MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell revelations “remain a problem” despite the Royal Family hoping their tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey would mark a “fresh start”, an author has claimed.
Robert Lacey, a historical consultant for Netflix’s The Crown, believes the family can’t have “a serious negotiation” if pals of the couple keep chipping in and if leaks continue.
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The royal author says leaks following the The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ explosive interview are still a “problem” – despite hopes the couple would use the chat to “get what they want to say off their chests” to end the ongoing rift.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Lacey said: “You just showed Gayle King, their friend, talking on television.
“I think the feeling was when it came to the Oprah interview, that – ghastly though it was with all these family revelations being aired – that was it, and that was a sort of fresh start, and then suddenly the family discover that, well actually, their friend Gayle King has more to say, then Oprah says some more, and the feeling was, you can’t have a serious family negotiation if it’s going to be talked about on American television the day afterwards.
“This remains a problem.”
During the conversation with Oprah, the couple made a series of shocking allegations – most damaging of all that an unnamed member of the Royal Family had made a racist comment about the colour of son Archie’s skin.
The Duchess also said she was prevented from seeking mental health support when she was in crisis, adding that she even felt suicidal while pregnant with Archie.
It sent shockwaves through the Firm, with family members allegedly feeling “disappointed” and “let down” by the couple.
But hours after the interview aired, Oprah appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss the chat and confirmed that it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh who made the alleged racist comment – according to Harry.
She said: “He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations.
“He did not tell me who was a part of those conversations.”
Days after the interview aired, US chat show host and Meghan’s pal Gayle King also chimed in, claiming she had spoken to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
She told CBS This Morning Harry had spoken to his brother and dad Prince Charles following the explosive interview, that that those talks were “unproductive”.
Meanwhile, Lacey has also claimed that Prince William and Kate Middleton did not have a sit-down chat with Harry after Prince Philip’s funeral.
According to the royal author, the Cambridges feared their conversations would be leaked as family anger “ran deep” during the emotional service at Windsor in April.
Lacey, author of Battle of the Brothers, has also suggested Prince William “simply didn’t want” Harry and Meghan around and felt the Duchess was “stealing” his brother.
He claims that the brothers had an explosive row over Meghan’s alleged bullying of Palace staff – which ended with Harry hanging up on William.
The Duchess of Sussex has strongly denied reports that she bullied staff at Kensington Palace, and a spokesperson for the couple has insisted that the allegations are part of a smear campaign.
