Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021
is still making waves. The two made some bombshell claims while sitting down with the legendary talk
show host, including the shocking allegation that one unnamed member of the royal family
made a racially insensitive comment about the color of their son's skin.
Meghan also opened up about having experienced suicidal thoughts while serving as a senior member
of the royal family. She claimed she shared these thoughts with what she described as the
"institution" — meaning the senior officials who take care of the royal family. Reportedly,
Meghan told them she needed to go somewhere to get help for her mental health issues,
but claimed they encouraged her not to.
"And I just didn't… I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
In response, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, reading:
"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."
Though Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don't appear to have spoken publicly
about the royal family's response to their Oprah Winfrey interview,
sources have revealed what royal watchers have suspected all along.
In a reissued version of the book Finding Freedom, it is claimed by a friend of the couple that Harry
and Meghan didn't appreciate the wording in the palace's statement. The book claims:
"The queen's 'recollections may vary' comment did not go unnoticed by the couple, who, a
close source said, were 'not surprised' that full ownership was not taken. 'Months later and little
accountability has been taken,' a pal of Meghan added. 'How can you move forward with that?'"
Although this is more or less hearsay, it's worth noting that Meghan has confirmed in
court documents that she gave permission to a friend to speak about her life to
the authors of Finding Freedom. Apparently, she did this because she wanted to ensure "the true
position" about her father, Thomas Markle, was accurately communicated to the book's authors.
It's been thought for a while that the two weren't exactly thrilled with the queen's statement, too,
as the couple have continued to elaborate on their time as serving royals. During a May appearance
on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast, Harry suggested his father, Prince Charles,
had "suffered" because of the way the queen and Prince Philip had brought him up. Harry
added he wanted to "break the cycle" of "pain" that had been subsequently passed down to him.
When it was confirmed that Finding Freedom would be getting new chapters,
it was reported by anonymous sources that the updated content could prove to be the "final
straw" for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship with the royal family. With their
relationship already very much strained, royal expert Duncan Larcombe told Closer:
"If more negative information comes out about the royals, or in-depth details of any personal
conversations between Harry and his family after [Prince Philip's] funeral are revealed,
that really will be the final straw."
Aside from that original statement,
Queen Elizabeth II herself has kept quiet about her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.
But that hasn't stopped royal experts from speculating about her feelings.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams claimed to the Daily Star in June that he believes:
"[The queen] will have found the way the Sussexes have handled things... deplorable."
He added that the monarch likely took Harry and Meghan's outspokenness personally, noting:
"She has realised how unhappy they were,
but speaking out in the way they have is a totally different thing."
Of course, it's been no secret that the royals were upset by the couple's interview with Winfrey.
While they don't usually publicly mention personal matters, tensions were so high that
Harry's brother Prince William made the unusual move to speak out to the press shortly after the
interview aired in March. During an appearance in London alongside his wife, Kate Middleton,
William was asked by a reporter whether the royal family is racist or not. He hit back:
"We're very much not a racist family."
It seems like the drama between Harry and his family is still far from over.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts,
please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.