Meghan and Harry have become "caught up in a massive sea change" for the British monarchy, according to religion experts speaking in the wake of the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey yesterday.
Theologian and former BBC journalist Ted Harrison said the Firm is steadily evolving to become "more aligned with celebrity" but that the presence of lingering traditions means he feels "enormously sorry for members of the Royal Family who are trapped in an old institution".
He was speaking on a panel of academics, journalists and religious ministers who were discussing the implications of the interview on the monarchy as part of a debate organised by the Religion Media Centre.
The Oprah interview was aired in the UK on ITV last night, featuring revelations about the Duchess of Sussex's suicidal thoughts during her time in the Royal Family and allegations that a family member was concerned about "how dark" her children's skin colour would be.
Dr R David Muir, senior lecturer in public theology at the University of Roehampton, said the monarchy is "an institution that has to be reformed.
"If people are complaining about their feelings, their mental health and are suicidal and they cannot get help, I think that is a real indictment".
Rev Canon Rosie Harper added: "Once you start saying that [the monarchy is] old fashioned and out of touch but also that there's a moral deficit in the way they behave, they begin to be seen as a drag.
"People do have empathy for the way Meghan has been treated".
The length of the Queen's service at the top of the Royal Family – nearly 68 years – was argued to be one of the contributing factors to the slow pace of change, with Harrison saying: "Once the Queen's reign is over there will be a sea change in the monarchy".
In its current state, Dr Muir explained the monarchy can be difficult for an outsider to penetrate and that Meghan's mixed-race identity could have made that more difficult, saying: "You don't see too many black people in the Royal Family, do you?
"But I don't want to get caught up in whether the monarchy is racist or not racist.
"I want to say: what are we doing to change the institution so it is more representative of the signs and symbols of modern Britain?"
As to the long-term impact of the Sussexes' revelations to Oprah Winfrey, Dr Bob Morris, who works within the University College London constitution unit, said the monarchy does its best to avoid being ridiculed, but that "this interview has certainly contributed to that".
Former royal correspondent for the Guardian, Stephen Bates, commented: "The interview has been deeply damaging in the short term, but [the Crown] is a very long term institution.
"One way or another it will get over these problems".
Harrison added: "When the historians come to write the book of the monarchy in a hundred years' time [...] the Harry and Meghan interview will be no more than a footnote of curiosity".
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