaced over the weekend, showed Markle dressed in a black blazer, her arm barely visible in the cropped version.
Critics wasted no time jumping to conclusions, accusing the royal family of intentionally excluding Meghan from the birthday tribute.
After all, it’s not her birthday, so why would they include her?
But let’s take a closer look.
While it does appear that the image was indeed cropped, the reasoning behind it might not be as malicious as some think.
According to sources, the photo was provided in its cropped format by the Press Association.
This means that the royal family didn’t alter the image themselves.
Instead, they used what was available to them.
Speculation arose that Harry might have received calls from family members on his special day, but many doubt that any meaningful communication took place.
Some insiders suggest that King Charles and Kate Middleton might have reached out to Harry, but given the ongoing tensions, many find this hard to believe.
The brothers haven’t been on speaking terms for quite some time, and the dynamics within the family seem strained.
It’s tough to imagine a heartfelt birthday call amidst such discord.
The royal family’s social media accounts did share a generic birthday greeting, which raised eyebrows among fans.
Given the history of petty squabbles within the royal family, many wondered if this was yet another passive-aggressive move aimed at Harry.
Social media users quickly jumped on the narrative that Meghan had been deliberately cropped out, fueling the fire of speculation.
Interestingly, there’s another version of the photo featuring Markle laughing behind Harry, but it appears the royal team did not handle the cropping themselves.
Both the full and cropped images are accessible through AP and Getty’s photo archives.
This raises questions about whether the palace was simply trying to avoid using an image that included an out-of-focus Meghan.
Buckingham Palace has since confirmed that the photo was not altered and was used in the format it was received.
This statement suggests that the controversy might be more of a misunderstanding than a deliberate slight against Meghan.
Critics of the royal family may continue to argue that this was an intentional jab, but the palace’s clarification offers a different perspective.
While some fans remain convinced that the royals are intentionally poking fun at Harry and Meghan, the reality might be far less dramatic.
The cropped image, while it may appear to exclude Markle, was simply a matter of practical social media formatting.
The royal family likely needed a square image for their post and chose the best option available.
As the saga continues, it’s clear that the relationship between Harry and the rest of the royal family remains complicated.
With tensions still simmering, it’s uncertain how the family will navigate future interactions.
One thing is for sure: the public’s fascination with the Sussexes and their ties to the monarchy isn’t fading anytime soon.
In lighter news, Andy Signor, who covered this story, is gearing up for an event in London where he plans to meet fans and discuss their views on the royal couple.
He’s excited to engage with supporters and share insights into the ongoing drama surrounding the family.
With so much happening, it’s clear that the royal family will continue to be a topic of conversation for the foreseeable future.
Related Stories
