Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made headlines earlier this week after they urged people to vote ahead of the forthcoming US election in November – but now an expert has suggested there was a reason behind their carefully worded message.

The Duke and Duchess issued a statement through their Archewell Foundation’s website this week.

Archwell’s message read: “Voting is not just a right; it’s a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.

“At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize(sic) 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.

“Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.”

Neither Meghan, Harry nor the foundation publically endorsed Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the upcoming election but previously, the two women have spoken about each other.

Back in 2019 and following Meghan’s interview in South Africa about the negative press during her pregnancy, Ms Harris showed her support for the duchess by tweeting: “This is incredibly important. We must remember that it’s a sign of strength to show emotion. Meghan, we are with you.”

A year later, Meghan spoke about then-Democratic candidate Harris, saying: “I’m so excited to see that kind of representation [of black women]. You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.”

Now veteran royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has analysed the Sussexes’s statement and claimed there is a reason why it remained politically neutral.

Mr Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “I thought Harry and Meghan would be more open about their support for the Democratic Party when they urged everyone to vote. It has always been thought that Meghan might go into politics herself. Harry is speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative next week. This underlines his interest in the issues faced by political, business and philanthropic leaders.

“Since the issue of Harry’s visa appears to have been settled, perhaps the threats that Donald Trump has been making that Harry might be deported if he lied about taking drugs on his visa application have meant that the Sussexes have decided not to explicitly endorse Kamala Harris. However, we all know who they want people to vote for.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have declined to comment.

Prince Harry found himself in hot water after he released his memoir Spare in January 2023 and revealed he had previously used recreational drugs like cocaine, marijuana and magic mushrooms. Under US law, drug use can be grounds to reject a visa application.

Washington DC-based think tank The Heritage Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security demanding the publication of Harry’s visa documents following his explosive claims about drug use in Spare.

But court records showed that the case was terminated on September 9, when several sealed orders were issued, according to Newsweek.