LONDON – Prince William denied that the British royal family was racist on Thursday in his first public comments since Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“We are not a racist family,” said William in response to questions from the media when visiting a school in East London with his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
William added that he had not yet spoken to his brother, “but I intend to speak”.
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Buckingham Palace has been rocked by a media frenzy since the explosive interview, which aired in the United States on Sunday and in the United Kingdom on Monday, and was watched by millions.
Harry and Meghan’s comments to Oprah unveiled mental health issues to the royal protocol, but also race.
Meghan said Harry told her that royals had expressed “concerns” about how dark their children’s skin could be. The couple declined to name the person who made the alleged comments, but Winfrey later said that Harry made it clear that it was neither Queen Elizabeth II, her grandmother, nor her husband, Prince Philip.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement on Tuesday, referring to the interview and said the family was “sad” to learn the extent of the challenges facing the couple.
“The issues raised, particularly those of race, are of concern,” the statement said. “Although some memories may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be taken care of by the family in particular.”
Despite the queen’s call on Tuesday night for the couple’s claims to be “handled by the family in private,” her 61-word statement did not restrict the British press and the public’s appetite for more.
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