Queen plans peace talks with Harry and Meghan after explosive interview
The Queen is expected to call Prince Harry and Meghan for peace talks after the couple levelled stunning allegations against the royal family.
The Queen is expected to call Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for peace talks as she takes charge of the fallout from the couple’s Oprah Winfrey interview.
The monarch reportedly believes it is time for a more personal approach following allegations of racism within the royal family, The Sun reports.
Her Majesty, 94, released a statement almost two days after the couple’s televised chat saying the claims would be taken “very seriously”.
The Queen said allegations that a member of the family raised concerns over the colour of Archie’s skin would be investigated and “addressed privately”.
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Her unprecedented response came after the tell-all Oprah interview that saw Meghan, 39, break down in tears as she and Harry, 36, revealed the pressures they faced within the Firm.
A statement from the palace said: “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. Whilst 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 Duke and Duchess of Sussex were informed of the statement from Buckingham Palace prior to its release, but this was done through officials.
It is now expected that the Queen will contact the couple directly to speak on the phone in the next few days.
As part of the investigation into the racism claims, the Queen will personally quiz senior royals.
She is to have private conversations with Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and others to establish what may have been said.
Harry and Meghan refused to name the alleged royal racist but Oprah said she was told it was not the Queen or Prince Philip, 99.
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And this week sources close to Prince Charles insisted he had not been racist towards the couple and was proud of Britain as a non-racist country.
To prevent staff from discussing the situation publicly, Her Majesty is believed to have issued a “three-line whip”.
Buckingham Palace was not shown the two-hour program before it aired in the US and were said to be paralysed with “horror and dismay” afterwards.
A source told the Daily Mail: “It is difficult to underestimate how shell-shocked everyone is by what has happened.
“People are literally reeling from what has happened and some staff would dearly love to publicly rebut some of what has been said about them.
“But the Queen has taken a very measured, sensible approach. She is leading by example.
“This is a matter for her and the family to deal with.”
They added: “There is a long way to go but hopefully things will start to move in the right direction in order for bridges to be built.”
Meghan and Harry’s PR team said they “needed to have their say” but their Oprah interview would be the “last word” on the family rift.
The matter was now “closed” and they want to “move on”, they added.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission