Queen Elizabeth II emphasized the importance of unity and family in a royal speech that aired a few hours before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s meeting with Oprah Winfrey aired.
In a message delivered on Sunday, the monarch of Britain also addressed the role of technology in keeping people connected with friends and family in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Although it took place hours before the long-awaited interview, the queen made no mention of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex or her next interview with Winfrey, which will take place on Sunday night in the United States and Monday in the United Kingdom.
“The times of trial experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual support that we enjoy as we are connected with other people,” said the queen in her audio message.
People have become accustomed to “connecting and communicating through our innovative technology”, which allows them to “keep in touch with friends, family, colleagues and colleagues,” she said. Online communication “transcends borders or divisions, helping to remove any sense of distance”.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II WILL NOT ATTEND MEGHAN MARKLE, INTERVIEW BY PRINCE HARRY TELLS ALL WITH OPRAH WINFREY: REPORT
In this photo released on Sunday, March 7, 2021, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain poses for a photo while signing her annual Community Day message inside St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, England, Friday, March 5, 2021.
(Steve Parsons / Pool via AP)
The queen also paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped fight COVID-19 in Commonwealth nations.
MEGHAN MARKLE, INTERVIEW BY PRINCE HARRY WITH OPRAH WINFREY CREATING ‘SUCH CONFUSION’ AS A REAL SCALE FEUD: CRITICS
His message of unity contrasted with the turmoil in the royal family before the interview, which promises to provide an unprecedented glimpse of the couple’s departure from royal duties and the tensions that this has placed them.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left real life a year ago. The meeting with Winfrey is a chance for the couple to explain what led them to abandon real life, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
‘Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special’ will air on March 7, 2021.
(Joe Pugliese / Harpo Productions via AP, Archives)
Pre-released clips have already shown Harry talking about his fears that history will repeat itself after his mother, Princess Diana, died in a car accident while being chased by paparazzi. In another clip from the interview, Winfrey asks Meghan how she feels about the palace “to hear you speak your truth today?”
In another pre-released clip, Meghan told Winfrey how “liberating” it was to have a conversation with the television host without the collaboration of real monitors.
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It is unclear what public reaction, if any, the queen and other members of the royal family will have to the interview. The UK’s Sunday Times newspaper, citing an anonymous source, reported that the queen would not attend.
In addition to the pandemic and the record economic crisis, Prince Philip, Harry’s 99-year-old grandfather, is recovering from a cardiac procedure.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.