The Shadow of Diana: Meghan Markle's Scapegoat Role in Modern Britain
In contemporary British society, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has become a focal point for intense public scrutiny and disproportionate negativity. Brigid Delaney's analysis suggests that this phenomenon reveals deeper aspects of British character and public anxieties, positioning Meghan as a modern scapegoat in a society grappling with multiple crises.
The Diana Paradox: From Adoration to Opposition
For decades, Diana, Princess of Wales, existed in what Delaney describes as "a permanent hysterical register" of public adoration. Clive James famously captured this sentiment, comparing Diana to "the sun coming up; coming up giggling." Yet Meghan Markle occupies the opposite position in public consciousness—a perceived darkness to Diana's radiant light.
Data analysis firm Brandwatch reveals the staggering scale of this negativity. In 2019 alone, during what should have been her honeymoon period with the British public, Meghan appeared in 21,100 negative news stories across 29,000 publications. This represents approximately five times more negative coverage than Catherine, Princess of Wales, received during the same period.
The Scapegoat Mechanism in Modern Society
Delaney draws upon the work of French American philosopher René Girard to explain this phenomenon. Girard argued that human societies maintain cohesion not through shared love but through shared violence—specifically, the periodic sacrifice of a victim who absorbs societal tensions. The scapegoat must be simultaneously inside and outside the community, transgress boundaries, and face unanimous opposition.
Meghan perfectly fits these criteria. As an American outsider who married into the British establishment, she occupies that liminal space between insider and outsider. The narrative that she corrupted Prince Harry and turned him against his family represents the necessary boundary transgression. The overwhelming negative press and public opinion demonstrate the required unanimity of opposition.
Disproportionate Response in Anxious Times
The hostility toward Meghan and Harry coincides with a period of extraordinary anxiety in British public life. Brexit uncertainties, pandemic aftermath, cost-of-living pressures, declining institutional trust, immigration debates, and national identity confusion have created fertile ground for scapegoating. Meghan's perceived "wokeness" further frames her scapegoating within contemporary culture wars.
Girard's theory helps identify true scapegoating through the disproportionality of response—when punishment wildly exceeds any plausible crime, and hostility persists long after rational grievances would have dissipated. The media's role in this "scapegoating industrial complex" cannot be overstated, as outrage generates profits and maintains audience engagement.
Beyond Princess and Scapegoat: Reclaiming Humanity
The tragedy of this dynamic lies in its dehumanization of both Diana and Meghan. Casting Diana as Christlike and Meghan as demonic denies their complex humanity. As Delaney observes, "Meghan is not a devil. Diana wasn't a saint." This binary opposition serves societal needs more than it reflects reality.
Parasocial relationships with public figures ultimately reveal more about society than about the individuals themselves. The energy driving Meghan's scapegoating has developed its own momentum, making it difficult to stop while media outlets continue to profit from the narrative. This reality exposes the unenviable nature of modern royalty—where one can transition from princess to scapegoat with alarming speed.
The ongoing negative press during the couple's private Australian visit, eight years after their wedding, demonstrates the persistence of this dynamic. Their commercial projects—a memoir, Netflix series, and wellness seminar—inspire disproportionate public rage despite their relative banality. This response suggests deeper societal tensions seeking expression through convenient targets.
