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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Nadeem Badshah

Harry and Meghan interview: Duke of Sussex describes 'toxic environment' of royal life - as it happened

A summary of today's developments

  • The Duchess of Sussex said there were “several conversations” within the royal family while she was pregnant about “how dark” their baby Archie might be. Oprah Winfrey later said the family member was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh. Buckingham Palace has yet to respond to the interview.
  • The Duchess disclosed she felt suicidal at times due to the negative media coverage about her. She said she was refused help from the royal family and reached out to one of Princess Diana’s friends. She said: “I just didn’t want to be alive any more. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. And I remember how he [Harry] just cradled me.”
  • Meghan denied a newspaper story that she made the Duchess of Cambridge cry in the run-up to her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 in an argument over flower girl dresses. She said that the Duchess of Cambridge had made her cry and later apologised to her.
  • Prince Harry said his family “literally cut [him] off financially” in the first quarter of 2020 which led them to agree deals with Netflix and Spotify.
  • He said his father Prince Charles “stopped taking [his] calls” at one point after they stepped back as senior royals, and that he feels “let down” by him but wants to work on repairing their relationship.
  • Prince Harry said his brother and father were “trapped within the system” of the royal family. He said he was trapped but that he did not realise he was trapped.
  • He described his relationship with his brother as “space” and that they were on different paths.
  • The couple confirmed they are expecting a baby girl in the summer.

Updated

The US network CBS paid $7 million (£5 million) to be able to broadcast the Oprah interview exclusively in the US, The New York Times reports.

Prince Harry believes his wife saved them and showed him there was “bigger purpose”.

The Duchess response is that he saved all of us and “saved her life” as the interview comes to a conclusion.

The Duchess said she regrets believing that the royal family would “protect” them.

However her story with the prince does have a happy ending and is “greater than any fairytale”.

Prince Harry said the relationship with his brother is “space” and there are no regrets.

He also revealed one of Archie’s regular phrases is “drive safe.”

Updated

Prince Harry speaks of his love of hiking and walks on the beach with his wife and Archie, some activities he was unable to do as a child.

The Duchess said when she found out the news about Prince Phillip’s health, she rang the Queen and spoke with her directly.

As we go into another advert break, here are some of tomorrow’s front pages in the UK:

Updated

One of the headline moments from the interview.

Prince Harry saying a royal family member had concerns about Archie’s skin colour.

And if support had been forthcoming, he and Meghan would not have stepped back from royal duties.

Updated

Prince Harry said him and his brother have “gone through hell together” and now “they are on different paths” before the scene is rather abruptly cut.

Prince Harry said he speaks to his grandmother more now than before, calling her his “commander in chief”.

On his father, he said he feels let down, “he’s been through something similar, he knows what pain is like, Archie is is grandson. I will always love him.” But he wants to heal their relationship.

Updated

Prince Harry said his “family cut him off financially” in early 2020 and that led them to negotiate deals with Netflix and Spotify.

Prince Harry said he felt “trapped within the system like the rest of the family are. My father and brother are trapped, they don’t get to leave.”

Meghan refutes allegations that she instigated the exit from the royal family. She said she left her career and life for Prince Harry because she loves him.

Updated

[] If you want to talk to someone about the issues raised, you can call the UK Samaritans Helpline on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.

Prince Harry says his “grandmother has been amazing throughout” and royal family were welcoming of his wife initially but things changed after the Australia tour.

He also admits to having watched some of The Crown series.

Prince Harry said it “hurts” that no-one from the royal family spoke out against media coverage of his wife.

Prince Harry said he was in a “dark place” after his wife confided to him about her mental health.

He described the royal family as a “trapping environment” and felt ashamed at seeking help from them.

Prince Harry added: “My biggest concern was history repeating itself.

“And what I was seeing was history repeating itself.”

But he said this time it was “far more dangerous” compared to his mother’s situation, taking into account the race and social media dimensions.

Prince Harry denies claims that he “blindsided” the Queen and suggests the story may have emanated from the royal family.

He said his father stopped taking his calls and asked him to set out his plan in writing.

Prince Charles has yet to respond to the comments.

On why he left the UK, Prince Harry said: “Lack of support. And lack of understanding.”

Worth reiterating that this is only one side of the story and we have yet to hear from the Palace.

Prince Harry says they both went to all the places to seek help from the royal family but did not receive it.

On stepping back from royal duties, The Duchess said: “We are in a lot of pain. We want to take a breath.”

Prince Harry says the couple were told at short notice their security was going to be removed while they stayed in Canada, “their justification was a change in status”.

Prince Harry has joined the interview to disclose that the couple will be having a girl which is due this summer.

