The Labour Party has demanded that Buckingham Palace speak out over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations of racism against an unnamed member of the royal family.
During a two-hour TV special in which Oprah Winfrey interviewed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Meghan said that conversations were had about how dark her child’s skin would be when she was pregnant.
Winfrey confirmed that Harry had asked her to ensure it was clear neither the Queen nor the Duke of Edinburgh were part of those conversations.
During the interview, which was originally over three hours long but was cut down for TV, Meghan revealed that she had suffered from suicidal thoughts and said that the palace did not help her when asked.
On Tuesday morning, Meghan’s father Thomas Markle appeared on Good Morning Britain to respond to Meghan’s claims that he had “betrayed” her by talking to the tabloid press.
The duchess’s father said he would stop giving media interviews when he heard from his daughter and her husband, and claimed he hadn’t heard from the couple since 2018.
The couple’s interview, which aired on American network, CBS, on Sunday night, was then played to UK audiences on ITV on Monday night.
Prince Charles has made his first public appearance since Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Prince of Wales was photographed on Tuesday morning as he visited a pop-up vaccination clinic in London.
In the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview, broadcast in the UK last night, Harry claimed his father stopped taking his calls when he and Meghan stepped back from the royal family.
Harry said: “I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar, he knows what pain feels like, [and] Archie’s his grandson.
“But at the same time – I will always love him – but there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened and I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship.”
(PA)
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 11:50
The Duchess of Sussex revealed in her and Harry’s interview that she had contemplated suicide due to abuse she’d received for joining the royal family.
Morgan said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she said.”
He added: “Who did you go to? What did they say to you? I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report.”
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 11:30
Thomas Markle claimed Meghan had “ghosted” most of her family on both sides during his appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier today.
The Duchess of Sussex’s father claimed that his daughter no longer speaks to him, but said he does want a relationship with her, explaining that he now lives around “70 miles” away from the couple, but has never met Harry or his grandson Archie.
“The biggest problem is she has pretty much ghosted all of her family, on my side and her mother’s side,” he said.
Read more about Thomas Markle’s TV appearance below.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 11:07
In reference to the backlash the royal family is now facing following the interview, Kelly said at the end of the latest episode of Lorraine: “I guess the only person who might be thinking this is all OK is Prince Andrew, right?”
The show’s end credits then began to roll, leaving viewers in shock.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:48
The duchess’s father admitted that watching Oprah Winfrey’s interview was the first time he had heard his daughter speak in four years and said he was “disappointed” she had accused him of “betraying” her by colluding with the British tabloid press to profit from untrue stories.
But the Good Morning Britain interview attracted a highly mixed response on social media, with many viewers attacking ITV for giving Markle a platform given his fraught and well-documented relationship with his daughter and apparent ill health.
“Watching Thomas Markle is uncomfortable viewing – he doesn’t look or sound well, he’s rambling and repetitive,” observed psychologist Jo Hemmings, herself a consultant to the programme.
Read more about reaction to the interview below.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:42
Piers Morgan has broken his silence after storming off the Good Morning Britain set mid-filming earlier today.
Morgan walked off set after co-presenter Alex Beresford confronted him over his comments about the Duchess of Sussex.
Morgan said yesterday that he didn’t believe Meghan after she revealed that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts.
Commenting on Morgan’s walk-out, news organisation News Guido wrote on Twitter: “What a snowflake @piersmorgan turns out to be. If you dish it out, you’ve got to take it.”
The presenter quote-tweeted the post, responding: “Agreed. I was annoyed, went for a little cool-down and came back to finish the discussion.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans on 116 123
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:31
Piers Morgan walked off the set of Good Morning Britain earlier today after co-star Alex Beresford condemned his recent comments about Meghan.
Morgan has faced heavy criticism for saying he didn’t believe the Duchess of Sussex after she opened up about having suicidal thoughts.
On this morning’s episode of Good Morning Britain, Beresford addressed Morgan’s comments, describing yesterday’s segment about Markle as “incredibly hard to watch”.
“[Harry and Meghan] have had an overwhelming amount of negative press,” he said.
“I watched the programme yesterday and yes, they had some great press around the wedding… but everything that has followed since has been incredibly damaging to Meghan’s mental health and to Harry.”
Read more about Morgan’s reaction below.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:14
Meghan and Harry’s interview earned ITV the second highest ratings of 2021 so far, early figures have revealed.
The interview was watched by 11.12 million viewers, and hit a peak of 12.3 million.
The two-hour special was only beaten by Boris Johnson’s live 4 January speech on the latest lockdown schedule, which was watched by 15.6 million viewers.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:01
The newspapers were flooded with the aftermath from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey this morning.
