Meghan Markle to make royal history this week with very un-royal act

Meghan Markle will make history this week as she becomes the first member of the royal family to vote in an election.

She's expected to have her say in the US Presidential race, which sees Joe Biden take on Donald Trump.

Although members of the royal family are legally allowed to vote, they don't as the monarchy is meant to be politically neutral.

But since quitting their senior roles and moving to the US, Meghan and Harry have spoken openly about politics.

They've urged people to go out and vote, with Harry saying it is time to “reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity” while his wife described the 2020 race as the "most important of our lifetime".

In the video broadcast as part of Time 100 magazine's annual list of the top 100 most influential people, Harry explained how he would not be able to vote and had never voted in the UK.

Meghan said: "Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is.

"When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard."

Harry spoke of the need for the good to "outweigh" the bad and spoke about the dangers of 'online negativity'.

He said: "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.

"When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes.

"Because when one person buys into negativity online the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only, but to act."

While they did not specifically mention anyone by name, the remarks have been interpreted as referring to Trump.

While some praised them for using their voices to encourage people to vote, others weren't impressed to see them getting involved in politics.

Royal aides told  The Sunday Times that the remarks may have broken the terms of their 'Megxit' arrangement, leaving the Royal Family "wringing their hands".

Following their bombshell quitting statement, the Queen, Charles and William laid out a list of logistical terms for the Sussexes' new non-royal lives.

In agreeing to it the couple vowed to ensure "everything they do will uphold the values of Her Majesty", which includes remaining politically neutral.

"The feeling is it's a violation of the agreement,' one source said.

They suggested that a breach of the agreement would likely hinder Harry's chances of renewing his connections with the military posts he holds dear, such as the Royal Marines.