The Queen has broken her silence on Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview to say that ‘while some recollections may vary’ the ‘whole family is saddened’ to hear of the couple’s ‘challenging few years’.
Her Majesty said an alleged racist comment made about what colour the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby Archie would be was ‘concerning’ and will be ‘addressed by the family privately’.
The monarch will reportedly speak to senior royals – including Charles, Camilla, William and Kate – behind closed doors over the couple’s allegations.
Her statement added that Harry and Meghan – using their names rather than titles – and their son ‘will always be much loved family members’.
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. 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.’
It is understood the Queen waited until Tuesday to comment on the devastating interview with Oprah Winfrey so Britons had the chance to watch it first – but ‘the Firm’ is not expected to make any further comments.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said her response assures Harry and Meghan and the public that the concerns raised in the interview will be addressed.
He told MailOnline: ‘It would always have been inappropriate to do a point by point rebuttal of claims which they made with which the Palace disagree. Since the interview reportedly runs to 3 hours, 20 minutes, it was very likely further extracts would be released which would obviously cause complications.
‘The Queen, part of whose life’s work has been to nurture the Commonwealth, a symbol of diversity, has rightly expressed concern about the issue of race being raised.
‘As has been widely reported, the views expressed on several issues by the Sussexes were highly questionable. The Queen’s use of the phrase ”while some recollections may vary” handles this with sensitivity.
‘We know from her Christmas messages how important the family is to the Queen. All families have their differences and difficulties and the strength of Harry and Meghan’s feeling that they had been badly treated was obvious.
‘The reference to Harry, Meghan and Archie as ”loved family members” is therefore highly appropriate.
‘They are assured that their concerns are taken very seriously and that the way to handle the issues they have raised is to do so privately, as a family.
‘This is a short statement which, in the Queen’s inimitable way, has a healing touch. Let us hope that, after yesterday’s shock interview, it begins a process where the royal family and the Sussexes, who are part of it, can realise their undoubtedly unique potential together and solve their differences away from the public gaze.’
It comes after senior royals broke cover today amid claims the palace was paralysed with fear that Harry and Meghan could reveal the figure accused of commenting on Archie’s skin colour.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were out and about visiting several vaccination centres as part of their official duties, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen driving around London on personal errands.
A senior palace source earlier today claimed the delayed statement from the Queen was partly down to a lack of ‘trust’ between the Windsors and the Sussexes, with fears a denial without fully investigating the claims could lead to Harry and Meghan naming the person they accuse of making the comment.
The Duchess of Sussex’s allegation a senior royal asked Harry how ‘dark’ Archie’s skin would be and the claim the one-year-old was denied the title of prince because he is mixed-race – rather than because of protocol – are the most damaging to the royals.
‘A denial could lead the Sussexes breaking their vow and naming the member of the royal family who discussed their son’s skin colour. There is a lack of trust,’ an insider told the Evening Standard.
The source added: ‘It could lead to the Sussexes naming names and it blowing up again.’
Prince Charles smiled but stayed silent as he was quizzed about the interview on the first official engagement by a royal since it aired – as he told a nurse ‘I can imagine how exhausting it is’ as she described her work handing out vaccines.
The Prince of Wales – who is said to be ‘absolutely devastated’ at Harry’s claims he cut him off, put on a brave face as he spoke to medics, clerics and patients at Jesus House church near Brent Cross in London, following the deluge of personal attacks in front of a TV audience of 28million in the UK and US alone.
He was alone for that visit, although Camilla joined him later for trips to a vaccination centre in Elephant and Castle, south London, and the headquarters of NHS England.
One parishioner at Jesus House, who only gave her first name, Grace, highlighted that Charles had visited a ‘black church’, adding: ‘All that effort and someone turns around and says there’s racism, I don’t believe that’.
Harry – through back-stage comments to Oprah – has ruled out the Queen and Prince Philip as having made the comments about Archie but left other royals under suspicion.
Charles is said to be ‘deeply’ concerned over the racism claims, with a source saying: ‘It goes against everything the Prince of Wales believes in. He believes diversity is the strength of our society.’
This morning’s visit is understood to have been in the palace diary for some time, although the royals may have had a suspicion about what could be discussed in the Oprah interview in advance of it airing.
Charles seemed at ease as he chatted with people waiting for their vaccinations, including one woman who said she was from Nigeria.
The prince – who previously visited the church in 2007 – replied: ‘Oh fantastic, yes, I’ve been there. Lots of different ethnic groups. Do give them my kind regards next time you speak to them.’
As Charles left the church, a reporter asked, ‘Sir, what did you think of the interview?’, and after turning to see who had called out, he smiled and carried on walking.
