Harry and Meghan: "The royals feared the color of our son's skin"
We publish some excerpts from Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Meghan, the Dukes of Sussex, which aired Sunday on CBS. The interview was sold to 68 countries and CBS paid the Winfrey production company more than 6 million euros for the rights. The extracts have been subjected to some editing work to make them clearer
Nearly two billion people watched their wedding on TV, from the outside it looked like a fairy tale, then they wreaked havoc on the world by giving up their royal positions. Before we begin, I want to make it clear to everyone behind this interview there is no agreement: she doesn't know what I'm going to ask, no topics are off limits and she won't be paid. Quite right?
Meghan: "All right"
What was it like joining the royal family?
M: "I would say that I entered it naively because I grew up knowing little about the royal family. There was no way to understand what everyday life would have been like."
Hadn't she worried that she was a divorced American from a mixed couple?
M: "I never thought about it. When I thought about it, it's because they made me think about it"
What happened when she was pregnant?
M: "In the months I was pregnant the conversations were 'The baby will not be guaranteed safety, he will not be given a title'. There were also concerns and conversations about how dark the baby's skin would be when it was born."
Who said these things?
M: "They were said to Harry, not me. I can't name names. It was very hard. It hurt a lot."
What impact did the tabloids that criticize her have on her mental health?
M: "They caused me great suffering. I didn't see a solution, I didn't want to live anymore."
Did you have thoughts of suicide?
M: "Yes. I tried to ask for help. I said I needed to go somewhere for support. I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution (of the monarchy, ed)" .
There is an episode that has been talked about a lot. She would have made her sister-in-law Kate cry (William's wife, Harry's brother and heir to the throne, ed). She says it didn't happen
M: "No, it didn't. The exact opposite happened. Kate was furious with me about something about the bridesmaids' dresses at the wedding. But then she apologized and brought me flowers. She did what she did. I would have done it if I had known that she had hurt someone, if she took responsibility for it. What was shocking was to read in the newspapers the opposite of what had happened. "
Prince Harry, if I ask you why you left, your answer in plain language is ...
H: "Lack of support and understanding".
Did you want to get away from the press or did you leave for lack of family support?
H: "Both"
Did you also leave the country because of racism?
H: "She played a central part in our choice".
Do you think he would have ever left if it weren't for Meghan?
H: "No. Because I was trapped in the system. As is the rest of my family. My father and brother are trapped: they can't get out of it. And I'm sorry. My family cut me off, financially. What if not. had it been for what my mother left me, we would not have been able to do this (moving to the United States, ed) ".
Have you ever kept something hidden from the queen?
H: "No, I never kept anything hidden from my grandmother. I have too much respect for her. When we went to Canada, after we announced that we were leaving our public role, she said to me: 'The moment you land (again in Great Britain), come to Sandringham, I'd like to have a chat. Then when we arrived I got a message from my private secretary. He had cut and pasted a message from the Queen's secretary: 'Tell the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they can't come. The queen is busy. '"
After she invited you?
H: "Yes. I called her and told her I wanted to go see her but I heard she was busy. She said, 'Yes, there is some commitment on my calendar that I didn't know I had.' "What about the rest of the week?" He replied: "All busy". I just said okay. I knew what was going on. "
Are you saying the queen can't do what she wants?
H: "No, when you are in charge of the royal institution there are people around you who give you advice. What makes me sad is that some of that advice is really bad."
Did anyone in the family tell you they were sorry you had to leave real life because you felt lacking in support?
H: "No. Unfortunately not. The widespread feeling is that this was our decision, so the consequences are all ours. Despite three years of asking for help. It was really difficult because I am part of this system with them. I've always been a part of it. I'm very aware that my brother can't leave him, but I did. "
Does your brother want to leave the system?
H: "I don't know. I can't speak for him. With that relationship (between the royal family and the press, ed), that control and fear of the tabloids, the environment that has been created is really toxic. But I'll be there. always for him "
Do they also think it is a toxic environment or do you think so?
H: "I think they had to make up for it. I got out of it."
Why couldn't you make peace with us?
M: "Because it is different for us".
Different because of racism?
M: "Yes. Racism and social media."
