28 January 2023 , 22:53
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Nelson Mandela's granddaughter has said that Meghan Markle was "hounded" out of the Royal Family, who she claimed are at "the heart of racialised global inequalities".
Ndileka Mandela praised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for exposing "many problems" within the institution, which otherwise wouldn't have been brought to light.
It was reported earlier this month that Ndileka had been critical of the Sussex's use of her grandfather's name in their Live To Lead documentary.
But she has claimed that this was "false" and that she "unequivocally" supports them and their use of Nelson Mandela's name.
Writing for the Independent, Ndileka said she was "shocked" when people accused her of cricitising the couple for "profiteering" off of her grandfather's name.
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Nelson Mandela's granddaughter said that her grandfather's name was used to 'attack' Meghan Markle (Getty Images)She wrote: "I had never accused Harry and Meghan of doing this. Instead, I was misquoted, leading to global news coverage that weaponised my name – and the name of my grandfather."
In an attempt to "set the record straight" Ndileka revealed that she "welcomed" the Nelson Mandela Foundation's partnership with the couple on Live to Lead, and claimed her grandfather's name had been "falsely exploited" to "attack" the Duchess of Sussex.
She said that Meghan and Harry had shed a light on the 'unsavory realities' within the Royal Family (HARPO PRODUCTIONS/AFP via Getty)
Ndileka Mandela has spoken in support of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (AFP via Getty Images)She said: "For decades, people have sold flyers and T-shirts of my grandfather for profits which do not support the causes and values he fought so hard for.
"But it pales in comparison to how my grandfather’s name was misused to attack a woman of colour who was, effectively, hounded out of the British royal family."
She added: "In reality, I greatly admire Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their courageous commitment to defending those less privileged than them – vulnerable people, women, and people of colour."
She claimed that Nelson Mandela's name had been 'misused' to attack Meghan (AFP/Getty Images)Ndileka, a social activist and former ICU nurse, said that by speaking out about their experiences in the Royal Family, Harry and Meghan had brought to light "the unsavoury realities of a cherished British institution that remains at the heart of racialised global inequalities."
Hitting out at the Royal Family, she accused the British Crown of being "deeply involved" in wealth extraction from the Global South.
She added that their "intimate involvement in the rubber-stamping of British law has allowed bills to be amended to conceal the scale of Crown wealth from public scrutiny; to protect the Crown from racial equality legislation being enforced against the monarch; and to exempt the monarch’s private estates from police powers to search private estates for looted artefacts."
Ndileka said that the couple's critics are 'afraid' their message will spread (Getty Images)Ndileka said that she believes Harry and Meghan's critics are afraid that their message will get more people to wake up to "the continued systemic injustices that define how the world works today".
She concluded: "That is why I unequivocally support their stand – and their use of my grandfather’s name."
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