A year into my stint as Fortunes commentary editor, I never expected that of all the things Id look back on, royal news would be top of mind. Yet here I am, and here we are, with more drama between the Windsors and the Sussexes. But we all need to pay attention: This is a major business story, a major race relations story, and a major Transatlantic Alliance story.
While the American public largely viewed the fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markles new Netflix docuseries through the lens of race, many British people roundly rejected the accusations of racism that have been leveled against the royal family. Both sides are partially rightand the ways theyre both wrong reveal the cracks in the special relationship. As a recently naturalized Egyptian-British public opinion expert, whose job mainly consists of editing op-eds by Americas entrepreneurs, academics, and top business leaders, Im here to shed light on what is getting lost in translation.
Rationing, not reform
Fortunes contributors and readers are mainly interested in varied but broad themes: keeping the American dream alive, the future of capitalism, and ways to change the world.
In my eight years living in the U.K., another, very British dream has dominated the public conversation: Brexit. As that saga rumbled on, the conversation turned to keeping calm and carrying on amid fiscal austerity in the most British way imaginable.
The business communitys concerns over Brexit were dismissed early on. COVID dealt a second blow to post-Brexit optimism, but former prime minister Boris Johnson summoned the British peoples Blitz spirit.
Concerns over the falling standards of living were equally dismissed, as the nation obsessed with how to make a penny stretch and the media dispensed tips and tricks on how not to freeze to death in your own (very expensive) home.
Tin by tin (or can by can), and one extra layer of warm clothing at a time, we can all make itjust like during the Blitz.
Accepting ones lot
From conservative commentators to everyday people on phone-in radio shows and social media, the central thesis was constant: People have it much worse than Meghan Markle. How dare she complain?
Its not about race, they argued, its Meghans attitude that is problematic.
British journalist and media diversity expert Marcus Ryder, who occasionally graces Fortunes commentary section with his insights, defines it as the difference between diversity and inclusion: Meghans presence can be acceptedbut not her values.
That observation is true regardless of geography. Its why high-performing minority hires often fail or disengage after they work so hard to get into the room at prestigious organizations.
But what values is the British public taking issue with, exactly?
Concerned radio listeners and TV pundits in the U.K. were crystal clear: Markle is making a fussand many people have it much worse in these difficult times. She should just accept her lot in life (objectively better than most of the rest of the world) and carry on.
On the flip side, emotional tributes to Harrys grandmother, her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II, invariably saluted the monarchs life of service, sense of duty, and lack of self-pity.
Prominent political editor Andrew Marr described the ideological roots of this approach best in a column written weeks before the Queens passing.
According to Marr, the Queen had been a survivor of earlier ways of being. British culture, like other European and Asian cultures, was long based on the subservience of the individual character to the role, or job, required. People were born to be farmers, or leatherworkers, mothers, shopkeepers, clerks or priests. Until modern times this was a caste society. The good life was a life in which you performed the duties and tasks which had fallen to you
If these are qualities, Americans certainly lack them. The pursuit of happiness is a constitutional right on one side of the Atlanticand essentially a crime against God and society on the other.
And while the British Empire undeniably had a dark history, modern-day Britain is a radicallyand raciallydifferent society.
This explains how a Hindu man called Rishi Sunak reached No.10by grasping the class system at a very early age, as seen in a now-famous video where a teenage Sunak explains he doesnt have friends who are working-class.
Perhaps thats the most terrifying thought for the British public about the whole Harry and Meghan predicament.
If the Sussexes can take issue with the privileged position they were handed, what about us? Does it mean we all have to speak up now? God no. The sheer awkwardness would be unbearableand Britains nurses, postal workers, and rail unions are already getting ideas as we head into a Christmas of discontent.
Put your head down, do as youre told, and carry on! And if the economy continues to tank, well layer up and cut some cornersjust like during the Blitz.
Mohamed El Aassar is Fortunes commentary editor.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
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