Prince Harry and wife Meghan call on Americans to vote in upcoming U.S. election - Action News
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Prince Harry and wife Meghan call on Americans to vote in upcoming U.S. election

Britain's Prince Harry and hisAmerican wife Meghan have called on Americans to register tovote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, entering intopolitical territory where British royals traditionally do notventure.

British royals expected to remain politically neutral, traditionally don't vote in elections

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan recently called on Americans to register to vote in the upcoming U.S. election. They made the plea in a video for 2020 Time 100, the magazine's list ofthe world's most influential people. (Frank Augstein/The Associated Press)

Britain's Prince Harry and hisAmerican wife Meghan have called on Americans to register tovote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, entering intopolitical territory where British royals traditionally do notventure.

In a video for 2020 Time 100 the U.S. magazine's list ofthe world's most influential people the couple said people whowere able to cast their vote, should do so.

Harry and Meghan now live in California, having stepped downfrom their senior royal roles in March.

"Every four years we are told the same thing: that this isthe most important election of our lifetime," Meghan said.

"But this one is. When we vote, our values are put intoaction, and our voices are heard.Your voice is a reminder thatyou matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard."

Meghan, who married Queen Elizabeth's grandson in 2018,criticized U.S. President Donald Trump during his 2016 electioncampaign as being misogynistic and divisive.

Last year, Trump on being told of Meghan's criticism said:"I didn't know that. What can I say? I didn't know that she wasnasty."

Royals to remain politically neutral

Under Britain's unwritten constitution, the Royal Family areexpected to remain politically neutral and do not vote inelections. The Queen, 94, has rarely strayed into currentaffairs issues during her 68-year reign.

"This election, I'm not going to be able to vote in theU.S., but many of you may not know that I haven't been able tovote in the U.K. my entire life," Harry said in the video. "As weapproach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech,misinformation and online negativity."

While Harry did not endorse Trump's opponent, Democratchallenger Joe Biden, his comments led to the criticism that he wasinterfering in politics.

"Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the U.S. election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump iscompletely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the RoyalFamily," Piers Morgan, a former CNN television host and now aBritish breakfast show presenter, wrote on Twitter.