Reactions to the row over Meghan have exposed the rift between old and young – it stretches far beyond the monarchy
Profound fractures and divides in society can remain deliberately hidden only for so long: sudden dramatic events act like flares, making them impossible to ignore. The Meghan and Prince Harry revelations are just the latest to light up a polarised nation. A superficial reading of snap polling suggests the public has sided with the monarchy over the Sussexes: but the underlying data reveals an ink-blot test, with younger and older Britons casting their eyes over the same episode and seeing something completely different.
For those under 25, sympathy lies decisively with Harry and Meghan, who they overwhelmingly believe have been treated unfairly by our national figureheads; for those over 65, the findings reveal the absolute opposite. Here is just one illustration of an undeniable truth: that Britain’s generations occupy completely different political and moral universes, to a degree that seems without observable precedent in our modern history.
