Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are coming under fire after reports emerged that his team demanded a New York school sign a gag clause prohibiting negative commentary of the couple’s visit.
The accusation conflicts with the carefully crafted image of the Sussexes as compassionate public figures.
Harry and Meghan’s silence clause
In September 2021, Harry and Meghan visited 123 public school in Harlem, New York.
On that occasion, Meghan read her children’s book “The Bench” to a second-grade class, while Harry interacted with the students. Footage of the event appeared in the couple’s Netflix documentary.
However, new revelations indicate that the touching visit was not as organic as it seemed.
According to British tabloid The Sun, the Sussexes’ advisors demanded that school officials sign a clause prohibiting any negative comments about the royal couple from the school community.
Sources close to Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation confirmed to The Sun that such clauses are standard practice for the Sussexes’ public outings.
The hush clause was emailed by an Archewell representative to the New York education department three days before the event.
Notably, the school the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited is among the poorest in New York.
Critics argue that the clause limits free speech and is an attempt to control the couple’s media narrative.
The news follows earlier accusations that the Sussexes over-manage their brand image.
Following a photoshoot in New York in 2021, photographers alleged that Archewell coordinators had micromanaged the shoot to ensure that only carefully selected images were published.
The revelation of the gag clause also provoked reactions on social media.
Many considered the requirement unethical in a disadvantaged public school.
Others noted the irony given the Sussexes’ outspoken stance against oppression.
Despite the clause, Harry and Meghan’s visit to PS 123 generated positive press at the time.