In their much heralded interview, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pulled no punches in their exclusive, tell-all, interview with ‘the queen of chat’ Oprah Winfrey.
As Harry and Meghan shared their heartfelt concerns over a range of deeply personal topics - from racism, to their relationships with the UK’s tabloid press – no punches were pulled as the couple shed their long-sheltered light on what they described as "bigoted and toxic environment of control and fear." He also said that his father, the Prince of Wales had to make peace with the relationship with the media.
In the two-hour interview broadcasted in the US before it was screened in the UK, the Harpo/CBS production covered their lives as progressive, all-encompassing Royals – as was – as they told their own personal story as they spoke about struggles with mental health, their relationship with the media and Royal Family dynamics.
“Social media made the relationship with the press like the Wild West,” Megan said, “and the Royal Family's press operation failed to defend Harry and I from untrue stories.” Meghan said there had been an "obsession about anything in her world, including the media offering money to track down her parents.
Megan also opened up about her suicidal thoughts during her time there and said there were concerns raised by a member of Harry's family before the birth of son. In the deeply personal and explosive interview, she said she got to the stage where she didn’t want to be alive anymore.
Asked if she was thinking of self-harm and having suicidal thoughts at some stage, Meghan replied: “Yes. This was very, very clear. “Very clear and very scary. I didn’t know who to turn to in that.” She added: "And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.
“I remember, I remember how he just cradled me and I was… I went to the institution, and I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that I’ve never felt this way before and I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution.”
"The UK is not bigoted,” Harry said, “the UK press is bigoted, specifically the tabloids." The Duchess of Sussex said her treatment in the press had been worse than other royals. But she did drop the ‘bombshell’ when she said that her husband had been asked by an unnamed family member "how dark" their son Archie's skin might be. The Duchess described the remarks as a low point.
Oprah said: "He did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations." She went on to say that she tried to get the answer on and off camera, but Harry did not elaborate.
“If the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society," Harry said. He also said racism from the tabloid press that filtered into the rest of society was a large part of why he and his wife left the UK.
Asked if any family members had apologised to him for the reasons he felt he had to leave asked Prince Harry if any family members had apologised to him for the reasons he felt he had to leave, he replied with a “sadly not.
"It was felt that if this was our decision then the consequences are on us."
Pre-empting that she always had the highest admiration for the Queen and Prince Philip, Meghan also said that she found life within the Royal Family so difficult that at times didn't want to be alive any more. Harry said his brother and father were trapped within the system of the Royal Family and that his family cut him off financially at the beginning of last year, plus his father stopped taking calls from him.
During the interview, the Duchess also recalled a speculated row between herself and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge with Meghan disputing the initial claims that it was her who had upset Kate at the wedding during the interview. She insisted it was the other way around and Kate was having a bad day and ended up upsetting her.
Asked if his brother William wanted to leave the system, he said: "I don't know, I can't speak for him. Harry went on to say he loved his brother to bits and wanted to heal his relationship with both him and his father. He then went on to say of their relationship: “I will always be there for him (William) and the rest of the family.
For her part, Meghan said that there had been an obsession about anything in her world, including the media offering money to track down her parents.
"I did everything I could to protect both of them in that media frenzy for over a year," she said.
Comfortable in their new, more relaxed surroundings in California, the Prince said: "My biggest concern was history repeating itself. For me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here, talking to you with my wife by my side."
The couple took the opportunity to announce that their second child - due in the summer - is a girl.
Some light on what was, in the main, dark…but fulfilling and open.
Following the Interview, the Palace has issued a statement:
"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 famly members."