The recent news that Prince William will appear on Jeremy Clarkson‘s hit Amazon show “Clarkson’s Farm” has ignited significant controversy. During a visit to Folly Farm in Somerset—ostensibly to support mental health awareness for farmers—William was filmed with the show’s stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland.

What makes this collaboration particularly contentious isn’t just any ordinary television appearance, but rather Clarkson’s well-documented history regarding William’s sister-in-law, Meghan Markle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmnb_2pwDc

The Controversial Background

In December 2022, Jeremy Clarkson wrote a column for The Sun that became the most complained-about article in modern British press history. In it, Clarkson stated that he hated Meghan “on a cellular level” and described fantasizing about her being “paraded naked through the streets of every town in Britain while crowds chant ‘shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her.”

This column received over 25,000 complaints to the press regulator IPSO, which later ruled the article was sexist toward the Duchess. The Sun removed the piece and issued an apology, as did Clarkson himself, though notably he directed his apology to Prince Harry rather than to Meghan directly.

A Question of Priorities

William’s decision to participate in Clarkson’s show raises uncomfortable questions about royal family dynamics and priorities. By associating with someone who publicly expressed such vitriolic sentiments toward his brother’s wife, William appears to be sending a message—intentional or not—about where his loyalties lie.

Many observers have pointed out what seems to be a double standard in how the royal family responds to negative press. When Meghan was the target of Clarkson’s column, no public statement came from the palace defending her. This silence stands in contrast to instances where other royals have received legal or public support from the institution when facing critical media coverage.

The Mental Health Contradiction

Particularly jarring is the context of William’s appearance—promoting mental health awareness for farmers. This creates a dissonance between William’s public advocacy for mental wellbeing and his willingness to collaborate with someone who wrote comments that Meghan herself has indicated contributed to her own mental health struggles.

In her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that the relentless negative press coverage led her to suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal. Clarkson’s column, while published after she left royal duties, exemplifies the kind of media treatment she faced.

Family Above All?

For many royal watchers, this collaboration represents another chapter in the ongoing estrangement between the brothers. It’s difficult to imagine how reconciliation could proceed when one brother appears to validate someone who has expressed such hatred toward the other’s spouse.

The situation raises fundamental questions about family loyalty and how public figures should respond when family members are subjected to public abuse. Would William have made the same choice if similar comments had been directed at his own wife?

The Way Forward

As the future king, Prince William’s choices carry significant weight. This collaboration with Clarkson represents a missed opportunity to demonstrate leadership by standing against misogyny and hate speech, regardless of the target.

True healing within the royal family would likely require acknowledgment of past hurts and a commitment to defending all family members equally from public abuse. Until then, appearances like this one on Clarkson’s Farm will continue to be viewed not just as entertainment, but as statements about where boundaries are drawn—or not drawn—within “The Firm.”

For now, this episode stands as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous media appearances can carry profound messages about values, loyalties, and what behavior we’re willing to tolerate from those in the public eye.