Meghan Markle and her children excluded from Royal Collection’s archives of more than a million objects
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sources have uncovered a curious absence that the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle is nowhere to be found in the Royal Collection's vast archives- an extensive repository, boasting over a million items across five centuries of royal history.
Typically, pieces from this collection are showcased in royal residences, such as the King's Gallery adjacent to Buckingham Palace, where the current exhibition, 'Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography', is being held.
Royal photography exhibition showcases historic images excluding Meghan Markle
Portraiture has long been instrumental in molding the public's view of the Royal Family.
According to the Royal Collection Trust Website, this exhibition traces the development of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to today, featuring over 150 photographic prints, proofs, and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives.
While the exhibition has thrilled visitors with rare photos of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, tourists have been taken aback by the absence of images of Meghan Markle and her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Daily Mail on July 28 has learned that the Royal Collection, maintained by the Royal Collection Trust, a branch of the royal household, simply does not include any photographs of them.
Photographs of the Royal Family aren't automatically added to the Royal Collection; they are usually donated by photographers or specially commissioned.
The 'Royal Portraits' exhibition showcases five images of Prince William, yet lacks any adult photographs of the Duke of Sussex, who is featured just once in a 1994 photo by John Swannell.
The photograph captures a young Prince Harry sharing a joyful moment with his brother William and their mother, Princess Diana.
The Royal Collection isn't owned by King Charles; instead, it is 'held in trust' for future monarchs and the nation.
A spokeswoman for the trust explained, "Royal Portraits... focuses on photographs taken during organized portrait sittings', adding that images from the collection were 'chosen for what they can tell us about the evolution of royal portrait photography."
Meghan Markle's journey from celebrated actress to royal princess
Meghan Markle, an American actress, married Prince Harry in May 2018.
Initially celebrated her entry into the royal family quickly became fraught with difficulties, largely due to intense media scrutiny and negative press coverage.
Reports indicated that Meghan faced a barrage of racist attacks from the British tabloids, which often compared her unfavorably to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
As Meghan and Harry navigated their royal duties, they encountered significant challenges. Harry revealed that the royal family largely failed to support them amid the escalating negative media coverage as per Vogue.
The outlet also reported that the lack of support back then culminated in Meghan experiencing severe mental health struggles, including suicidal thoughts, exacerbated by the relentless press attacks and isolation from the family.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from royal duties, seeking financial independence and a more private life.
This announcement followed a tumultuous meeting at Sandringham, where Meghan was notably excluded from discussions about their future within the royal family.
Following their decision, Buckingham Palace confirmed that they would no longer be working royals, stripping them of their royal highness titles and official roles, according to BBC.
As per CNN, in their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle and Prince Harry claimed they were financially cut off by the royal family, with Harry stating they were "literally cut off financially."
However, Clarence House (a royal residence on The Mall in the City of Westminster, London) later revealed that Prince Charles had provided them with "a substantial sum" to support their transition out of the royal family, which ceased in the summer of 2020, Forbes reported.
The couple also repaid £3.3 million in renovation costs for Frogmore Cottage.
