
Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in response to the explosive interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the statement, released on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, said.
“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 reaction came less than 24 hours after the royal couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey aired on CBS and ITV, and picked up by news agencies around the world.
During the interview, Prince Harry and Meghan revealed “shocking” revelations against the “Firm” including racism towards their firstborn, Archie Harrison.
“We have in tandem the conversation of 'he won't be given security,' 'he's not gonna be given a title'…and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born,” Meghan told Oprah.
Meghan also shared going through depression and being denied help to deal with her mental health during her stay with the royal family.
“I didn't want to be alive anymore. That was a very clear and real and frightening, constant thought,” she said.
“I went to one of the most senior people to get help. I share this because there are so many people who...are afraid to voice that they need help, and I know personally how hard it is to not just voice it, but when you voice it, say no...[Going to a hospital] is what I was asking to do. You can't just do that, I couldn't call an Uber to the palace, you couldn't just go.”
Harry, meanwhile, confided that he's not on good terms with his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William.
“There's a lot to work through there. I feel really let down because he's been through something similar. He knows what pain feels like, and Archie's his grandson,” he said about his relationship with his father.
“At the same time I will always love him, but there's a lot of hurt that's happened.
“I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship, but they only know what they know.”
As for his relationship with William, he had this to say: “I love William to bits, he's my brother, we've been through hell together, but we're on different paths.”
He continued, “My family literally cut me off financially. But I've got what my Mum left me and without that we would not have been able to do this.”
The tell-all interview was watched with great interest by people from across the globe.
Reactions vary ranging from shock to sympathy to skepticism, with some criticizing the couple for airing their grievances in public.
A Vanity Fair report said that Harry's father, Prince Charles, did not watch the controversial interview and "didn't even ask for a debrief from his private secretary" after the the U.K. airing of the program.
The article added, “While Charles is aware of the headlines and the accusations Harry and Meghan have made against the royal family, he is privately said to be 'at a loss' over his son and daughter-in-law's decision to sit down with Winfrey.”
Meanwhile, here are some royals who chose to drop their titles: