Meghan Markle Oprah interview – Live updates as Queen 'extends olive branch' to Prince Harry and Duchess after TV claims

THE Queen has finally broken her silence over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, extending an "olive branch" to the couple.

Making claims of racism at the heart of the royal family and giving their side of the Megxit row, Harry and Meghan shocked the world when the interview was broadcast on Sunday and Monday night.

The Queen initially delayed her response to the biggest crisis to hit to the Royal Family since the 1936 abdication but Buckingham Palace tonight finally put out a statement.

It 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 sign off of the response signals a desire to make amends, but out of the spotlight, royal author Phil Dampier claims.

He said: “By saying Harry and Meghan are lucky loved family members she is throwing out an olive branch and pleading with them not to say anymore and to calm down and start to build bridges."

During the bombshell conversation with America's biggest celebrity interviewer, the couple revealed explosive inside information about the Royal Family and also gave their side of the Megxit story.

Meghan admitted that she had suicidal thoughts during her early days in the Royal Family and that she begged in vain for mental health support.

The Duchess also dramatically disputed widely reported claims that she made Kate Middleton cry before her wedding with Harry, claiming that in fact Kate had made HER cry and later apologised for doing so.

Halfway through the interview Harry joined Meghan to say he is terrified of "history repeating itself" following the tragic death of his mother Princess Diana, and admitted he feels "let down" by his father's lack of support.

The couple also claimed Archie mysteriously wasn't made a prince shortly after a disturbing conversation with an unidentified senior member of the Royal Family who expressed "concern" over his skin colour.

For full details and analysis of the sensational interview, follow our live blog below.

  • Joseph Gamp

    CONTINUED…

    A senior royal source said Palace aides would be looking into Meghan’s claims she asked for mental health support but was refused it.

    But the source added: “One of the things that will be looked at is why on earth did poor Meghan go to the Palace HR department for help and not to senior members of the Family?

    “They have medical households full of medical experts that could have helped with everything.”

    During the explosive interview with Oprah, Prince Harry said he had not spoken to his family to get support, saying: "That's just not a conversation that would be had."

    He added: "I guess I was ashamed of admitting it to them."

  • Joseph Gamp

    BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO INVESTIGATE WHY MEGHAN MARKLE WASN’T OFFERED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

    Buckingham Palace is to investigate why Meghan Markle wasn’t given support for mental health problems that she says left her feeling suicidal.

    The Duchess of Sussex, 39, told Oprah Winfrey during the bombshell interview aired this week that she sought help after telling Prince Harry she "didn’t want to be alive anymore".

    Read more here.

  • Joseph Gamp

    MEGHAN MARKLE ‘MAY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PIERS MORGAN TO ITV’

    MEGHAN Markle may have submitted a formal complaint to ITV before Piers Morgan sensationally quit after refusing to apologise, reports claim.

    The 55-year-old stepped down from Good Morning Britain last night after senior execs wanted him to say sorry on air following his heated clash with the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford over the Duchess.

    And this morning he doubled down on his decision – tweeting: "Freedom of speech is a hill I'm happy to die on."

    Now it's emerged that he might have been confronted by chiefs after the broadcaster was contacted by Meghan.

    Read more here.

  • Joseph Gamp

    …AND HER MOTHER TINA KNOWLES CRITICISED PIERS MORGAN OVER MEGHAN COMMENTS

    Tina Knowles, the mother of pop superstar Beyonce, criticised Piers Morgan overnight.

    She wrote on Instagram: "So Piers Morgan stormed off because he can dish it out but he can’t take it!!!! ‘Is he 5 years old or what!!!!!!!

    "No concern for Archie whatsoever!!! Looks to me like he’s saying 'how dare this black man reprimand me. On national TV. Only I can do that. I can drag Meghan but you cannot call me out!!!'"

    She continued: "Morgan has always felt superior White and British at that!!! !!! He has always felt his White privilege!!

    "He is showing his true colours literally!!!!"

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson)

  • Joseph Gamp

    BEYONCE PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR MEGHAN MARKLE

    "Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership," Beyoncé said in the statement.

    "We are all strengthened and inspired by you."

    The message was accompanied of a photo of Beyoncé and Markle meeting at The Lion King premiere in 2019.

  • Joseph Gamp

    MEGHAN AND HARRY’S TOP 12 BOMBSHELLS

     

  • Joseph Gamp

    MEGHAN AND HARRY’S INTERVIEW IS DAMAGING BUT MONARCHY CAN SURVIVE, SAY EXPERTS

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s revelations in their interview with Oprah Winfrey are “damning” and “damaging” to the monarchy, but the institution will ultimately be strong enough to withstand the controversy, royal experts have predicted.

    Harry and Meghan’s comments during the two-hour sit-down have “lobbed a hand grenade into the family home” and represent a “very serious attack” on the institution, royal author Penny Junor said.

    She said it was “absolutely fine” that Harry and Meghan had wanted to “walk away” from royal life, but questioned: “Why destroy the reputation of the family in the course of that?”

    Ms Junor told the PA news agency: “I do not know why they’ve done this. This is Harry’s family, his flesh and blood, and this seems to have lobbed a hand grenade into the family home.

    “I worry that there will be no coming back from that.”

  • Joseph Gamp

    MEGHAN’S SUITS CO-STAR HITS OUT AT HER FOR INTERVIEW DURING COVID CRISIS

    Meghan Markle’s suit co-star Wendell Pierce has slammed her and Prince Harry for the timing of their interview.

    The actor said it was “insensitive” of the pair to have staged the interview while the world was in the “throes of death” and fighting against a pandemic.

    The 57-year-old told radio station LBC: “Today 3,000 people are going to die in America from Covid.

    “A couple of hundred people are going to die, even this hour, in the UK.”

    Wendell, who worked with Meghan for four years as his role as her Suit character’s dad, said the broadcast was “insignificant”.

  • Joseph Gamp

    HARRY ‘WILL REGRET OPRAH INTERVIEW’, AUTHOR CLAIMS

    Prince Harry will regret his interview with Oprah Winfrey, just as Princess Diana did after her chat with Martin Bashir, a Royal author said.

    Speaking about Diana’s sensational interview with Martin Bashir, Penny Junor said in the Mail on Sunday:  “She was wrong and came to very much regret it.

    “Diana had been excited by the attention and hadn’t thought about the negative impact on her children.

    “My guess is that, like Diana all those years ago, Harry and Meghan will be feeling pleased as punch about their own interview with Oprah, which airs in America tonight and in the UK tomorrow.

    “But I suspect that one day Harry will come to regret it, just as Diana did.”

  • Joseph Gamp

    SAMANTHA MARKLE SAYS MEGHAN USING ‘DEPRESSION AS EXCUSE TO TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DISHRAGS’

    The Duchess half-sister Samantha has accused the Duchess of using “depression as an excuse to treat people like dishrags.”

    The 56-year-old made the bold comments following the release of an exclusive two-hour tell-all interview between Markle, Prince Harry and Oprah that aired on Sunday night.

    However, in an interview with Inside Edition, her half-sister accused Markle of using her mental illness as an excuse.

    “Depression is not an excuse for treating people like dishrags and disposing of them,” Samantha said.

    Read more here.

  • Joseph Gamp

    PRINCE CHARLES’ TRUST IN COUPLE ‘HAS ERODED’

    Prince Charles reportedly feels “let down” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after “supporting them more than he could say”.

    The 72-year-old is understood to be “deeply concerned” about the racism allegations raised by the Sussexes – but his trust has “eroded” in the couple after their interview with Oprah Winfrey.

    A source close to Charles told the Evening Standard that the “incendiary” sit-down chat had caused great pain and division.

    They said: “It goes against everything the Prince of Wales believes in. He believes diversity is the strength of our society. For Harry to say he feels ‘let down’ seems a little rich when you consider what he has done.

    “The Duke of Sussex continues to say he respects his grandmother, but he has ridden roughshod over the institution she represents. Time is said to be a great healer, let’s hope so.”

