Meghan Markle Interview Prompts Calls to Abolish the Monarchy in the U.K.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey has prompted #AbolishTheMonarchy to trend on Twitter, with more than 35,000 tweets under the tag.

In the interview, Meghan said that as a working royal she felt suicidal, but was denied help from palace officials. The couple also said that when Meghan was pregnant with Archie, royal family members expressed "concerns" over how dark his skin would be, amid conversations around Archie not having a title or security.

British social media users reacted to the interview, though they are divided in their opinions on Meghan and Harry's revelations. The interview also sparked a topic of conversation that is being hotly debated on Twitter: abolishing the monarchy.

A campaign group named Republic has been very vocal under the #AbolishTheMonarchy hashtag. On Twitter, @RepublicStaff said: "The monarchy has just been hit by its worst crisis since the abdication in 1936.

"Whether for the sake of Britain or for the sake of the younger royals this rotten institution needs to go. #AbolishTheMonarchy"

The campaign group is also encouraging Twitter users to sign a petition calling to end the monarchy and ensure that the Queen is Britain's last monarch. The petition page says: "The Harry and Meghan interview is devastating for the British monarchy.

"The interview confirms a lot of what we've been saying for a long time: the royal household is not fit for purpose in the modern world. It is secretive, controlling, wastes hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money every year and is bad for British politics. It's also bad for the royals."

At the time of writing, more than 2,000 people had signed the petition.

Among those calling to abolish the monarchy is English actor Scot Williams who said on Twitter: "I used to think the monarchy had at least one purpose. As Orwell said, it would stop the rise of despots and dictators.

"BUT, when Johnson lied to the Queen and prorogued parliament and she didn't fire him! That was it for me. What is the f****** point of them? #AbolishTheMonarchy"

Writer Will Black said: "The Tories had that campaign to encourage ballerinas and actors put out of work by Covid restrictions to retrain as IT workers.

"Maybe they should repurpose the ad and send it out to the royals and hangers-on. The royal family isn't even a joke anymore. #AbolishTheMonarchy"

However, the calls to abolish the monarchy have also been met with backlash.

Piers Morgan, an outspoken critic of Meghan Markle, said: "So, #AbolishTheMonarchy is now trending, albeit below me. Congrats Meghan and Harry—your mission is complete."

English author and screenwriter Dougie Brimson said: "This is the oath of allegiance I took when enlisting in the Royal Air Force in 1975. It is lifelong.

"I may not be much of a fawning Royalist but I will certainly never support the idea that we #AbolishTheMonarchy as an institution. That's a fact."