The Duchess accuses the royal family of playing an “active role in perpetuating falsehoods about us” and that she will not be afraid of speaking out.

The Duchess is tearful at recalling having to go to an event at the Royal Albert Hall after she confided to Prince Harry about her mental state.

She said she went with him because she did not want to be left alone due to how she was feeling.

[] If you want to talk to someone about the issues raised, you can call the UK Samaritans Helpline on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.

Updated

Jo Hemmings, a behaviourial psychologist, gives her take on the interview:

Updated

On her suicidal thoughts, the Duchess said she went to one of Princess Diana’s friends for help.

The Duchess claims she went to the institution, a senior person, to seek help which was not forthcoming.

Buckingham Palace has yet to respond to the comments.

The Duchess speaks of the breaking point about the coverage about her in sections of the media.

She said she felt “I just didn’t want to be alive any more” and it was a “constant thought”.

The duchess said “several conversations” were had with them about concerns about the colour of Archie’s skin.

Oprah later clarified that it was neither the Queen or Prince Philip but the couple would not be drawn on the name of the individual or individuals.

Updated

She also speaks of the frustration at the suggestion that Archie would not receive a title.

She says the couple were not asked to take a picture of them with Archie when he was born, and they felt “fear” over the conversations about his security.

Updated

The duchess says it was “really hard” when she claims she was told that Archie would not receive a title, would not be a prince or receive security.

Updated

Meghan speaks about her mental health during the couple’s tour of Africa and the “pain” she felt, saying she felt “fried”.

She says she asked the institution for help while pregnant with Archie.

Buckingham Palace has yet to respond to the comments.

Updated

A point to add: Oprah said the duchess was not paid to do the interview.

Updated

The duchess speaks of her frustration at her loneliness and not being able to leave the house to see her friends.

At one point, she says, she left the house twice in four months.

Updated

Meghan says the Queen’s first gift to her was a set of pearl earrings and matching necklace.

And she says the Queen’s warmth and “welcoming” behaviour reminded her of her grandmother.

Updated

The duchess believes she was silenced rather than silent on speaking out about media stories about her, one of the soundbites which has been played frequently over the past 24 hours.

Updated

The duchess laughs about the negative story about her eating an avocado and links to deforestation while the Duchess of Cambridge was given positive coverage for eating the same fruit.

She joked: “that was a loaded piece of toast”.

Updated

Meghan said she has forgiven the Duchess of Cambridge over the incident, and what hurt her more was the false narrative put out and that “everyone in the institution knew” it was false.

Updated

The duchess said “the reverse happened” and the Duchess of Cambridge later apologised and gave her flowers.

The Cambridges have yet to respond to the remarks from the interview.

Updated

Back to the interview and the tabloid allegations about her behaviour towards staff members and making the Duchess of Cambridge cry.

Meghan says that rumour was “a turning point” and “a narrative which didn’t happen”.

Updated

The duchess describes their life now as “peace”, “fulfilling” and “authentic”.

Updated

Oprah and Meghan now chat in the couple’s garden, where they meet their dog Guy and rescued chickens, who stay in Archie’s Chick Inn.

Updated

On perceptions of the royal family, the duchess says: “I didn’t romanticise any element of it. But I think as Americans, especially, what do you know about the royals – it’s what you read in fairytales, right?

So it’s easy to have an image of it that is so far from reality. And that’s what was really tricky over those past few years is when the perception and the reality are two very different things.

And you’re being judged on the perception but you’re living the reality of it. There’s a complete misalignment and there’s no way to explain that to people.”

Updated

On her first meeting with the Queen, the duchess says they went for lunch at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Prior to the meeting, Meghan says her husband asked her if she knew how to curtsy.

Updated

Meghan admits she married into the royal family “naively”, did not do any research and “did not know what the job was”.

Just to reiterate, Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the interview, which was first aired in the US last night.

Updated

Meghan says on her wedding day she listened to the song “Going To The Chapel” but said it “wasnt our day, it was planned for the world”.

Oprah and Duchess are neighbours and the interview is taking place at a friend’s garden.

Oprah says the questions have not been shown to the couple beforehand.

The interview starts with just the Duchess of Sussex talking to Oprah Winfrey, who admires her baby bump.

The ITV broadcast has started with images of the couple’s wedding in May 2018.

The Sussexes’ interview has raised a lot of issues. What are the questions that need answering?

  • How will the royal family respond and how will they restore their damaged reputation?

The family and their aides have some challenging questions to answer about why a suicidal Meghan was not supported and given help, and about accusations of racism.

