Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reveal their stance in US presidential election after being accused of endorsing Joe Biden in the last American vote

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly chosen to remain publicly neutral in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, while encouraging voter participation. To mark National Voter Registration Day, the couple organized a letter-writing initiative through their Archewell Foundation, where staff sent letters to unregistered voters, urging them to vote in the 2024 election.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will stay publicly neutral in the upcoming US presidential election, it has been revealed - pictured here during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games

Although they did not endorse any candidate in their messaging, some observers speculated that the couple might be backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump, given their previous political statements. In 2020, their comments were interpreted as critical of Trump, leading to accusations that they had violated the terms of their "Megxit" deal, which required them to remain politically neutral as non-working royals. This year, however, the Sussexes appear to be more cautious, ensuring that their efforts focus solely on civic engagement without any clear political alignment.

Despite the controversy, Buckingham Palace has previously stated that Prince Harry's remarks are made in a personal capacity, as he is no longer an active working member of the Royal Family. The couple is expected to maintain this neutral position as the U.S. election approaches, steering clear of any official endorsements.

The couple marked National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by getting the Archewell team to take part in a letter-writing activity - the couple are pictured here in Bogata, Columbia 

In September 2020, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released a video encouraging Americans to vote and denouncing hate speech, Donald Trump publicly stated that he was "no fan" of Meghan. Their remarks were perceived by many as a veiled critique of Trump during the U.S. presidential election, which sparked significant backlash, particularly from Republicans.

Following this, Republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their royal titles, arguing that their involvement in U.S. politics was inappropriate. These critics claimed that as members of the Royal Family, even in a non-working capacity, the Duke and Duchess should remain politically neutral.

A grab of the couple's video statement from the 2020 election which they filmed from the garden of their Montecito mansion

In response to the controversy, a Buckingham Palace spokesman issued a carefully worded statement, emphasizing that Prince Harry is no longer a working member of the Royal Family. The Palace made it clear that "any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity," thereby distancing the Royal Family from any political implications of the couple's statements. This allowed the Palace to remain neutral while respecting the couple's right to speak as private individuals.

This year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took a more measured approach in their political engagement ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Unlike last year's personal statements, their message this time was released through their Archewell Foundation instead of their private office, signaling a clear distinction between their charitable work and personal views.

According to The Telegraph, both Harry and Meghan are expected to remain neutral in the lead-up to the November 5 election and will not make any official endorsements. Their statement emphasized the importance of voting as a fundamental civic duty, without aligning with any particular political party.

The Sussexes’ statement read:
"Voting is not just a right; it's a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities. At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one's political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world."

This neutral, non-partisan approach seems designed to avoid the controversy that followed their perceived political involvement in the 2020 election, while still encouraging civic participation and emphasizing the importance of voting as a tool for shaping the future.

In their most recent voter engagement effort, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle emphasized the importance of voter participation without backing any particular candidate. Their statement, released through the Archewell Foundation, reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying the message that "every voice matters." According to The Telegraph, the letters sent by the couple and their team did not endorse any specific political figure, instead focusing on encouraging unregistered voters to make their voices heard.

The couple invited others to join them in this initiative, encouraging people to volunteer their time to write letters to unregistered voters. Their statement concluded:
"Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future."

This approach follows criticism from the 2020 U.S. presidential election when the Sussexes were accused of indirectly endorsing Joe Biden. At the time, they filmed a video from the garden of their Montecito mansion, urging voters to reject hate speech and misinformation, which many interpreted as a swipe at then-President Donald Trump. This year, they are taking a more neutral route, focusing solely on voter empowerment without engaging in explicit political commentary.

In September 2020, Trump said that he was 'no fan' of the Duchess after the couple released their video - pictured here during a rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

In the 2020 video address, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a public appeal to U.S. voters, with a strong emphasis on rejecting hate speech and misinformation. Meghan referred to the 2020 presidential election as "the most important election of our lifetime," highlighting the significance of that moment in shaping the future.

Prince Harry, while acknowledging that he could not vote in the U.S., also shared that he had never been able to vote in the U.K. due to his royal status. He stressed the importance of combating negative influences in the political process, saying:
"As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity."

Their statements were widely interpreted as a critique of the political climate, particularly under Donald Trump, which led to accusations of political interference. This video, filmed from the garden of their Montecito home, added to the perception that the couple was endorsing Joe Biden, sparking further controversy about their involvement in U.S. politics while holding royal titles.

Trump faces Kamala Harris at the US presidential election