Is this the real reason Meghan Markle is keeping schtum on who she is endorsing in the US presidential election?

Oprah Winfrey’s love-in with Kamala Harris earlier this week featured the likes of Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Bryan Cranston – but a notable duo were absent. 

Live-streamed to millions of Americans on Thursday night, the armchair discussion was a prime opportunity for celebrities to throw their weight behind their US presidential pick.

Hollywood royalty Streep appeared on a screen as she called in during the live streaming rally in Farmington Hills.

However, both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – who have close ties to Winfrey – did not feature.

And after the Duchess of Sussex soft-launched her American Riviera Orchard jam brand this summer, it might perhaps explain their absence from the limelight. 

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris joins US television producer Oprah Winfrey

Harris attended the campaign event in Detroit, Michigan, on September 19

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be ‘deliberately’ staying out of the US elections, the Telegraph report.

And with the Duchess now exploring her own business interest to fund the couple’s lifestyle, it could explain their hesitancy to loudly voice and feature in campaigns for presidential candidates.

There is also the possibility that the Democratic party do not want to risk losing votes over the unpopularity of the Sussexes’ in certain areas of the US.

Earlier this week, Harry and Meghan did stress how voting is a ‘fundamental way to influence communities’ and make a ‘more equitable world’ as they issued a new statement ahead of the US election.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in Montecito, California, marked National Voter Registration Day yesterday by getting the Archewell team to take part in a letter-writing activity.

The Archewell website outlined how the couple’s staff used ‘Vote Forward’s impactful letter-writing tool’ to encourage unregistered voters to vote in the presidential election in November. 

The statement read: ‘Voting is not just a right; it’s a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.

Despite their close ties to Winfrey, both Harry and Meghan did not feature in Harris’ campaign

Harris and Winfrey wave to the crowds during a ‘Unite for America’ live streaming rally in Farmington Hills, Michigan

Oprah Winfrey greets Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

Harry and Meghan attend the cycling medal ceremony at the Cycling Track during day six of the Invictus Games last year

‘At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one’s political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world.

‘By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters.’ 

The couple then went on to invite readers to ‘join us in this important effort’ and volunteer time to write letters to unregistered voters.

The statement concluded: ‘Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.’

But, missing from their message was any real indication that they were backing Kamala Harris ahead of the election. 

Ahead of the last presidential election, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex filmed a video statement from the garden of their Montecito mansion – which they had only just moved into at the time.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata during their Colombia Visit on August 15

It is understood that both Meghan and Harry 

Meghan’s recent launch of her jam brand American Riviera Orchard could explain the couple’s hesitancy to get involved in the US presidential election

In the video address, Prince Harry told US voters to ‘reject hate speech’ while Meghan labelled the 2020 presidential race the ‘most important election of our lifetime’.

While Harry and Meghan did not name their favoured candidate, many viewers thought it ‘obvious’ they were backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump. As such, the Sussexes were accused of ‘violating’ the terms of their ‘Megxit’ deal.

In the aftermath, Republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their titles, calling the interference of the Duke and Duchess ‘inappropriate’.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: ‘We would not comment. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.’