Nikola Mandela, the granddaughter of the late former President Nelson Mandela, has accused Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle of “using” the South African leader’s legacy to “make millions”. In an interview with the Australian newspaper published on Wednesday (4), the author said she was “deeply hurt” by the couple’s attitude.
Nikola spoke days after the launch of Live to Lead, a new Netflix series coled by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The production brings together leaders “who are committed to making a difference in the world,” who then share their inspirational life stories.
In the trailer, Harry and Meghan claim that the series was inspired by Mandela, and then cite a speech by the politician that didn’t sit well with the late activist’s family. “This was inspired by Nelson Mandela who once said, ‘What counts in life is not just the fact that we’ve lived. It’s the difference we make in the lives of others that will determine the meaning of our lives,'” the couple recalled.
Prince Harry reveals what inspired the ‘Live to Lead’ series. (Photo: Playback/Netflix)
Inside the vehicle, Mandela’s granddaughter said she believed the couple had “ulterior motives” as they used her grandfather’s legacy as a “way to make money.” “It’s like chalk and cheese, there’s no comparison,” Nikola pointed out. “I know that the Nelson Mandela Foundation supported the initiative [de Harry e Meghan]but people have been stealing quotes from my grandfather for years and using his legacy because they know his name sells Harry and Meghan are no different from them.”
The writer also accused the Sussexes of appearing to have compared their challenges with the British royal family to the life of the former President of South Africa and his fight against apartheid. She labeled the attitude “disturbing” and said she admired the prince for having the “courage” to break with the institution.
“My grandfather rebelled against an arranged marriage to find his own way in life. But that has its price, you have to finance your life yourself. I’ve already made up with people who have used my grandfather’s name, but it’s still deeply annoying and tiring when it happens.” “Harry needs to be authentic and keep his own story. How does my grandfather’s life relate to his?” asked Mandela.
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The documentary series that caused the spikes is actually coproduced by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, created and directed by Geoff Blackwell, and produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In seven episodes we see scenes from the time when the main leader of the antiapartheid movement in South Africa was released from prison in 1990, as well as the stories of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Greta Thunberg, Gloria Steinem and others.
However, the tribute to Nelson wasn’t enough to placate the politician’s granddaughter. “I don’t think he (Harry) or Meghan ever knew my grandfather. Maybe when Harry was young at Buckingham Palace, but they use his quotes in the documentary to attract people and make millions with no benefit to the Mandela family.”
Harry actually met the African leader. Speaking to the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory in 2015, the prince explained the meeting in detail. “I was fortunate enough to meet Madiba a few years ago and have cherished that memory ever since,” he said.
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Inspiration for the production came in 2018 when Blackwell and Ruth Hobday were working on a project about Nelson Mandela. According to the director, the goal was “to honor Mandela’s values and to bring to light the stories of leaders who excel in moral courage, believing in their ideals and values, and prioritizing others.”
Live to Lead is currently streaming on Netflix. Check out the trailer below:
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