Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 4 strict interview rules for Oprah Winfrey
Meghan and Harry had a royal list of demands that needed to be met before they sat down with Oprah in the tell-all interview.
Secret details of strict instructions have been given to a host of broadcasters around the world, including Network Ten, about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to be presented in the tell-all Oprah interview.
The broadcasters were required to agree to a list of four non-negotiable demands which could see them in breach of their contracts if not obeyed, according to a report by The Australian.
Network Ten was offered a rumoured $400,000 for the local rights to the Oprah interview after a media bidding war.
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The first agreement was that the program must run in full, and Network Ten and the other broadcasters not allowed to “edit” the interview in any way.
Secondly, a series of advertisements for the special, which were sent over to the broadcaster from the US last week, were not to be edited.
Third, the network cannot edit anything in any way, including the synopsis that is being provided for program guides, which has been written under tight control in the US.
Fourth, host broadcasters are only allowed to use approved still images supplied to promote the special.
The media may once have controlled Meghan and Harry, but it seems that the shoe’s on the other foot.
In the widely talked about controversial interview, the couple said they “never left” the royal family, but instead wanted to step down from being senior royals “to take a breath” – and said that request was denied.
“My biggest concern was history repeating itself,” Harry said, referring to his mother’s death: “To receive no help at all and to be told ‘This is just how it is, we’ve all been through it.’”
Meghan disclosed she had struggled with mental health issues including suicidal thoughts and tried to put on a brave face for the cameras.
She also admitted there was a “breaking point” as the pressure mounted in her new role as a royal.
Meghan dropped bombshells such as saying Kate Middleton made her cry before the couple’s big day.
“A few days before the wedding she was upset about something. It made me cry and it really hurt my feelings,” Meghan revealed.
Harry dropped that Prince Charles stopped taking his calls and Meghan said conversations were had among the royal family about concerns of their baby’s skin colour before he was born.
Meghan said it’s safe to assume the concern among some royals was her mixed race child could be “too dark”.
Oprah said what she’s heard throughout the interview has been “shocking”, to which Meghan replied, “I’m just telling you what happened.”
Meghan added: “I’m not going to live my life in fear. I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent.”
The couple also revealed they’re expecting to have a baby girl, a sister to their son Archie.