Harry, Meghan interview: ‘Recollections may vary’: Queen throws doubt on claims

In a statement, the Queen suggests the royals will dispute Harry and Meghan’s explosive revelations in their interview with Oprah.

The Queen has suggested the royal family will dispute Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s explosive revelations in their interview with Oprah Winfrey on Monday (AEDT).

The family was reportedly dismayed over the brutal public airing of the Sussexes’ grievances in the two-hour interview on CBS, in which they accused the royals of racism, and of ignoring Meghan’s pleas for help when she suffered suicidal thoughts.

The Queen this morning said in a statement she was “saddened” at the allegations but added “recollections may vary,” a strong hint that the Firm would fight the worst claims.

The statement, released by Buckngham Palace on behalf of the Queen, said the issues raised about race “are concerning”, but added: “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.’’

BREAKING: Buckingham Palace statement following Meghan and Harry interview:

"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." pic.twitter.com/Zbu1iNBlHO

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 9, 2021

Palace insiders are fearful that the couple will name the royal who spoke with Harry about the skin colour of any child he might have with Meghan – reigniting the furore of claims that the Royal institution is inherently racist.

Harry has made it clear that Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth did not make any racist comment but the focus remains on other senior royals, including Prince Charles and Prince William.

Buckingham Palace is thought to have drawn up a draft statement in response to the allegations yesterday, but it was held back because the Queen wanted more time to consider her reply.

The statement 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. 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 Queen and Meghan open the Mersey Gateway Bridge together. Picture: AFP.

The fallout of the interview has already claimed one scalp, that of British television host Piers Morgan, who resigned from his breakfast show amid a backlash over comments he made about Meghan’s suicidal thoughts, and after his co-host accused him of “trashing” Harry’s wife.

Morgan, a one time friend of Meghan’s, told viewers he didn’t believe a word Meghan had said, prompting hundreds of thousands of complaints to the Ofcom, the media watchdog.

The Royal Family was thrust into crisis after Meghan and Harry fired shots at the very institution that provides them with a regal title. Despite commercialising their family connections with highly lucrative media partnerships, they alleged a failure from within to support mental health, especially Meghan’s suicidal thoughts and claimed, incorrectly, their denied a title because he was of mixed race.

But the biggest bombshell was a claim that an unnamed Royal family member had questioned Harry about the skin tone of any child he would have with Meghan.

Meghan told Winfrey that she wouldn’t reveal the name of the person because “it would be very damaging’’. Harry, who said the conversation was conducted early in his relationship with Meghan – at odds with Meghan’s claim it happened while she was pregnant with her first child – said while the conversation was awkward and shocking, it was something he was unwilling to discuss.

Harry and Meghan show off newborn Archie to Prince Philip, the Queen and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Picture: Getty Images.

Prince Charles, Prince William and the Queen have been in discussions with courtiers for two days working out the best way to handle the crisis, which has undermined decades of work undertaken by the Queen in many Commonwealth countries.

Harry revealed his annoyance at having his financial support cut off once he had left Royal duties, complaining that he had to resort to his mother’s inheritance to survive and revealing Charles had even stopped taking his phone calls for a while.

Harry also claimed that Charles and his brother William were trapped within the institution, although he made it clear he wanted to heal the rift with William.

Meghan, Harry and William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace when the rift between the brothers was already beginning to show. Picture: AFP.

Meghan revealed she wanted to kill herself when she was heavily pregnant, and was given no help or support when she told others, including the Royal Family’s human resources department she was suicidal. She also complained of being trapped – literally without her passport and keys – despite having multiple overseas holidays and travelling to New York for a baby shower.

“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,’’ she says, revealing that prior to a glittering engagement she didn’t want to be left alone because she feared what she might do.

Harry, when pressed about this said he was ashamed of revealing his wife’s condition to other members of his family.

On Tuesday morning Charles smiled at parishioners when asked about the Oprah interview during a visit to Jesus House church, Brent Cross in London. Charles chatted with churchgoers - some of them of mixed race - about vaccinations. As he left, one person asked “Sir, what did you think of the interview?”, and after turning to see who had called out, he chuckled and continued on.