Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Afghanistan comments show how the couple don’t have the “constraints” of other royals on political issues, an expert says.
Last week the Sussexes issued a statement about the Afghanistan chaos saying that they are “heartbroken” about what has happened with the Taliban takeover.
They have called on people to support organisations carrying out “critical work” and pushed international authorities to act.
The message of the Archewell Foundation website added: “We also urge those in positions of global influence to rapidly advance the humanitarian dialogues that are expected to take place this fall at multilateral gatherings such as the UN General Assembly and the G20 Leaders' Summit."
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said this was an example of how Harry and Meghan are now free to speak openly.
Their “unusual situation” has allowed for this, he said, as they are outside the Royal Family having chosen to step away and move to the United States.
He told the Express : “The crisis in Afghanistan is one of the most serious the Western Alliance has faced.
"The monarchy is above party politics, any comment a working member of the Royal Family made would be at the instigation of the government.
"In contrast, Harry and Meghan have no such constraints”.
The Sussexes have been able to express their sadness about what is happening while at the same time royal protocol means that this is not possible for other members of the family.
The Royal Family stands in a position of being politically neutral so the monarch and successors to the throne do not speak out publicly.
They are seen to be objective and accountable as set out in the Nolan Principles which were set out to govern their status.
Established by former Prime Minister John Major, the Nolan Principles established the qualities that those in public life including the Royal Family are meant to follow.
At same time Harry and Meghan are now exempt from these principles as they are not working members of the Royal Family.
Fitzwilliams said that the Sussexes’ comments on Afghanistan and the suffering are “clearly constructive” and Harry speaks from the experience of serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan.
But Fitzwilliams added: "It is also important to bear in mind that their intervention will receive the attention it gets because they are members of the Royal Family.”
