The Shocking Revelations of the Royal Interview
Carla Paz-Almonte
On Monday, March 8th, Oprah Winfrey’s highly anticipated interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aired for the first time. This tell-all interview brought startling claims of racism within the British Royal Family and Meghan Markle’s battle with mental health to light. Continue reading to learn about some of the interview’s most eye-opening moments.
Concerns Within The Royal Family Over Baby Archie’s Skin Tone
During the interview, Meghan Markle revealed to Oprah that there were concerns within the family about how dark her baby Archie’s skin tone would be before he was born. Markle did not say who in the family expressed such concerns, but husband Prince Harry later confirmed that Meghan’s claim was true. "That was relayed to me from Harry. Those were conversations that his family had with him," Meghan said. Meghan and Harry both declined to reveal which member ㅡ or members ㅡ of the Royal Family had made such comments, realizing how damaging that information would be to the family.
Meghan’s Mental Health Battle
Constant berating from the British media against Meghan Markle shortly after her wedding and throughout her pregnancy took a toll on Markle’s mental health. Meghan solemnly disclosed to Oprah during the interview that her struggles with mental health pushed her to the brink of taking her own life. When she contacted the Royal Family about this with the hope of receiving support, they were reportedly unwilling to help Meghan get the help she needed for fear that it would create negative publicity for the family. Meghan told Oprah that she brought her concerns to Harry on the same day of their visit to the Royal Albert Hall. Meghan said, “A friend said, ‘I know you don't look at pictures, but, oh, my god, you guys look so great,’ I zoomed in, and what I saw was the truth of what that moment was."
Archie Not Being Given a Title
The Royal Family allegedly told Meghan that Archie would not be given a royal title once he was born, nor did they provide any reasoning for this decision. "The first member of color in this family [was] not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be," Markle said. According to the Royal Family, once Prince Charles becomes king, Meghan’s children are to receive official royal titles. Prince William’s children were given titles once they were born, and they have the same relation to the family as Harry and Meghan’s children.
Harry and Meghan Were Left to Use Princess Diana’s Inheritance
The Royal Family cut off Harry and Meghan financially in the beginning of 2020 when Harry and Meghan first announced their departure from the Royal Family. If it weren’t for the inheritance that Princess Diana left her son Harry, they would have never been able to leave the Royal Family and create a life of their own. "I've got all my mom left me and without that we would not be able to do this," Harry said.
The Royal Family was originally silent on the issue until Prince William came out to state that his relatives are “very much not a racist family.” Buckingham Palace has since released an official statement in response to the interview stating: “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. While 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.”
Since then, Harry mentioned that Prince Charles and Prince William have reached out to him, but that the conversations were unproductive. The royal interview gave outsiders never-before-seen insight into the reality of life as a royal family member while also demonstrating the significance of the relationship between the British media and the royals. The interview introduced viewers to the struggles that Harry and Meghan encountered that contributed to their decision to distance themselves and their children from the family.
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