Queen Issues Statement, Piers Morgan Steps Down, UK Reacts To Racism Allegations

Queen Elizabeth issues statement: The Harry Meghan tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday was watched by 50 million — and counting — in the world.

Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday issued a statement addressing the allegations of racism made by the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex during the interview.

The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah that a Royal family member had a conversation with Prince Harry before Archie’s birth and expressed concerns about the baby’s skin colour. Markle said, “They didn’t want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol and that he wasn’t going to receive security. In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we have in tandem the conversation of, ‘you won’t be given security, not gonna be given a title’ and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.” Read more here.

How Buckingham Palace reacted

After Sunday's interview sparked some urgent crisis meetings at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, the Queen, in the official statement, said that she was "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,” she added.

Queen Elizabeth issues statement: Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members: The Queen

Piers Morgan Steps Down

British television host Piers Morgan on Tuesday stepped down from his role presenting ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain following the controversial remarks he made on Meghan Markle’s claims of suicide contemplation. "Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain," the network said in a statement after Morgan quit the popular morning show he hosted.

The former CNN host went on to say that he did not believe Markle when she said in the ell-all interview that at one point she "didn't want to be alive anymore." After facing a deluge of complaints, ITV has accepted his decision of quitting the show.

Prince Charles declines to comment

Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles had earlier declined to comment after he was asked about the interview. On Tuesday, as he left a vaccination centre in London, a reporter asked Charles to comment on the interview in which Markle said a member of the royal family had made a racist comment and she had been pushed to the point of considering suicide. He, however, ignored the questions and walked off.

Prince William and Kate Middleton break silence

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton took to their official Instagram account on Monday and shared a picture of Queen Elizabeth II during her Commonwealth Day speech on March 7 and delivered a message about "unity" and "friendship". They captioned the image, "Today is Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent countries. Her Majesty The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth."

Notably, Markle said in the interview that Middleton, who is married to Harry's brother Prince William, had made her cry just before her 2018 wedding.

"Everyone in the institution knew that didn’t happen,” said Meghan. “What actually happened? The reverse” before adding, “I am not sharing this to be in any way disparaging about her ...I would hope that she would want that to be corrected.”

Feature Image Credit: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Instagram