THE Queen is expected to call Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for peace talks as she takes charge of the fallout from the couple’s Oprah Winfrey interview.
The monarch reportedly believes it is time for a more personal approach following allegations of racism within the Royal Family.
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Her Majesty, 94, released a statement almost two days after the couple’s televised chat saying the claims would be taken “very seriously”.
The Queen said allegations that a member of the family raised concerns over the colour of Archie’s skin would be investigated and “addressed privately”.
Her unprecedented response came after the tell-all Oprah interview that saw Meghan, 39, break down in tears as she and Harry, 36, revealed the pressures they faced within the Firm.
A statement from the palace 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.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were informed of the statement from Buckingham Palace prior to its release, but this was done through officials.
It is now expected that the Queen will reach out directly to the couple to speak on the phone in the next few days.
As part of the investigation into the racism claims, the Queen will personally quiz senior royals.
She is to have private conversations with Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and others to establish what may have been said.
Harry and Meghan refused to name the alleged royal racist but Oprah said she was told it was not the Queen or Prince Philip, 99.
And this week sources close to Prince Charles insisted he had not been racist towards the couple and was proud of Britain as a non-racist country.
To prevent staff from discussing the situation publicly, Her Majesty is believed to have issued a “three-line whip”.
It comes as…
- Prince Harry hit the ‘nuclear button’ on his family in the interview, insiders claimed
- Thomas Markle hung up on ‘snotty’ Prince Harry
- Meghan Markle is reported to have slammed the door in Kate Middleton’s face when the duchess tried to apologise over an incident over flower girl dresses
- Oprah revealed Prince Harry insisted the Queen and Prince Philip were not the Royals who expressed concerns about Archie’s skin colour
- Harry and Meghan held a private ‘exchange of vows’ before their wedding
- The full transcript of the interview can be read here
Buckingham Palace was not shown the two-hour programme before it aired in the US and were said to be paralysed with “horror and dismay” afterwards.
A source told the Daily Mail: “It is difficult to underestimate how shell-shocked everyone is by what has happened.
“People are literally reeling from what has happened and some staff would dearly love to publicly rebut some of what has been said about them.
“But the Queen has taken a very measured, sensible approach. She is leading by example.
“This is a matter for her and the family to deal with.”
They added: “There is a long way to go but hopefully things will start to move in the right direction in order for bridges to be built.”
Meghan and Harry’s PR team said they “needed to have their say” but their Oprah interview would be the “last word” on the family rift.
The matter was now “closed” and they want to “move on”, they added.
