The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan and Harry will take their place in history as leaders who rose to the occasion in times of crisis. They will be remembered as advocates for equality and social justice. The former Meghan Markle always stood up against racism and advocated for equality. Harry and Meghan are the only royals in Britain supporting Black people who make up most of the Commonwealth population. The Sussex support has not gone unnoticed. It is also evident to the Commonwealth that the leader of the Commonwealth refuses to acknowledge that Black Lives Matter.

The British press tried to obliterate the reputation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex . The racial, sexist, and colonial undertones have been loud and clear for all the Commonwealth to hear.

To hear the royal reporters, tell the story the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are controversial. Supporting black lives right to live and thrive is controversial to the leader of the Commonwealth. The tabloids unleashed their racist Nazi weapons of mass misinformation against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their human rights abuses against Meghan Markle caused so much unnecessary pain . Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave life as senior royals was uncharted territory.

Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve.

Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex

When Harry and Meghan first married, they were ready to serve the monarchy. After the successful Oceania tour with crowds exceeding any that had ever come to see Queen Elizabeth and her two heirs; the Sussexes were sidelined. Sidelining Harry and Meghan was meant to damper the influence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The firm as the British royals are known decided they wanted a slimmed down monarchy. The idea was that the Sussexes would lose influence by not being royal.

I also know you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do. And she does, and she’s the same woman I fell in love with. We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride.

Prince Harry

It has turned out that the British royal family’s loss is America’s gain. Across the world , the philanthropic royals have been embraced with open arms. Meghan and Harry have the power to effect positive change. They are the definition of #ForcesforChange. This change is helping the forgotten communities in Britain and in America and across the Commonwealth. These are the communities that the British royals deem controversial and political.

Prince Harry as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and Meghan Markle with her work with One Young World had powerful connections with the youth. A smart monarchy could have capitalized on the strength and the constituency the Sussexes brought to the British monarchy. By sidelining the Sussexes, the British royals lost a generation, particularly in the Commonwealth. They will never win the hearts and minds of these young people who seek change and equality.

The truth is that Black Lives Matter is not a political issue it is a human rights issue. The leader of the Commonwealth may believe that defending black lives is political and being more English is best. After all Prince Charles accepted his grandson being labelled a monkey. One day he is going to wake up and the Commonwealth is dissolved.

Africans and all people of African descent are tired of symbolism from Prince Charles. Young people want substance and proof that he believes in equality starting with the way he treats his bi-racial daughter in law and his mixed race grandson and ending with concrete equality measures in Britain. If Prince Charles doe not do this he will find himself as King of England and no one else. Leadership takes courage and its time the British royals take a stand. They can be more English or more Commonwealth and diverse but they cannot be both