  • Joseph Gamp

    MORE ON HILLARY CLINTON DEFENDING MEGHAN MARKLE

    In her interview with the Washington Post, Hilary Clinton went on to say: "Every institution has got to make more space and acceptance for young people coming up.

    "Particularly young women, who should not be forced into a mould that is no longer relevant, not only for them but for our society.

    "And it was heartbreaking to see the two of them sitting there having to describe how difficult it was to be accepted, to be integrated.

    "Not just into the Royal Family as they described, but more painfully into the larger societies whose narrative is driven by tabloids that are living in the past."

  • Joseph Gamp

    MEGHAN AND HARRY NEWS ROUND UP

    • 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

    MEGHAN & HARRY SAY QUEEN SNUBBED THEM OVER WEEKEND STAY

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry claim the Queen snubbed them by cancelling an overnight stay at Sandringham amid Megxit.

    In a new bombshell clip from the Oprah interview, the Duke says the Queen invited the pair to stay with her on January 6 last year- but revoked the invitation the moment they landed in Britain.

    The Duke of Sussex said his grandmother, Her Majesty, had personally invited them to Sandringham for a “chat, tea, and dinner,” and to stay the night because it’s a “long drive”.

    It came as the couple flew back from Canada for the first time since fleeing Britain for their new life – and just two days before The Sun exclusively revealed Megxit.

    Read the full story here.

    MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY CRITICISES PIERS’ REMARKS

    Mental health charity Mind has been highly critical of Piers’s comments on Meghan Markle and in a statement said it was speaking to ITV about the matter.

    It read: “We were disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morgan’s comments on not believing Meghan’s experiences about suicidal thoughts.

    “It’s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.

    “We are in conversations with ITV about this at the moment.”

    Piers has since quit the ITV breakfast show.

    • Joseph Gamp

      EXPLAINED: HOW MEGHAN AND PIERS MORGAN FIRST MET

      Piers and Meghan first got in contact after he followed her on Twitter and she messaged him saying she was a fan of his.

      The pair messaged for a while, and when Meghan visited the UK to watch Serena Williams at Wimbledon they met for a drink.

      Piers later revealed: “We had two hours in the pub, she had a couple of dirty martinis and pints – we got on brilliantly. Then I put her in a cab, and it turns out it was the cab that took her to a party where she met Prince Harry.

      “The next night they had a solo dinner and that was the last I ever heard from Meghan Markle. I never heard from her again – Meghan Markle ghosted me.”

      Piers said he was “ditched like a sack of spuds!”

       

    • Joseph Gamp

      PIERS CLARIFIES HIS VIEWS ON MENTAL HEALTH AFTER MEGHAN COMMENTS

      On today’s GMB Piers took a moment to clarify his views on mental health after the backlash – before he quit.

      He said: “On mental illness and suicide, these are clearly very serious things which should be taken extremely seriously, and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help they need every time.

      “And if they belong to an institution like the royal family, they should absolutely be given it. It’s not for me to question whether she felt suicidal, I wasn’t in her mind and that’s for her to say.

      “My real concern was a disbelief, frankly, and I’m prepared to be proven wrong on this and if I am it’s a scandal, she went to a senior member of the royal household, told them she was suicidal and was told she could not have any help because it would be a bad look for the family.

      “If that is true, that person should be fired, if they’re still there, and the royal family have serious questions to answer about how they handled it.”

    • Joseph Gamp

      QUEEN TO PRIVATELY QUIZ SENIOR ROYALS OVER RACE ALLEGATIONS

      Senior royals will be personally quizzed by the Queen over Meghan and Prince Harry’s damaging racism claims.

      Her Majesty said in a statement yesterday the accusations will be “addressed privately”.

      The monarch is to have private conversations with Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and others to establish what may have been said.

      The Sun told yesterday how the Duke and Duchess had already given differing accounts of the alleged racist remark — revealed in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey which was seen around the world.

      Meghan told Oprah a senior royal had quizzed her while she was pregnant on “how dark” their unborn son Archie would be. But Harry later said the remarks came in conversations before the couple were married and were about what their future children might look like.

