MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are “painting the Queen as a mafia boss” by toying with the idea that the Duchess was “silenced,” say royal experts.
The preview of their tell-all interview was criticised as “nonsense” after the clip showed Oprah dramatically ask Meghan if she was “silent or silenced” in the royal family.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest news...
But the claim is “ridiculous” and unfairly paints the Queen as a mob boss like Don Corleone from The Godfather, royal experts said.
The talk-show host is also heard saying that there’s “no subject that’s off-limits” adding that the royal pair went through some “almost unsurvivable” ordeals.
Robert Jobson, a biographer of Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, said the trailer was packed with “over the top, melodramatic nonsense.”
He said: “The Queen and the Royal Family are not the Corleone family of Windsor.
“There are no hit men or heavies going around silencing people. Meghan, whilst a working royal, was always protected by a team of Scotland Yard officers.
“Thankfully, she was never in danger physically and Harry knows that. Talk of being “silenced” is just ridiculous.
“It suits a narrative, I suppose, but at what cost to the Queen, Prince Philip and the Royal Family and our reputation as a country.”
CBS has now said that the “primetime special” with Meghan and Harry will be extended from 90 minutes to 2 hours – and is set to first broadcast on Sunday 7 March from 8pm ET.
The extended interview time may be a cause for concern in Buckingham Palace.
And a preview clip has already shown Prince Harry’s concern that history would “repeat itself” with the royal family treating his wife Meghan the same way his mother Diana was.
On the late decision to extend the show, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: “An extra 30 minutes could be scary for the Palace.
“Was this because Harry and Meghan were angry at having their patronages removed or had it always been planned?
This comes as…
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview extended to TWO hour special as Oprah reveals ‘no subject is off limits’
- Meghan Markle cradles baby bump during Oprah bombshell interview after being asked if she was ‘silent or silenced’
- Prince Harry hints he left UK as he feared Duchess would suffer same fate as Diana
- Prince Philip ‘asked Charles to visit him in hospital to talk about the future’, claims Queen’s former press secretary
- Piers Morgan compares ’embarrassing’ Harry and Meghan to dictators like Kim Jong-un after Oprah interview
- Prince William ‘has not spoken to Prince Harry for some time’ and is being ‘kept in the dark about his Oprah interview’
“The interview with Oprah will determine their future relations with the royal family for the foreseeable future.”
Another critic tweeted sarcastically: “It’s been so unbelievably tough moving into our $11million home, signing huge deals with Netflix and Spotify, and drawing on my huge trust from my Royal lineage. Like if you want a quiet life, go have one, keyword being quiet.”
The dramatic preview begins with Oprah asking Meghan Markle whether she was “silent, or silenced?”
She then goes on to say: “I just want to make it clear to everybody, there is no subject that’s off-limits.”
However, we do not get to hear mum-to-be Meghan Markle speak in the preview clips as she cradles her baby bump.
The talk-show powerhouse goes on to say the couple had revealed “some pretty shocking things” – some of which seemed “almost unsurvivable”.
Holding hands with Meghan, Prince Harry said: “You know for me, I’m just really relieved and happy to be sitting here, talking to you, with my wife by my side.
“Because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her [Diana], going through this process by herself. All those years ago.
“Because it’s been unbelievably tough for the two of us, but at least we had each other.”
Harry added: “My biggest concern was history repeating itself.”
News of the big interview emerged after the couple announced Meghan’s third pregnancy – and days before Buckingham Palace confirmed the pair will never return as senior royals.
Members of the Royal family usually run potential TV interview opportunities past the Queen in advance.
The couple sat down with Ms Winfrey to record the chat last Tuesday, it’s understood.
But the interview was not filmed at the royals’ Montecito home, nor at Oprah’s – but instead at a nearby location in Santa Barbara, California.
Harry and Meghan were forced to reveal the interview ahead of schedule after ITV were tipped off.
The couple are believed to have spoken about marriage, parenthood, life as royals and their charity work during the discussion.
Oprah’s very rare sit-down interview with Prince Harry and Meghan is scheduled to air on CBS on March 7 from 8pm.