Meghan Markle and Prince Harry flew to New York City to join the UN assembly for Nelson Mandela International Day. The Duke of Sussex delivered the keynote speech, but reports showed several empty seats during the event, it allegedly didn't sit well with the duchess. Aside from the lack of audience, the couple also received several criticisms for the invite and Prince Harry's qualifications.
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Criticized Over NYC Gig
Thomas Markle Jr. was among those who criticized the couple following their NYC gig. First, he disapproved of Prince Harry's speech involving politics when he was supposed to honor Nelson Mandela.
"You’re going to a memorial for Mandela at the U.N. building which is an open invitation to anybody in the general public and then you start talking world peace and politics which has nothing to do with anything there at that point," he told GB News (via the New York Post). "The Sussexes need to stick to rescuing chickens in Montecito and stay out of politics."
He jokingly added that he would move to the United Kingdom if Markle got into politics.
When asked if the Duchess of Sussex reached out to their dad following his recent medical issue, Thomas Jr. said she didn't keep in touch with their father.
"Not at all, nothing at all. Absolute zero," Thomas Jr. said. "What’s to be expected at this point? She didn’t call for the first heart attack or the stroke – why would she call now?"
Stay tuned for more news and updates about the royal family.
Nelson Mandela's Grandson Shocked Meghan Markle's Husband Prince Harry Was Chosen For The Key Speech
Nelson Mandela's grandson Ndaba Mandela appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Piers Morgan asked him if he knew that the Duke of Sussex was making the keynote speech.
"I didn't know to be honest," Ndaba replied. "I only found out Friday when I was speaking to one of your producers. I was quite surprised, I must say, yeah. But like I said, as long as it's something of substance in relation to our grandfather's values that he would like to implement, I don't see the problem."
When asked if there were parallels between the Sussexes and his late grandfather, considering that the former South African president had a "long walk to freedom," the younger Mandela gave a negative response.
"Of course not, there are no parallels," Ndaba said after laughing. "Because you'll see, one is obviously fighting for the dignity of Black people against a vicious tyrant like apartheid as opposed to one finding their own identity outside a said institution."
Royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti also weighed in on Prince Harry's qualifications to be the keynote speaker. He told Us Weekly that the royal was "literally completely unqualified to have anything important to tell to people."