THE Queen is to launch an investigation Meghan Markle’s claims about racism and will deal with the matter “privately”.
Her Majesty has made her first response to the tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey that saw Meghan break down in tears as she and Harry revealed the pressures of being part of the Royal Family.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest news...
Duchess of Sussex sensationally claimed there were conversations with Harry and a “family” member about their unborn son Archie and what colour his skin would be – and “what that would mean or look like”.
She also alleged Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born.
But the 39-year-old declined to say who had started those conversations, saying it would be “damaging” for them.
A statement from the palace issued on behalf of the Queen 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.” Senior members of the Royal Family – including the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William – were said to be locked in crisis talks after it aired in the US.
The Queen had initially refused to sign off a prepared statement that officials hoped would ease tensions and show the royal’s love for the couple.
The monarch was understood to have wanted more time to consider her response.
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
- ITV Hub crashed as the interview was broadcast on the UK screens
- Oprah revealed Prince Harry insisted the Queen and Prince Philip were not the Royals who expressed concerns about Archie’s skin colour
- A new photograph of the couple with Archie was released
- Thomas Markle will be interviewed on GMB
- Harry and Meghan held a private ‘exchange of vows’ before their wedding
- The full transcript of the interview can be read here
A royal insider says Harry pressed the “nuclear button on his own family” with the sensational two-hour interview.
They claimed there was a sense of “intense personal shock and sadness” – with the palace said to be paralysed with “horror and dismay”.
One insider said: “There’s a lot people want to say but no one wins with a tit-for-tat battle.”
Prince Harry has also he would “never share” the full details of the discussion but that he was asked at the start of his relationship with Meghan, how dark the skin of their children might be.
But Oprah Winfrey today revealed it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh who made the comment about Archie’s skin.
She told CBS This Morning: “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.”
Speaking to Oprah, Meghan said the concerns had been raised at the same time that the future parents were told Archie would not receive security as he was not a prince.
She said: “All the grandeur around this stuff is not really important to me.
“But in those months when I was pregnant, all around same time: we have in tandem he won’t be given security, a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
Oprah was left stunned and replied: “What? There is a conversation…hold on. Hold up. Hold up. Stop right now.
“There’s a conversation with you?” Meghan said: “With Harry.”
Oprah went on: “About how dark your baby is going to be?”
Concerns have now been raised that this week, all senior members of the Royal Family are expected to carry out public engagements – where they could face questions about the Oprah interview.
Meghan replied: “Potentially, and what that would mean or look like.”
Oprah then gasped: “Whoa.”
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.”
