Kate Middleton, Oprah Winfrey and the royal family 'apology' that caused shockwaves
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2021 interview with Oprah contained shocking allegationsKate Middleton reportedly helped draft the royal family’s response over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Winfrey interview.
In March 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, 44, sat down with Oprah to discuss their experience within the royal family after quitting their senior roles in 2020. The interview sent shockwaves across the world and catapulted the royal family into the limelight.
In the interview, Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan made a series of allegations. One claimed that a member of the royal family had commented on “how dark” their unborn son Archie’s skin colour would be when he was born.
In another moment, Meghan addressed the infamous bridesmaid dress row that she had with her sister-in-law, Kate.
After the explosive interview aired, Buckingham Palace issued a statement – a response that Princess Kate was reportedly behind.
Allegations in Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview
During the chat with Oprah, which aired on CBS in the US on March 7, 2021, and the following day on ITV in the UK, Meghan opened up about having suicidal thoughts.
However, she claimed she did not get help when she asked for it.
Also in the interview, Meghan claimed that Kate had made her cry in the lead-up to her wedding to Harry. Months after the May 2018 wedding, reports emerged alleging that Kate was left in tears over a disagreement with Meghan about Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress not fitting properly before the big day.
But speaking to Oprah years later, Meghan claimed the opposite happened and Kate had made her cry. She said that after, Kate brought her flowers and apologised to her.
Other comments made by Harry and Meghan included the duke saying his father King Charles and brother Prince William were “trapped within the system” of the royal family. Harry also claimed his father cut him off financially at the beginning of 2020.
However, the couple’s allegations about their son Archie caused the most shockwaves.
Allegations about Prince Archie’s skin colour
Speaking to Oprah, Meghan said: “In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time so we have in tandem the conversation of [Archie] won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born.”
Meghan said the alleged comments about Archie’s skin colour were made to Harry, which he then relayed to her.
However, Meghan and Harry didn’t reveal the identity of the individual as they believed it would be “very damaging to them”.
Harry told Oprah: “That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked.”
How did the royal family respond to Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview?
Days after the interview aired, Buckingham Palace issued a statement.
It read: “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 statement sparked a very divided opinion amongst the public. Some praised it, whilst others took issue with the “recollections may vary” line.
Kate Middleton was ‘behind’ statement
According to Valentine Low’s 2022 book, Courtier: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown, Prince William and Kate reportedly played a part in drafting the statement.
Apparently, the “some recollections may vary” part of the statement came from the couple.
A source reportedly told Low: “They wanted it toughened up a bit. They were both of one mind that we needed something that said that the institution did not accept a lot of what had been said.”
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Kensington Palace for comment.
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