Before Prince Harry’s legal victory with News Group Newspapers (NGN), a Vanity Fair article about Prince Harry and Meghan sparked a fresh wave of attacks against the couple. Reporters with a history of targeting them quickly used the article to push their own narratives. Journalists like Camilla Tominey and Victoria Arbiter jumped at the chance to discredit Meghan and Harry while positioning themselves as victims of online harassment. These same reporters, known for spreading harmful and biased stories, continue to exploit every opportunity to shape the narrative against the Sussexes, especially during the run-up to Harry’s court case with NGN. This pattern shows how the media weaponizes stories to maintain its hostility toward Harry and Meghan.

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The “Usual Suspects” Who Came Out of the Woodwork

Over the years, British journalists have been at the forefront of damaging narratives about Meghan and Harry. From suggesting Meghan’s charity cookbook was linked to terrorism to labeling her “difficult” or “divisive” without evidence, they have consistently worked to undermine her. Harry’s advocacy for mental health has also been dismissed as “self-serving,” further highlighting their bias. While they decry criticism aimed at them, they continue to perpetuate harmful stories, fueling the cycle of misinformation and hostility.

The Royal Vendetta Continues as Victoria Arbiter Target Meghan Markle

Victoria Arbiter has amplified her criticism of Meghan Markle, leveraging the Vanity Fair article as a basis to portray the Sussexes’ supporters as enablers of targeted smear campaigns and misinformation. In her statement, Arbiter accuses Meghan’s advocates of aiding and abetting a harmful online environment, while questioning the Sussexes’ integrity in addressing these allegations.

In 2021, Arbiter, saw her credibility unravel after being exposed for lying about Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview—before it even aired. Pranksters Archie Manners, a former Radley College student, and South African-born Josh Pieters orchestrated the hoax under the fake company name “Beneath the Fold,” tricking Arbiter and other royal experts into providing pre-recorded analysis for a fabricated interview. The resulting video, titled “We Proved Royal Experts Lie About Harry and Meghan,” revealed Arbiter had accepted £300 to deliver fabricated commentary, showcasing her willingness to malign Meghan and Harry for profit.

Despite this, Arbiter has taken to framing herself as a victim, claiming that online criticism has ruined her life. She has described losing job opportunities, experiencing severe anxiety, and even losing her eyelashes due to stress from being exposed for her false reporting. However, it must be pointed out that Arbiter’s current predicament is a direct consequence of her own unethical behavior.

While Meghan suffered a miscarriage amidst relentless media harassment and has endured years of racially charged attacks, Arbiter has compared her situation to Meghan’s, framing herself as equally victimized. Arbiter has spent years creating and amplifying negative narratives about Meghan Markle, alongside other members of the so-called “Royal Rota.” From questioning Meghan’s motives to undermining her advocacy, Arbiter has played a key role in perpetuating the toxic environment surrounding the Duchess of Sussex.

Camilla Tominey’s Campaign Against Meghan Markle Gains New Momentum With the Vanity Fair Article

Camilla Tominey has used the Vanity Fair article as a springboard to intensify her ongoing attacks against Meghan Markle. As a reporter notorious for her biased and inflammatory coverage, Tominey has consistently fabricated and amplified negative narratives about Meghan, contributing significantly to the hostility surrounding the Duchess of Sussex.

One of Tominey’s most infamous falsehoods was the claim that Meghan made Kate Middleton cry during the 2018 wedding preparations. This story, later debunked by Meghan herself on the Oprah Interview, revealed it was Kate who brought Meghan to tears. Reports have suggested that Tominey given this narrative at the request of Prince William, solidifying her reputation as a mouthpiece for the Cambridges.

A side-by-side image showing headlines and tweets by Camilla Tominey. On the left, a headline linking Meghan Markle’s cookbook project to terrorism, and on the right, criticism of Meghan’s Vogue guest editorship for not including enough white women.

Tominey’s bias doesn’t end there. She drew widespread criticism for linking Meghan’s Grenfell Tower charity cookbook project to terrorism, despite the initiative’s aim of supporting survivors of a devastating tragedy. In another instance, she targeted Meghan’s guest editorship of British Vogue, accusing her of favoring diversity “too much” because the edition highlighted women of color and included only five white women among its “Forces for Change.” This remark revealed a deep-seated discomfort with Meghan’s efforts to celebrate inclusivity.

A graphic featuring Camilla Tominey alongside her quote criticizing Meghan Markle’s Vogue guest editorship for highlighting 15 women with only five being white, accusing her of reverse racism.

Tominey’s lies extend beyond these high-profile examples. From claiming Meghan’s NPR interview was staged to bizarrely criticizing the Duchess’s discussion of weather conditions, Tominey’s reporting often lacks credibility. Even fellow journalists have called her out for fabrications, further underscoring her unreliable reporting.

