King Charles III has sparked controversy by praising his daughter-in-law Princess Kate but ignoring Meghan Markle in his speech at a state banquet in Kenya. The king and Queen Camilla are on their first state visit to Kenya, where they are celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain and strengthening the ties between the two countries.
The king gave a speech at the banquet on Tuesday, Oct. 31, where he recalled his family’s visits to Kenya and the fact that his son Prince William proposed to Kate there in 2010.
He said: “It was here, in sight of Mount Kenya, that my son, the Prince of Wales, proposed to his wife, now my beloved daughter-in-law.”
He added: “The intimacy of our shared history has brought our people together.”
However, he made no mention of his other daughter-in-law Meghan, who is married to his younger son Prince Harry.
As reported by Thenews, The omission was seen by some as a snub to Meghan, who has been at odds with the royal family since she and Harry decided to step back from their senior roles and move to the US in 2020. The couple have also made several explosive claims about their experiences as royals, including allegations of racism and lack of support.
Meghan and Harry have also been criticised for their lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify, which some see as exploiting their royal status for personal gain.
Some royal fans and commentators expressed their disappointment and anger at the king’s speech on social media.
One fan wrote on X: “King Charles is so rude. How can he ignore Meghan like that? She is also his daughter-in-law and deserves respect.”
Another fan wrote: “King Charles is clearly playing favourites. He praises Kate but snubs Meghan. He is not a fair and impartial king.”
However, some defended the king and said that he was simply focusing on his relationship with Kenya and not on his family drama.
One fan wrote: “King Charles is not snubbing Meghan. He is just talking about his personal connection to Kenya. He has no reason to mention Meghan in this context.”
Another fan wrote: “King Charles is being diplomatic and respectful. He is not going to bring up Meghan and Harry’s issues in a public speech. He is there to represent his country and honour Kenya.”
The king’s speech was not the only source of controversy during his visit to Kenya. He also faced calls from activists for an apology for Britain’s colonial past in Kenya, especially the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, which resulted in thousands of deaths and human rights abuses.
The king did not apologise but expressed regret and sorrow for the wrongdoings of the past. He said: “There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty – and for that, there can be no excuse.”
He also said that he wanted to deepen his understanding of the impact of colonialism on Kenya and its people, and to address the history with honesty and openness.
The king and queen will continue their visit to Kenya until Friday, when they will return to Britain.
