Queen ‘Saddened’ As Buckingham Palace Responds To Bombshell Meghan and Harry Claims
The Royal Family has responded to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, which has plunged the monarchy into its worst crisis for decades.
A statement issued by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen tonight said: “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. Whilst 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.”
A senior palace source added: “At the heart of all of this there is a family.
“They should be given the opportunity to discuss the issues raised privately, as a family.
“It has been important for us to carefully consider any response before issuing; and of course releasing something today meant viewers in the UK had the opportunity to watch the interview, if they wished to, first.
“Diversity, equality, inclusion and mental health are important issues and highlighting that has formed part of the work of Members of the Royal Family for many years.”
Among the many damaging and sensational claims, Meghan, 39, said she had suicidal thoughts as she struggle with life inside the Firm, and a member of the Royal Family questioned how dark her son Archie’s skin would be when she was pregnant with him.
The Duchess of Sussex suggested Archie wasn’t given the title of prince because is is of mixed race, and that she was silenced by the royals and unprepared for life inside the Firm.
Harry said he felt let down by his father, Prince Charles, who stopped speaking to him after the Sussexes moved to Canada before Megxit, and also revealed that the rift between him and his brother, Prince William, continues.
The Duke of Sussex claims he and former Suits actress Meghan left the UK with Archie for a new life in California because there was a “lack of support and lack of understanding” from his family.
Harry said he had been “trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are”.
“My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don’t get to leave,” he added.
He also denied he had “blindsided” his grandmother, the Queen, with the bombshell statement about stepping down as senior royal.
And Harry claimed his family “literally cut me off financially” and he had to secure deals with Netflix and Spotify to pay for his security.
The duke claimed he and Meghan left with Archie due to a “lack of support” from his family.
He said he still speaks to the Queen, he is determined to repair his relationship with his father, and he hopes time will heal his rift with William.
Meghan, who is pregnant with a baby girl, revealed she wrote letters pleading with Harry’s family to not take away his personal protection officers, warning he was facing death threats.
She also claimed the Royal Family didn’t want Archie, who turns two in May and is seventh in line to the throne, to be a prince.
These are among the biggest revelations during the interview.
Meghan had suicidal thoughts
The Duchess of Sussex shockingly revealed she had suicidal thoughts as she struggled with life inside the royal family, saying: “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
She said she begged for help, and asked to go somewhere to get help, and approached one of the most senior people in the institution, but was told it would not look good.
She told how Harry cradled her when she was in the depths of despair and how she sought help from one of Diana, Princess of Wales’s best friends – which may have been Julia Samuel, who is a psychotherapist.
‘Concerns’ about Archie’s skin colour
Meghan said, when she was pregnant with Archie, an unnamed member of the royal family raised “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born”.
Asked whether there were concerns that her child would be “too brown” and that would be a problem, Meghan said: “If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.”
Pushed by Winfrey on who had those conversations, Meghan refused to say, adding: “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Harry refused to give details, saying he was “shocked” by the conversation.
The duke claimsnone of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan following the racism he said she faced in the media.
“No-one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts,” Harry said