Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their wedding in 2018

Meghan Markle’s interview with The Cut caused a lot of controversy and even criticism. One of the most discussed moments in the article is when Prince Harry’s wife said that the South African people were as delighted as the release of Nelson Mandela at her wedding. Social media users and journalists have spoken about this story before, and now a relative of the South African politician has commented on the Duchess’ words.

In an interview, Markle talked about one of the episodes that gave Mandela self-confidence during his time at the palace. According to Meghan, a South African actor approached her at the 2019 London premiere of The Lion King:

Zvevelili Mandela, grandson of the legendary South African black rights leader, said he was “surprised” by Markle’s words. As he put it, people honored his grandfather for “overcoming 350 years of colonialism and 60 years of brutal apartheid in South Africa.” According to her, this cannot be compared to such a success as Meghan’s “wedding to a white prince.”

– said Tsvevelli Mandela in an interview with the British press.

When Nelson Mandela was released in February 1990 after 27 years in prison, people really danced in the streets. The activist went to jail for her fight for the rights of blacks during apartheid. Its release was broadcast live all over the world. Returning to politics shortly after his release, his party participated in the negotiation process for the abolition of apartheid, the result being the first national election on a racial basis. Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013.

Meghan Markle’s statement angered ordinary South Africans who spread the hashtag #VoetsekMeghan on social networks. The word “voetsek” can be translated as “to get lost”. Users write that in the country at that time, of course, “they were happy for the newlyweds,” but no one went out to dance on the streets. Some are not only angry, but offer to ban the Duchess from visiting the country:

— Wrote @LulamaAnderson on Twitter (blocked in Russian Federation).

– says commenter @Elvera_VA.

Observers in a number of media outlets have also criticized or ridiculed Markle. Journalist Piers Morgan wrote that he “choked” when he read “The Joke About Mandela.”