Meghan Markle ‘trying to be like the Obamas’ with Time cover – as experts say she’s ‘primed’ for political career
MEGHAN Markle is “trying to be like the Obamas” with her Time magazine cover – as experts say she’s “primed” for a political career.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made waves with their appearance on the front page of the respected US mag that honoured the world’s 100 most influential people.
And royal experts think the powerful pictures alongside the detailed profile accompanying their entry under “Icons” marks the start of Meghan’s manoeuvres into politics.
Written by their friend Spanish chef José Andrés, it told how the couple “run toward the struggle” and “turn compassion into boots on the ground”.
It seems she is taking career advice from close pals Barack and Michelle Obama – who have also starred in a stack of Time magazine shoots.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said of the Sussexes: “This magazine cover has made it very very clear what’s in the couple’s mind – and especially Meghan’s mind – and that’s politics. It must be!
“I think there is absolutely no doubt that if they made the cover it’s not about what they’ve achieved, but what they could achieve.
“They’re going to become more and more visible. I think that they’re looking at politics.”
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The royal expert described their Time cover as “a considerable feat” and said it proves “the power of their brand”.
Since her departure from the Royal family, Meghan has regained her political voice across public platforms – and doesn’t shy away from making her views clear.
“If you’re looking at the future and you’re looking at Meghan as an activist, for gender equality, the environment, diversity, I think that it makes total sense that becoming a political future would certainly be on the cards.
“You’re looking at Congress – or maybe even the Senate, she’s only 40 so there plenty of time,” Fitzgerald continued.
“Above all what this says is attention – this cover proves that they have this global pull.
“I think Meghan and politics are going to be synonymous at a certain point.”
However, the royal expert also thinks her string of celebrity pals also impacted the call to make Meghan the Time’s cover girl.
A-LIST INFLUENCE
“The reason I suspect is that they’re close to the Clinton’s, they’re close to the Obama’s, to Oprah, George Clooney, Serena Williams,” he said.
“The facts are that these are valuable contacts.”
Meghan was previously accused of taking a page out of Obama’s playbook with her ’40 x 40′ birthday initiative, after Barack’s ’60 for 60′ fundraiser.
And it wasn’t the first time Meghan has seemingly taken some inspiration from the former president and first lady.
Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan have taken career advise from the Obamas before the Sussexes’ lucrative book deals, podcasts, and a $100 million Netflix deal – not to mention their various charitable endeavors.
Meghan has also donned similar outfits to Michelle Obama: the yellow Jason Wu sheath dress Michelle wore in Italy in 2009 was extremely similar to Meghan’s Brandon Maxwell crepe midi dress the duchess wore in 2008.
POLITICAL TREND
In 2011, Oprah Winfrey welcomed the Obamas on her show and years later, Harry and Meghan made their explosive TV debut with the queen of talk show television.
While Barack and Michelle enjoy their upgraded $11.75 million waterfront home in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Meg and her husband purchased an equally impressive $14.65 million California abode.
Even Meghan’s book The Bench (2021) – which “captures the special relationship between father and son, as seen through a mother’s eyes” – followed Obama’s Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters (2010).
Obama’s book was praised as a “beautiful letter to his daughters.”
Meanwhile, the Obamas head up the Obama Foundation – as mentioned by Barack in his birthday appeal – while Meghan and Harry lead the Archewell Foundation, another charitable cause.
Now it seems the Duchess could be eyeing up Barack’s former office too.