The Daily Telegraph said in an opinion piece that the interview represented a “devastating insult” to the Queen.
The Daily Mail took a similar stance, with a pointed headline which read: “What have they done?”
Other papers focused more on the impact that Meghan’s claims of racism could have. The Times said that allegations of racism “could hardly be more damaging to the royal family”.
Read more about the papers’ reaction below.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 10:00
The Palace is said to be in “crisis talks” in the wake of Harry and Meghan’s interview.
Winfrey later clarified that the remark was not made by the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
According to the BBC, “crisis meetings” have taken place involving senior royals following the documentary.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 09:34
“Allegations, accusations have been made – they obviously need to be looked at,” said Jonathan Ashworth, the party’s health spokesman.
Asked how the investigation should be carried out, Mr Ashworth replied: “That is a matter for the Palace and they will need to come forward with a process.”
And – after more than 24 hours of silence from the royal family – he told BBC Radio 4: “I think people will expect them to make a response.”
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 09:21
Mental health charity Mind has criticised Piers Morgan after the presenter said he didn’t believe that the Duchess of Sussex had had suicidal thoughts.
During Meghan and Harry’s interview, Meghan said that following intense press scrutiny, she felt she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
Yesterday, Morgan said: “I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”
Mind said it was “disappointed and concerned” by Morgan’s comments.
The charity said in a Twitter statement: “It’s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans on 116 123
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 09:07
Thomas Markle has claimed Harry didn’t support Meghan “that well” during her mental health crisis.
The Duchess of Sussex discussed having had suicidal thoughts during her and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
During Markle’s appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier today, presenter Susanna Reid told Meghan’s father that Harry “clearly supported” Meghan during this time.
Markle responded by claiming that Harry had “obviously not supported her that well”.
Harry ‘obviously didn’t support Meghan’ during suicidal period, says Thomas Markle
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 09:00
Thomas Markle has said that he speaks to the press in the hopes of hearing from Harry and Meghan.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain earlier today, he said: “What I do, because I haven’t heard from them, is I’ll do a story for the press.
“If I don’t hear from them in 30 days, then I’ll do another story for the press.
“And I’ve yet to hear from them. I’d love to hear from them.”
He added: “When they decide to talk to me, I’ll stop talking to the press.”
Thomas Markle says he’ll stop talking to the press when Harry and Meghan talk to him
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:42
During his appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier today, Thomas Markle claimed his last conversation with Harry was in 2018 in the run-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
The 76-year-old said he’d had a heart attack and was in hospital and told Harry that he couldn’t attend the wedding.
Markle claimed Harry told him: “If you had listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened to you.”
The Duchess of Sussex’s father said he felt that this was “snotty” and hung up on Harry.
“That was the last conversation we ever had,” he said.
‘Snotty’ Harry told me I should have taken his advice, says Thomas Markle
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:36
In Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired last night, Meghan said Thomas Markle “betrayed” her by talking to the tabloid press.
Read more about what Meghan said about her father in the interview, which aired last night, below.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:28
The father of Meghan Markle has said he hopes a comment allegedly made by a member of the royal family about the colour of her son’s skin was “just a stupid question”.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Thomas Markle said he had “great respect” for the royal family and did not think they, or the British people, were racists.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:25
Thomas Markle has said that a comment Meghan claimed a member of the royal family made enquiring about “how dark” her son Archie’s skin colour would be was “just a stupid question”.
The Duchess of Sussex’s father also commented on institutional racism in the UK.
He said: “I don’t think the royals are racist, I don’t think Brits are racist. Los Angeles and California is racist.”
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:19
Meghan’s father Thomas Markle is giving an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Meghan’s father has said he talks to the press as he hasn’t spoken with his daughter since 2018.
The 76-year-old said Meghan had “ghosted” most of her family and that he speaks to the press as he hasn’t had contact with his daughter.
Markle said he gives a press interview, waits 30 days to see if he hears from his daughter, then does another story.
“When they decide to talk to me, I’ll decide to stop talking to the press,” he said.
Natasha Preskey9 March 2021 08:11
Harry claims William and Charles are ’trapped within the system’
Prince Harry has claimed his Prince Charles and Prince William are “trapped” within the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex was asked during an interview with Oprah Winfrey whether he would have left the family if he had not met Meghan Markle.
“I wouldn’t have been able to, because I myself was trapped, as well. I didn’t see a way out. You know, I was trapped, but I didn’t know I was trapped.”
He then went on to use the same word to describe his father, Prince Charles, and his older brother, William.
He said: “My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don’t get to leave. And I have huge compassion for that.”
Samuel Osborne has the story.
Justin Vallejo9 March 2021 07:40
