Prince William’s latest royal engagement was intended to shine a light on young Black British leaders and the opportunities that can help them succeed, but the Prince of Wales’s visit has also reopened an uncomfortable debate about his own family, with some observers praising his support for young people while critics question whether the gesture sits comfortably alongside the long-running controversy surrounding Meghan Markle.

On Wednesday, October 14, William visited scholars and alumni of The Amos Bursary in East London as part of Black History Month in the United Kingdom, meeting young people of African and Caribbean heritage who have benefited from the organization’s work in education, mentoring and career development. The visit gave the future king an opportunity to hear directly from students about their ambitions, the barriers they have faced and the support that has helped them move forward.

According to People, William was “blown away” by the young leaders he met, and he seemed genuinely at ease as he chatted with them and even gave 3-D printing a try. The visit also put the spotlight on the Amos Bursary and its work helping young people of African and Caribbean heritage get the support, guidance and connections they need to pursue their ambitions.

But not everyone has been impressed by the visit. Some critics online have brought up the royal family’s strained relationship with Meghan Markle, William’s biracial sister-in-law. Some social media users have questioned why the monarchy’s public message about inclusion seems so different from the controversy surrounding Meghan’s own experience within the family.

Praise for William, but Questions Remain

Many people were pleased to see William meeting the young people, saying the visit was a great way to celebrate their achievements and draw attention to an organization that helps them get ahead in life.

The Amos Bursary was founded in 2009 by Baroness Valerie Amos and her sister, Colleen Amos, and provides financial assistance, mentoring, leadership development and professional connections to young people of African and Caribbean heritage. Its work is intended to help students progress through education and into careers where they can make the most of their abilities.

Baroness Amos has previously highlighted the ambition and determination of the students the organization supports, saying they “have ambition, work hard and care about family and community.” She has also stressed the importance of recognizing their talent and giving them opportunities to succeed.

Those who welcomed William’s visit believe the attention should be on the students and the work being done to help them succeed, rather than turning yet another royal appearance into a debate about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

But critics see a wider question behind the photographs and friendly exchanges.

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Meghan Markle Still Hangs Over the Debate

Some social media users have questioned William’s public emphasis on inclusion by bringing up the strained relationship between the Waleses and the Sussexes, particularly the allegations Meghan made during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan, whose mother is Black and father is white has revealed in multiple interviews that she experienced concerns within the royal household during her time as a working royal, including a reported conversation about the potential skin color of her future child. The allegations sparked an international debate about race and the monarchy, although the individual involved in the reported conversation was never publicly identified.

William responded at the time by saying the royal family was “very much not a racist family,” and later said that he had not yet spoken to his brother about the interview. The dispute became one of the most damaging episodes in the relationship between the two households.

Those who welcomed the visit said it was good to see William taking the time to meet young people and recognize their achievements. They also felt that having the future king there could bring more attention to the Amos Bursary and the opportunities it offers to the next generation.

Still, the criticism does not mean William’s visit was insincere or take away from the important work the Amos Bursary does for young people. It does show, however, that the tensions within the royal family are still hard to escape, with even a visit meant to celebrate young Black leaders bringing the old questions about Meghan and her treatment by the family back into the conversation.

William may have hoped the visit would put the spotlight on the young people and their achievements, but the reaction shows that the questions surrounding race and the royal family are still very much alive. While some people are focused on the students and the opportunities the Amos Bursary offers, others cannot help but bring up Meghan Markle’s experience within the family, meaning that even an engagement like this can bring old controversies and painful revelations back into the spotlight.