The Queen, known for her calm approach, is never reactive or rash during challenging times, but the allegations mark a crisis point for the monarchy and its future.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have long been vocal campaigners on the issue of mental health so questions remain about their involvement and what their response will be.

  • Who made the racist comment about how dark the Sussexes’ baby’s skin would be?

The duke and duchess refused to say which member of the royal family had this conversation with Harry while Meghan was pregnant with Archie.

Winfrey later said Harry told her it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.

  • -What damage has been done to Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family?

At this stage, the damage could be irreparable. The duke has vowed to try to restore his relationship with his father, the Prince of Wales, and said he hopes he can heal his rift with William in time.

The interview is likely to be seen – by the press or the royals, or both – as an attack on the whole family, and questions will be asked about how William will react to Meghan singling out Kate? Harry has, however, spoken of his closeness to the Queen.

  • What about Meghan’s father?

The duchess has been estranged from Thomas Markle since her wedding, but Winfrey was not seen questioning her about their relationship in the main programme.

In clips released later, Meghan said she found it difficult to discuss his actions, adding: “I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child.”

Updated

Buckingham Palace was under pressure to respond to allegations of racism within the highest echelons of the royal family following an interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that threatened to have a devastating effect on the reputation of the monarchy.

Just a reminder the interview will be aired on ITV at 9pm.

Mind mental health charity has issued a statement in response to the television presenter Piers Morgan’s remarks about the Duchess of Sussex.

Updated

New Zealand is unlikely to stop having Queen Elizabeth as its head of state anytime soon, the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has said, following Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan.

Ardern was asked by a reporter if the interview, and the picture painted of the royal family, had given her pause around New Zealand’s constitutional ties with the royals.

“I’ve said before that, you know, I’ve not sensed an appetite from New Zealanders for significant change in our constitutional arrangements, and I don’t expect that that’s likely to change quickly from New Zealanders.”

Updated

The Guardian’s editorial on the saga: heavy is the head that wears the crown.

“In speaking to Ms Winfrey, whose secular authority is greater than any US politician, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are signalling that the English-speaking world now has two royal households to choose from and identify with. One appears to trade in the politics of emotion, feeling people’s pain just as they felt theirs. The other, if one accepts the Sussexes account, is flawed and cruel – and unable to cope with mental suffering.”

Updated

The actor Hugh Jackman has given his backing to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex speaking out about mental health.

The novelist Nadifa Mohamed gives her view on the treatment of the Duchess of Sussex by the royal family.

Updated

The photographer Misan Harriman has released a new picture of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as he congratulated them on their news that they are expecting a baby girl.

“What wonderful news to celebrate on International Women’s Day! Congratulations my friends, and welcome to the girldad club H” he tweeted, alongside a black and white photo of the couple with their son, Archie.

The couple announced they were expecting a second child with an image shot by Harriman, a long-time friend, last month.

Updated

About 17.1 million Americans watched Oprah Winfrey’s television interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the broadcaster CBS said.

CBS said Sunday’s two-hour interview drew the biggest audience for any entertainment special since the Oscars telecast in February 2020, which was watched by 23.6 million viewers.

It was also the most-watched non-Super Bowl event on a Sunday in prime time for more than a year, CBS said.

The National Football League’s Super Bowl regularly draws an audience of about 100 million and is the highest-rated TV event in the US.

Updated

A YouGov poll finds that nearly half of people questioned in the UK believe the interview is “inappropriate”.

The Duchess of Sussex’s allegation that concerns were raised with Prince Harry about the skin colour of their baby when she was pregnant will probably have been the most shocking for a US audience to hear, where discussion of colourism is widespread.

But experts in the UK argue the comments would also resonate deeply across the Atlantic. Though it is not recognised as such, colourism is a significant issue in the UK too, they said.

In the interview with Oprah Winfrey, which first aired in the US on Sunday, Meghan said conversations were had about how dark Archie’s skin might be when he was born. Meghan and Harry declined to say who expressed those concerns.

Aisha Phoenix, a researcher on colourism, Islam, and belonging at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, said: “Colourism in general is a taboo topic and until recently people haven’t wanted to talk about it in the UK. Beyond those who have experienced it, there wasn’t the recognition that it actually existed and there was no body of research to draw on. Because it hadn’t been researched, some people assumed that it wasn’t an issue.”

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing live blog covering the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was aired in the US on Sunday night.

The interview will be broadcast in the UK on ITV at 9pm GMT, which we will be live blogging here.

Some of the main headlines from the broadcast include Prince Harry saying that racism was a “large part” of the couple’s decision to leave the UK last year and start a new life in the US.

Oprah has also disclosed that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were not behind comments about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s child.

Updated

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