Queen Elizabeth Responds to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Revealing Oprah Interview
Ever since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday night, royal watchers and the public at large have been on the lookout for a statement from Buckingham Palace about what transpired. Today, Queen Elizabeth finally — albeit briefly — responded.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the statement read. “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
BREAKING: Buckingham Palace releases statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth following Prince Harry and Meghan's interview, saying, "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan." https://t.co/6k5NR1em41 pic.twitter.com/TCekWLqQau
— ABC News (@ABC) March 9, 2021
When speaking about race, the queen is referring to a particular segment of the interview where Meghan revealed that members of the royal family had “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born.” Both Meghan and Harry refused to say who made those comments, though Harry later told Oprah that while he wouldn’t provide specifics, he could confirm that neither the queen nor his grandfather, Prince Philip, said them.
Tuesday also marked the first time that Prince Charles, Harry’s father, went out in public since the interview aired.
Prince Charles seen in public for the first time since Harry and Meghan’s @Oprah interview👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/0vhVRUBp5i
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) March 9, 2021
He hasn’t commented on what his son and daughter-in-law said about him during their sit-down, including their allegation that he refused to take Harry’s phone calls after a certain point when the pair talked about stepping back from their royal duties to mitigate Meghan’s mental health struggles.
Prince William and Kate Middleton also haven’t said a word about their mentions in the interview since it took place, including Meghan’s clarification about a story where tabloids claimed she made Kate cry on the eve of her own 2018 wedding and Harry’s assertion that his relationship with William is strained.
Will this rift in the family last forever? Only time will tell.