    • Joseph Gamp

      HILLARY CLINTON SAYS ‘CRUELTY’ AGAINST MEGHAN MARKLE WAS ‘OUTRAGEOUS’

      HILLARY Clinton said the "cruelty" against Meghan Markle was "outrageous" as she blasted the royals for not supporting the Duchess.

      The former first lady was reacting to a bombshell interview between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey that aired on Sunday night.

      Read more here.

    • Abe Hawken

      DUKING IT OUT

      The majority of Brits believe Harry and Meghan Markle should be stripped of their royal titles after their Oprah Winfrey interview, a new poll shows.

      According to a new poll, just over half think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should forfeit their titles after this week’s bombshell claims.

      The poll for the Daily Mail shows 51 per cent of Brits believe that the couple should have their titles removed, with 28 per cent saying they shouldn’t.

    • Abe Hawken

      KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

      Senior royals will be personally quizzed by the Queen over Meghan and Prince Harry’s damaging racism claims.

      Her Majesty said in a statement yesterday the accusations will be “addressed privately”.

      The monarch is to have private conversations with Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and others to establish what may have been said.

    • Katie Davis

      MEGHAN'S SUITS CO-STAR HITS OUT AT HER FOR INTERVIEW DURING COVID CRIS

      Meghan Markle's suit co-star Wendell Pierce has slammed her and Prince Harry for the timing of their interview.

      The actor said it was "insensitive" of the pair to have staged the interview while the world was in the "throes of death" and fighting against a pandemic.

      The 57-year-old told radio station LBC: "Today 3,000 people are going to die in America from Covid.

      "A couple of hundred people are going to die, even this hour, in the UK."

      Wendell, who worked with Meghan for four years as his role as her Suit character's dad, said the broadcast was "insignificant".

    • Katie Davis

      MEGHAN AND HARRY’S FOUR DEMANDS

      Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made four demands to TV channels who wanted to show their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, according to reports.

      According to The Australian, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex told four broadcasters they must obey four non-negotiable strict rules.

      Firstly, they were reportedly told to run the interview in full and not to “edit” the chat in any way.

      The second demand told channels they can’t edit a series of ads which have been sent to broadcasters.

      Thirdly, every channel airing the interview can’t edit the synopsis which is being provided.

      The fourth rule states that broadcasters must only use approved still images supplied to promote the chat.

    • Katie Davis

      MEGHAN AND HARRY'S CALI HOME TOWN SHOW SUPPORT

      Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s California home town has declared itself “Team Meghan” after the royals’ bombshell interview with their neighbor Oprah Winfrey sent shockwaves around the world.

      In the no-holds-barred chat, pregnant Meghan told Oprah she is having a baby girl and says she felt suicidal and trapped when living in London. She also says racist comments were made by a member of the royal family about their baby Archie's skin colour.

      Just hours before the two-hour interview was broadcast in the UK, Brooke Redmayne and best pal Brianna Bascherini, both 35, took to Montecito high street with home-made placards to show their support for the Duke and Duchess who live nearby in a $14million mansion.

      Hospitality worker Brooke, from Montecito, said: “Everyone’s got lovers and haters and that’s especially true of Meghan and Harry.

      “But we all love them here in Montecito and we want to show them our support."

    • Katie Davis

      PRINCE CHARLES' TRUST IN COUPLE 'HAS ERODED'

      PRINCE Charles reportedly feels "let down" by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after "supporting them more than he could say".

      The 72-year-old is understood to be "deeply concerned" about the racism allegations raised by the Sussexes – but his trust has "eroded" in the couple after their interview with Oprah Winfrey.

      A source close to Charles told the Evening Standard that the "incendiary" sit-down chat had caused great pain and division.

      They said: "It goes against everything the Prince of Wales believes in. He believes diversity is the strength of our society. For Harry to say he feels ‘let down’ seems a little rich when you consider what he has done.

      "The Duke of Sussex continues to say he respects his grandmother, but he has ridden roughshod over the institution she represents. Time is said to be a great healer, let’s hope so."

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