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In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, one thing has become crystal clear:

Some of the most toxic portions of UK media clearly hate Meghan Markle more than ever. It’s not just tabloids, either.

Why do they hate her? For carrying flowers at a memorial. Or for holding her husband’s hand. For mourning. Or for not mourning enough.

We truly need to call this what it is: a lot of people viscerally hate Duchess Meghan because she is Black. Because she is Black and they are racist.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended the Queen’s funeral on Monday. And many believe they were publicly disrespected by the royal family. (Photo via Getty Images)

Before we delve into the hysterics that British tabloids have shrieked in recent days, let us first look at the facts.

Meghan returned to a country that reviles her, knowing that she will be interacting with people who resent her — at best.

Why? To support her husband, to support his family, and to mourn the loss of her husband’s late grandmother.

Meghan, Harry, Elizabeth
Meghan with Harry and the Queen. (Photo via Getty)

Duchess Meghan did not in any way flaut tradition, make events about her, or disrespect the family’s grief.

She wore black, as is customary for funerals. She made public appearances.

In every way, her behavior demonstrated respect and sensitivity. It always did.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is seen during The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Over the weekend following the queen’s death, Harry and William put aside their alleged feud.

Together with their wives, they stepped outside to mourn outside Windsor. They looked over tributes and offerings that public mourners had left.

It was a solemn and appropriate display. Unless, of course, you ask the anti-Meghan crowd.

Harry, Meghan, William, and Kate mourn the Queen at Windsor Castle.(Photo via Getty Images)

If you ask “a certain type” of critic, Meghan might as well have ground up the queen’s body and sold the dust to an apothecary, as 19th Century Brits did with Egyptian mummies.

(Yes, that is a real thing that happened — not only in Europe, but famously in Europe)

For one thing? Meghan carried her own flowers at some point. This is, we are to understand, unforgivable.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the US following the Queen’s funeral. But they might be back in the UK very soon. (Photo by KIRSTY O’CONNOR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Meghan kept a largely neutral expression. Dignified without making assumptions.

Or, as self-styled armchair expression experts would have you believe, she was smirking the whole time.

Meanwhile, another group of Meghan-haters accused her of faking grief, or even exaggerating sadness to draw attention to herself.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have spent a good deal of time together in the past week. And some say the signs of strain are obvious.(Photo via Getty Images)

Twenty-five years ago, the world watched in sadness as Prince Harry and his brother took part in a funeral march alone.

This month, Harry had someone to hold his hand — his loving wife. The mother of his children.

But a vicious online contingent flipped out about their hand-holding, suggesting that the gesture was inappropriate.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is seen during The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

It is increasingly difficult to conjure up explanations for why holding her husband’s hand at a funeral is a grievous faux pas.

This sounds like the sort of gripe that someone who already hates Meghan would come up with.

Like when you snarl over some guy “and his stupid scarf,” it’s not the scarf — it’s the person wearing it.

Meghan Markle is at the heart of another bonkers conspiracy theory. he Duchess has been accused of secretly filming the Queen’s period of mourning. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Simply put, Meghan is a Black woman.

She is also American and divorced — but Charles’ former mistress is now Queen Consort without this kind of hate.

Camilla is many things, but she is white. A certain sort of person can forgive that. Racists cannot forgive Meghan, however.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry mourn Queen Elizabeth II. (Photo via Getty Images)

One could conceivably imagine that a person could dislike Meghan for non-racist reasons.

But pretending that the vast majority of it is not fueled almost exclusively by racism is absurd.

And intellectually dishonest. Truly, we cannot address problems like bigotry without first acknowledging that they exist.