UK headlines after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lifted the lid on life inside Buckingham Palace with an explosive interview.
Ben Stansall / AFP via Getty Images
From the Duke and Duchess of Sussex devastating interview with Oprah aired on Sunday night, the audience wondered what the queen thought. Don’t ask yourself anymore. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry’s grandmother, issued a statement on Tuesday that walks the very careful queen line between defending the palace and supporting the royal couple.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the extent of how challenging the past few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” begins the brief statement. “The issues raised, particularly those of race, are worrying. Although some memories may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be taken care of by the family in particular. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be very dear members of the family.”
The racial issue mentioned probably refers to the royal couple telling Winfrey that someone in the royal family raised “concerns and conversations about what (his son Archie’s) dark skin might look like when he was born.”
In the interview, Prince Harry said he would never reveal the name of the person who discussed this with him, just to say that it was not the queen or her husband, Prince Philip.
The reaction to the queen’s declaration ranged from lukewarm to sympathetic.
“It’s not good enough,” wrote a Twitter user. “If there is a future monarch who has expressed racist views, then the ‘taxpayer’ has a right to know about it. Regrettable answer.” Another wrote: “They waited 24 hours to produce a lot.”
It is not good enough. If there is a future monarch who has expressed racist views, the ‘taxpayer’ has a right to know about it. Regrettable answer.
– Michelle Smith (@ michsmith1978) March 9, 2021
“Some memories can vary,” says Gaslighting 101.
– Adrian Wapcaplet (@AdrianWapcapIet) March 9, 2021
They waited 24 hours to produce a lot of nothing.
– Zininzi (@Zininziqama) March 9, 2021
Am I full of confidence because of your stellar history?
– Paul Smith … Lake Iroquois Shoreliner (@PaulSmithTO) March 9, 2021
Translation – we are sad because the indifferent nature of the Royal machine has once again been highlighted. Now, please forget for another 25 years, until the next young generation has problems with this hierarchical system of upmanship and rigid silence of the upper lip.
– vickster51 (@ vickster51) March 9, 2021
Some responses supported the monarch, however. “A dignified and appropriate response from the royal family, as opposed to the way respondents deal with alleged issues,” one person tweeted.
A dignified and appropriate response from @Real family, as opposed to the ‘interviewees’ treatment of the alleged issues.
– Richard S (@richard_suk) March 9, 2021
Family issues must be dealt with in private, it is not a national or international concern or a matter of becoming public about it! They really made news for a few days with gossip stuff !!! Very clever to use the racing card to add spice!
– Shima (@ShimaShimmery) March 9, 2021
Very well. Let us now let them solve their particular problems in particular, as they should have done from the beginning.
– Jill Wiggett (@Jillywiggs) March 9, 2021
The interview even reached the business of the United States government. On Monday, a reporter asked President Joe Biden’s press secretary Jen Psaki about the interview. While Psaki did not say whether President or First Lady Jill Biden attended the interview, she praised the couple’s courage in speaking out and reiterated that the United States and the United Kingdom have a strong relationship.
The interview is now available to watch again online.