Her fixation on Meghan has exposed a disturbing pattern of racism and bias, rooted in her apparent animosity toward a woman who dared to challenge royal norms. By amplifying unverified claims and weaving narratives that paint Meghan in the worst possible light, Tominey has become a central figure in the relentless smear campaigns targeting the Sussexes.

Jack Royston Uses Vanity Fair Article to Amplify Criticism Against Meghan Markle

Jack Royston, a royal reporter with Newsweek and formerly with The Sun, has consistently targeted Meghan Markle with a stream of negative coverage. He played a key role in amplifying the now-debunked claim that Meghan made Kate Middleton cry during her wedding preparations in 2018. Despite Meghan and Harry leaving the UK in 2020, Royston has continued his attacks, focusing on their lives in the U.S.

The Vanity Fair article gave Royston another opportunity to criticize Meghan. He described the resurfaced bullying allegations as a “major crisis” and accused her of “acting as though she is perfect.” This aligns with his long-standing pattern of using sensational claims to undermine Meghan while avoiding accountability for his role in spreading false stories. In July 2023, 32 of the 37 royal articles Royston wrote were about Harry and Meghan, and by December, nearly two-thirds of his headlines featured the couple. This obsession highlights the economic incentive of targeting Meghan, who consistently generates more engagement than other royal stories.

A side-by-side comparison of Jack Royston’s tweets about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton. Meghan’s tweet garners significantly more likes, retweets, and views compared to Kate’s.
Jack Royston’s tweets reveal Meghan Markle’s content outperforms Kate Middleton’s in engagement by nearly seven times, showcasing the public’s stronger interest in the Duchess of Sussex.

Royston’s criticism of Meghan often receives disproportionate attention compared to his reporting on other royals. For example, his tweet about Kate Middleton’s cancer remission announcement drew a fraction of the engagement compared to his posts on Meghan. This imbalance shows how Royston’s coverage of the Sussexes is less about journalism and more about clickbait.

By exploiting the Vanity Fair article to legitimize old criticisms, Royston demonstrates the ongoing strategy of using high-profile articles to stoke public resentment against Meghan. This reflects a broader pattern within royal reporting: targeting the Sussexes for profit while perpetuating harmful narratives.

Other Journalists

Rebecca English, Piers Morgan, Dan Wootton, Richard Palmer, and other royal reporters eagerly amplified the Vanity Fair article. These journalists have a long history of publishing unverified claims and using Meghan and Harry as easy targets. By recycling old narratives and adding to the smear campaign, they reveal a clear pattern: seizing any opportunity to villainize the Sussexes while fueling public hostility.

This group of reporters repeatedly shows how they weaponize their platforms to attack Harry and Meghan while avoiding accountability for the harm they cause.

Prince Harry’s legal victory against NGN, where the publisher admitted to phone hacking, surveillance, and intrusions into the private lives of him and his late mother Diana, proves the systemic issues within the British tabloid press. While NGN settled for an undisclosed sum and issued an apology, the case exposes the media’s long history of unethical practices. Importantly, Harry has conceded nothing, and NGN’s admission marks a critical acknowledgment of the crimes committed.

David Sherborne, Prince Harry’s lawyer, delivering a statement about accountability and exposing cover-ups during Prince Harry’s legal battle with NGN.

This moral win is not just about Prince Harry; it serves as a wider indictment of a media culture that has often exploited individuals for profit, particularly those who challenge traditional norms or narratives. For years, biased reporting has framed Harry and Meghan as villains, recycling unsubstantiated claims and amplifying divisive narratives. Meghan, in particular, has faced relentless scrutiny rooted in systemic bias, with her race, background, and independence weaponized against her.

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Harry’s case against NGN raises a crucial question: why was the second stage of the Leveson Inquiry, meant to investigate press standards, abandoned by the UK government? The need for accountability has never been clearer, especially as new revelations suggest widespread perjury during the first inquiry. If the rule of law means anything, it is time for Leveson 2. The public deserves transparency, accountability, and an end to the cycle of systemic bias and misinformation that continues to shape public perception and harm individuals.

Fighting Bias and Driving Positive Change

We urge readers to critically analyze media stories and actively question the narratives they promote. Holding media outlets accountable for spreading misinformation and harmful stereotypes builds a fairer and more truthful media landscape.

Harry and Meghan’s treatment exposes systemic bias and the media’s protection of powerful interests. Their work in charity, advocacy, and truth-telling deserves recognition and support instead of relentless criticism. At Feminegra, our crowdfunded journalists share stories that mainstream media ignores. We amplify voices like Meghan Markle’s and actively challenge unjust narratives.

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