The University of Arizona Press
Meghan Markle
Essays on Monarchy, Race, and Colonialism
This bold and timely anthology interrogates the British monarchy through the lens of race, gender, and postcolonial critique. The contributors of ten original essays use Meghan Markle’s public life and identity as a nexus for understanding the enduring legacies of empire, white supremacy, and institutional exclusion.
Each chapter blends academic analysis with the authors’ own lived experiences and identities, creating a deeply engaging and multifaceted narrative. Essays cover media representation, mental health, motherhood, and the politics of belonging.
Written in an accessible and engaging style, this volume speaks to readers interested in the intersections of monarchy, race, feminism, and celebrity culture. Through its interdisciplinary approach and critical insight, these essays reveal how one woman’s experience within the royal family brings into focus broader social and historical processes of racial identity making and colonial power. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the cultural and political significance of Meghan Markle’s story—and what it tells us about the world we live in.
Contributors
Lucca Ramone Carlson
Duchess Harris
Marissa Kessenich
Jasmine Mitchell
Sarah Olutola
Portia Owusu
Therí Pickens
Amelia Ryan
Julie Schwietert Collazo
Lily Talmont
Ariane Tulloch
Elwood Watson
Stephanie L. Williams
Sharon D. Wright Austin
“A thought-provoking collection of essays that critically explores the reception and treatment of Meghan Markle in the context of the monarchy’s colonial legacy and contemporary discourses of race and racism. The essays approach this argument from diverse angles, including mental health, gender, feminism, and motherhood.”—Nathalie Weidhase, University of Surrey
