Meghan Markle criticised: The tell-all Oprah chat that saw former royals Harry and Markle make explosive claims about the British royal family and Buckingham Palace hasn't sat well with many critics and experts who are taking the interview apart, saying it is "devastating" and "disrespectful."
The couple's sit-down with the host, which was aired in the United States on March 7 at CBS primetime, is due for broadcast in the United Kingdom on March 8 on ITV. Ahead of its viewing in the Queen's land, many have come forward to raise questions on the details Markle expanded upon - from claims of the palace's racism against her son Archie to feeling captive in the royal household (read their revelations here) - saying it won't be good for the monarchy's image.
Meghan Markle Criticised By Royal Experts, Others
Daily Mail, the British tabloid whose sister papers recently lost a privacy lawsuit to Markle, quoted royal expert Angela Levin saying, "Meghan made it sound as if she was in prison. That was her narrative. She said there was no one there for her, but... It is hard to say there was no one."
"People care about the Queen and the Royal Family... and they are so forceful in their comments... The Palace will say the minimum. It is too much to take on," she added.
Buckingham has not made an official statement on the couple's claims yet. In the days leading up to the interview broadcast, however, a probe had been launched into allegations of Markle having bullied the royal staff.
Markle stated to Oprah that during her first pregnancy, there was conversation at Buckingham around not giving baby Archie a title, as all royal grandchildren are given, amid racist claims of the child's skin being possibly dark, given Markle's heritage. Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondent, says, "The allegation that there were discussions in the palace about how dark Meghan’s first baby might be is a devastating one. This is heading into ‘worst-case scenario’ territory for the palace."
"It is worth remembering we are currently only getting one side of the story," he added.
Oprah reacts to Meghan Markle revealing somebody in the Royal Family was concerned about how dark Archie's skin color might be.#OprahMeghanHarry
— Alexander Umeakubuike ✊🏿 (@AUmeakubuike) March 8, 2021
pic.twitter.com/V4C2FUxAVY
Here's How Social Media Is Reacting
English journalist Piers Morgan, known for making controversial remarks, lashed out at Harry and Markle for their "contemptible" Oprah chat. "Prince Harry and his wife just spent two hours trashing everything the Queen stands for & has worked so hard to maintain," he wrote on Twitter.
Let’s be clear: Prince Harry and his wife just spent two hours trashing everything the Queen stands for & has worked so hard to maintain, whilst pretending to support her.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 8, 2021
And they did it while her 99yr-old husband Philip is seriously ill in hospital.
It’s contemptible. pic.twitter.com/W8dBoNI7d8
Read some more reactions below:
So the Royal Family are racist and didn’t care about Meghan Markle’s suicidal ideation, why then do they remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex? I’m also not sure how revealing the sex of your baby in an Oprah interview in any way shape or form is compatible with a ‘private’ life.
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) March 8, 2021
Meghan says ‘she’s lost her father’
— Patricia Page🇬🇧🏴 (@Patricia344130) March 8, 2021
WHAT?
She dropped him like a hot cake & he’s desperate to see Archie.
What a bitch.
Meghan and Harry the multi millionaires saying they’ve had a tough year https://t.co/1V9iTI1kpH
— Jack (@23jackkk) March 8, 2021
Prince William was right to warn his brother about marrying Meghan Markle
— Effie Deans (@Effiedeans) March 8, 2021
There is meanwhile criticism also pouring in for Oprah, one of the most globally renowned talk show hosts, with many social media users seeming to think she was not letting the ex-royals speak.
Oprah isn’t the interviewer she used to be. She is not the interviewer she thinks she is. Dammit why does she interrupt... just let them talk
— indho 🦉 (@dreamwondrmagic) March 8, 2021
Oprah wouldn't be Oprah if she didn't interrupt. It's like her signature thing. https://t.co/NJNZCXqKS6
— ME. I AM RIMA (@RemeePooh) March 8, 2021