In the Oprah interview, Charles was personally referenced by Prince Harry, who said he felt ‘really let down’ by his father after he allegedly refused to answer his calls during his time in Canada.
Harry also claimed his family had cut him off financially and suggested the Queen had been badly advised and had cancelled a meeting scheduled at Sandringham.
Discussing his father, Harry said: ‘I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar. He knows what pain feels like. I will always love him, but there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened. And I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship.’
Royal insiders have rubbished the claims and said Charles feels ‘let down’ by his son’s comments.
‘The Prince of Wales went out of his way to make sure his son and daughter in law were financially supported,’ a senior source told the Standard.
Harry’s remarks raised eyebrows as the couple had themselves made clear their express wish to be ‘financially independent’ when announcing their decision to quit in January 2020.
Meanwhile, another source close to the heir to the throne told the Telegraph Charles will be left ‘absolutely devastated’ by what his youngest son had said about him.
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EVERY mixed race couple and their friends always wonder what complexion their child will be. Chuptz
She high colour already. I don’t believe nobody ask them that, like they don’t know how the child would look. They full ah shit. Remember she old man warn everybody bout she !!
I have a mixed race child and while pregnant my entire family along with myself wondered what we are going to get
Meghsn and Harry seem to want to burn the whole house down because they did not get what they want. You just don’t do that to your family. You walk away and let them be.
I don’t believe half of what they said.
Harry is going to regret this. You just don’t air your family dirty laundry. Laughable he loves his grandparents and brother and just bombed everything they stand for. Insane logic that
The Queen should not waste her time on those two liars. That woman wants to be a Princess Diana. No way. She’s not fit for royalty. She’s a used up divorced American. Harry is a.dunderhead. He should have stuck to his own English roses or some nice gal from any other country. Never an American.
@.ssndra
Is Prince Charles’ wife an English rose fit for royalty? And to think she could be queen one day. The last time I checked, she is a divorcee who is alleged to have been involved with him before her divorce. Remember the leaked phone conversation? Do you remember what was said about her getting off her horse and getting dressed for a formal function?
You seem to hate Americans. A lot of people also dislike the British with their stiff upper lip and superior attitude.
Harry loves his wife and wants to be free from the royal cage.
I hope their second child comes out dark like her mom. These “royals” need some real melanin in that deeply entrenched colonialistic white-privileged “empire”
Kudos to them for being brave enough to escape the cult and chart their own course. Freedom is priceless.
There were CONCERNS ABOUT THE COLOUR OF THEIR BABY’S SKIN.
CONCERN is different from curiosity or guessing. In other words the unnamed individual said it in a negative derogatory manner. The exact quote is:
“CONCERNS about HOW DARK HIS SKIN MIGHT BE WHEN HE’S BORN…”
In other words “he better not born with dark skin!!!
I tip my hat to them for their courage and bravery.
Choops she’s an American. Trouble maker. The royals do not need them Americans in the Firm.
What the f### any ah dem have fu do wid Antigua. Any of dem r##hole ah help Antigua. Chupzzzzzzz da who f###ing family sickening now. Meghen should get one f##ing oscar for that performance
God should punish that lying markle woman. She had no thoughts about suicide. Harry is trying to recreate his mother, trying to make people believe that that American person is just like Princess Diana.
She already had millions of dollars before Harry, now she’s in the UK with the Royal family. Instead of thanking God for this great opportunity she’s causing trouble. Other people would give their all to be in her position. Other people who are living from hand to mouth are thanking God for small mercies and that lying witch is causing trouble playing the victim. Canada, Germany, any other country. Harry could have gotten a decent young unspoiled woman but he had to go settle for that divorced envious lying American. She’s so jealous of the other real royals.
Don’t raise your blood pressure. Is Harry brother’s wife royalty? The last time I checked she was a “commoner”
At well well well, well said! And also charles visiting a black church doesn’t mean he’s not racist why is it a “Black” church doesn’t any other race of people attend? The whole royal family are racist just take a look back at their history they’re a bunch of genocidal cleptomaniacs who kidnap nations and extort the countries they’ve colonized and you people look up to them like heroes they lie to your face and keep their dirty laundry hidden from all so they are not telling the truth at all and after all meaghan markle is her father’s daughter which means she’s his seed she’s white and her two babies will be white there’s no mix according to the scientific study and the bible!
Who in their right mind sir their dirty laundry? Some things are personal and not everyone wants people to know about. The Royal family is Royal for a reason. It’s like the Caribs, Arawaks, Wild Indians all living on their reservations. The prefer not to have outsiders invade. The markle person invaded thru foolish Harry.
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