Former First Lady Michelle Obama said it was “not a complete surprise” to hear Meghan Markle detail the alleged racism within the British royal family.
Obama was asked about Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell meeting with Oprah Winfrey in an interview for NBC’s “TODAY” program that is scheduled to air on Tuesday.
Markle, 39, who is biracial, told Winfrey that someone in the royal family expressed “concern” to Harry, 36, about “how dark” her son Archie’s skin would be.
Co-host Jenna Bush Hager said it was “moving” to hear Markle describe the conversation, adding: “she felt like she was in her own family – her own family thought differently from her.”
Obama replied: “As I said before, race is not a new construction in this world for people of color, so it was not a complete surprise to hear your feelings and have them articulated.”
“I think what I hope, and I think, is that this, first of all, is a family. I pray for forgiveness and healing for them, so that they can use it as a teaching moment for all of us. “
In another interview published on Monday, Obama, 57, said he hoped the couple would find a way to reconcile with the royal family.
“My hope is that when I think about what they are going through, I think about the importance of the family and I just pray that there will be forgiveness, and that there will be clarity and love and determination at some point,” she said “Access Hollywood.”
Obama is a longtime supporter of Markle, calling her “my friend” and “a thoughtful leader” in an Instagram post in 2019.
Queen Elizabeth II said the allegations of racism were “worrying” and would be dealt with privately. She is said to have questioned senior royals about the blunt accusations.