By Monique
“Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” – Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Oprah Winfrey. Featuring Oprah Winfrey as she sits down with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will be broadcast as a two-hour exclusive primetime special on Sunday, March 7 from 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Photo Credit: Harpo Productions/ Photographer: Joe Pugliese.
UPDATE 3/9: The Queen has issued a statement regarding Meghan and Harry’s experience. The statement says in full:
“The whole family is 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. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
The article, originally written Mar. 7, reads as follows below:
Oprah Winfrey’s CBS interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was eye-opening, to say the least.
The two-hour interview revealed so much pain, heartache and sadness that Harry and Meghan have had to go through as a married couple within the Royal Family. Some of what was revealed included:
- Meghan had to endure conversations about her son Archie’s skin color. Harry confirmed the conversation one his family members had with him about Archie’s skin color, but neither revealed who the family member was. Suffice it to say, it was someone close.
- Meghan and Harry are now having a baby girl, who is due this summer.
- Harry is now in various stages of estrangement from his father Prince Charles and brother Prince William. While Harry only categorized his relationship with William as being one of “space,” Harry was more hurt by the breakdown between him and his father, who actually stopped taking his calls during Harry and Meghan’s escape from the Royal Family and the Institution–the operational body over the family–to Canada and America.
- Meghan endured a mental health crisis due to lack of support from the Firm (and perhaps some members of the family itself). Meghan said that the Firm refusing to stop the UK press from publishing damaging and untrue tabloid fodder about her, plus the Institution’s refusal to offer her access to mental support, contributed to her experiencing suicidal ideation.
- The Institution and the Royal Family took away access to various privileges, such as security, a title for Archie, and finances. Harry revealed that the reason he and his wife are working with entertainment outlets such as Apple TV+ is that they need the money to afford security.
- Tyler Perry allowed the couple to stay at his California residence once they moved from Canada to the U.S. He also paid their security fees for the first few months of their move.
- Both feel like they saved each other from further heartache and loss; Harry specifically mentioned the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, as his motivation for leaving royal duties to save his family. Both feel more in love and connected than before, with Meghan saying their story is “better than a fairytale” and that with the move to the U.S., it feels like their journey is “just the beginning.”
The fallout from the interview is likely to be immense, but what is more important is the fact that the interview helped the couple gain even more supporters worldwide. If you’re abreast of racial issues, especially those within the Commonwealth, you’ll know it was going to be an uphill battle for Meghan as a biracial member of the Royal Family. Despite not being the first in the lineage’s line of royals, Meghan is the first of her kind in the monarchy’s modern age. She was bound to come up against scrutiny and racist tactics.
But hearing the amount of pain she’s endured is more than anyone could have probably imagined. After hearing her story, and remembering the parallels to the life of Princess Diana, it’s a relief to see Meghan able to tell her story in her own words. Just as important is how Harry made sure to protect his wife and children so that they wouldn’t have to endure what he endured after his mother died.
If you feel in need of talking to someone, please contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish speakers. The deaf and hard of hearing can use your preferred relay service or dial 711 before the main number for English speakers. You can also chat with the lifeline online.
Julian 