'It shows what she thinks of the Royal Family': Expert accuses Meghan of 'mocking' the Queen and the Firm in her woke 40th birthday video call with Melissa McCarthy that shows 'she's got what she wanted'
Meghan Markle has been accused of mocking the Queen and 'showing what she really thinks' of The Firm by a royal expert.
Royal biographer Angela Levin questioned the Duchess of Sussex's birthday clip, released yesterday for her 40th, in which the former actress chatted over video call to Hollywood star Melissa McCarthy from her £11million California mansion.
The author, who penned Harry: Conversations with the Prince, suggested mother-of-two Meghan was poking fun at Her Majesty, 95, and her tea drinking habits and tradition of 'fancy hat and glove' wearing.
Filmed at the home she shares with Prince Harry, 36, Meghan used the video, shared on her charitable foundation Archewell's website, to promote her new 40x40 initiative aimed to encourage women back into the workplace post-Covid.
Meghan Markle (pictured) has been accused of mocking the Queen and 'showing what she really thinks' of The Firm by a royal expert
Royal biographer Angela Levin questioned (above) the Duchess of Sussex's birthday clip, released yesterday for her 40th, in which the former actress chatted over video call to Hollywood star Melissa McCarthy from her £11million California mansion
Taking to Twitter, Ms Levin said: 'Anyone else think that Meghan and her friend Melissa McCartney were mocking the Queen in the birthday video?
'Both holding old fashioned cup and saucer like Meghan used in her blog after first meeting with the Queen. Melissa sipping from the cup wearing fancy hat and gloves?
'The mockery shows what she thinks of the Royal Family. She's got what she wanted and is confident she can outsmart us all. We just have to wait for Harry's outpouring in his memoir.'
In the first 30 seconds of the footage, actress Melissa claims she's working on her organic garden before pretending to realise her camera is on for the video call.
'Hang on, I'll be right back,' she says to the duchess, before returning to the screen having changed into a floral dress, fascinator and gloves.
In the first 30 seconds of the footage, actress Melissa claims she's working on her organic garden before pretending to realise her camera is on for the video call. 'Hang on, I'll be right back,' she says to the duchess, before returning to the screen having changed into a floral dress, fascinator and gloves (pictured)
Filmed at the home she shares with Prince Harry, 36, Meghan (pictured) used the video, shared on her charitable foundation Archewell's website, to promote her new 40x40 initiative aimed to encourage women back into the workplace post-Covid
The American actress jokes: 'This will probably be better for you,' while both are also captured enjoying a sip of tea from elegant cup and saucers.
Royal biographer Robert Jobson agreed in part with Ms Levin and wrote on Twitter: 'Maybe. Certainly poking fun at the Brits … with an outdated caricature. Par for the course.'
Another person said: 'Not just the Queen but the British culture in my opinion. Selling it and mocking it at the same time.'
But another added: 'It was supposed to be funny - not mocking Her Majesty. Just my opinion.'
Royal biographer Robert Jobson agreed in part with Ms Levin and wrote on Twitter: 'Maybe. Certainly poking fun at the Brits … with an outdated caricature. Par for the course'
Reaction: Other social media users were divided over Ms Levin's suggestions (pictured)
For her new '40x40' campaign, Meghan has asked 40 activists, athletes, artists and world leaders to participate by contributing 40 minutes of mentorship to women re-entering the workforce, saying that millions of women have been 'shouldered the brunt' of the Covid-19 pandemic and need help returning or regaining work.
Meghan has written a statement of intent about her new initiative 40x40 on the website of her charitable foundation Archewell.
She says when reflecting on turning 40, and the many things she is 'grateful for', she was struck that 'time' is 'among our greatest and most essential gifts', especially 'time spent in service to others knowing that it can contribute to incredible change'.
The duchess, who two months ago gave birth to her second child daughter Lilibet, claimed globally tens of millions of women had left the workforce during the past two years, in a large part due to the pandemic.
In a statement on the Archewell website, Meghan describes how her scheme is meant to empower the millions of women who have lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic and get them back into the workplace
But many were still in unpaid roles like carers and she claimed research has shown fewer women than men will return to work as the pandemic recovery begins.
Meghan wrote: 'In reflecting on my 40th birthday and the many things I am grateful for, I'm struck that TIME IS AMONG OUR GREATEST AND MOST ESSENTIAL GIFTS: Time with our loved ones, time doing the things we love, time spent learning, laughing, growing, and the sacred time we have on this earth.
'Amongst the most valuable gifts of time is also time spent in service to others knowing that it can contribute to incredible change. To that last point, and with my 40th lap around the sun in mind, it made me wonder: what would happen if we all committed 40 minutes to helping someone else or to mentoring someone in need? And then what would happen if we asked our friends to do the same?
'In the past two years, and in large part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, TENS OF MILLIONS OF women around the world have left the workforce, including over two million women in the U.S.
'So many of these women are also SHOULDERING THE BRUNT OF THE CRISIS when it comes to unpaid labor, including schooling and caring for family members. And the latest research shows that FEWER WOMEN THAN MEN WILL REGAIN WORK as we recover from the pandemic.
'I believe mentorship is one way to help women regain confidence and rebuild their economic strength, and for my birthday, I have asked 40 friends, activists, athletes, artists, and world leaders to help kickoff a global effort by contributing 40 MINUTES OF MENTORSHIP to support women re-entering the workforce. With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and, I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well.
'If you are able, please JOIN US and pledge 40 minutes today in service of others in the way that feels right to you. The time that you donate can contribute to a GLOBAL WAVE OF SERVICE and set in motion meaningful impact in our own communities, and across the world.'
The full list of celebrity mentors has not yet been released. However, those who are part of Meghan's programme include Adele, Amanda Gorman, Amanda Nguyen, Deepak Chopra, Dr Ibram X Kendi, Gloria Steinem, José Andrés, Dr Nadine Burke Harris, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Stella McCartney and Melissa McCarthy.
