Buckingham Palace concerned about the issues of race raised in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday. The Buckingham Palace which has earlier declined to react to the interview released a statement on behalf of the Queen on Tuesday.
The statement which saw Buckingham Palace concerned about the issued reads:
‘The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
‘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.’
Both Harry and Meghan in the interview with Oprah, had alleged that an unnamed member of the family had raised ‘concerns and conversations’ about how dark their son Archie’s skin might be when he’s born
Meghan said: ‘In those months when I was pregnant, we had in tandem the conversations of him not being given security or a title, and also concerns about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.’ Neither Harry or Meghan identified the person who made the comments.
The Duke added: ‘That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked.’
Harry criticised his relatives for failing to speak out in support of Meghan following the racism he said she faced in the media. He said:
‘No-one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts.’ Meghan also revealed she had experienced suicidal thoughts while pregnant with son Archie, while Harry opened up about reports of a rift with his brother Prince William, stating that the ‘relationship is space at the moment’.
He added that he had felt let down by their father, Prince Charles, who had stopped taking his phone calls, and told Oprah there had been ‘a lot of hurt that’s happened’.
Meghan also claimed that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, had made her cry during the run up to her wedding, rather than the other way around, which was reported at the time. Buckingham Palace had not been briefed about what was discussed in the interview before it was broadcast, but aides stayed up to watch it from the UK.
The Palace did not respond to the interview on Monday, although it was agreed amid crisis talks that any response must be coordinated between the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William, The Telegraph reported.