Harry and Meghan: what they said in the interview with Oprah
From Meghan's suicidal thoughts to court concerns about how dark little Archie's skin would be, Harry and Meghan's hottest revelations in the exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey, already out in the US. Here's what they said about the Royal House.
Harry and Meghan’s highly anticipated interview with Oprah is the most anticipated post-Sanremo television event.
Already aired Sunday night on CBS (which allegedly paid $ 5.8 million to Oprah's company to buy the rights and sell it on the international market), the interview in Italy is broadcast Tuesday in prime time on TV8.
If you are curious to know what Meghan and Harry said about the Royal House, from the relationships with William, Kate, Charles and Queen Elizabeth, to the real reasons that led the couple to leave London and court life to move to the USA and be financially dependent, here is the summary of the interview.
Interview Harry and Meghan from Oprah: the revelations
In the two-hour interview, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who now live in California after giving up their role as senior members of the Royal House, address several highlights of their relationship, relationships with the royals and life at the palace. .
Meghan thought about suicide
Meghan made dramatic behind-the-scenes revelations at Buckingham Palace, from having thoughts of suicide when she was pregnant, over the pressure she was under, to discussions at the palace about "how dark her son Archie's skin could be."
Members of the royal family also said they did not want the couple's unborn child to be a prince or princess, and the royal protocol was also changed for this.
"I was really ashamed to have to say it at that moment and I was ashamed to have to admit it especially to Harry, but I knew that if I didn't say it, I would," said an excited Meghan. “I just didn't want to live anymore,” she revealed.
The couple, now expecting their second child, later revealed that they are expecting a girl and have no plans to have more than two children.
Megxit: Harry's truth about Meghan
Ever since she entered Harry's life, Meghan Markle has been portrayed by the tabloids as the villain who changed Harry and created a rift between him and his family, ultimately taking him away from them.
But in the Oprah interview, viewers got to hear Harry's point of view directly. The prince admitted that he would not have retired from real life if he had not met Meghan, but that he could not have done so without her. Despite his privileged life, Harry said he felt trapped and saw no way out. “She saved me,” he said. “I'm proud of us”.
Meghan concluded that their story is bigger than any fairy tale.
There was also a secret marriage
The former actress also revealed that she and Harry got married privately, in the garden of their home, 3 days before the public ceremony which took place on May 19, 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Relations with the royal family
Then the allusions to the strained relations with his father Carlo and his brother William, both described by Harry as "trapped in their roles".
At the beginning of the interview Harry said that his father had stopped taking his calls when he and Meghan were considering withdrawing from real life. “I feel really disappointed, because he's been through something like this,” the prince said referring to the way the media had persecuted his mother, Princess Diana.
In the interview, not much is said about Prince William and the relationship between the two brothers. Harry just said they took "space".
As for her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Harry said he is on excellent terms with her, and has talked more about her in the past year than they have in a long time. The prince also made it clear that he had not "stabbed" his grandmother with the news of their departure. "I have too much respect for her," he said, explaining that he had spoken to the Queen many times about their upcoming announcement.
The second son of Charles and Diana admitted, however, that he felt "hurt by the queen's decision to remove all royal patronages and honorary military titles", but to fully respect his grandmother's decision. Finally, specifying that the monarch's decision had nothing to do with the interview with Oprah.
The relationship between Meghan and Kate
Oprah immediately addressed the age-old question of the relationship between Meghan and Kate Middleton, her sister-in-law and British media darling. But for Kate it wasn't always all roses: at first, when she went out with William, even the beloved Duchess and her "middle-class" family were mocked by the tabloids. Kate was cruelly nicknamed Waity Katie because she had waited 8 years for Prince William's marriage proposal.
Meghan said the media craved a "story with a good hero and a villain," also disproving rumors that lasted more than a year that she terrorized her future sister-in-law into tears during preparations for Harry's wedding. “Actually the opposite happened,” she told Oprah. Markle said the Duchess of Cambridge made her cry during an argument about the bridesmaid dress her daughter, Princess Charlotte, would wear. “And I'm not saying this to despise anyone, because the week before the wedding was a really difficult week. Kate was upset about something, but then she apologized, sending me flowers and a note. She did what I would have done if I knew I had hurt someone, ”she said.
This is a significant revelation: Markle has finally responded to the fire of dozens of anonymous sources that have made her look bad since the beginning of her relationship with Prince Harry, whose details the British tabloid press was all too eager to publish.
An "invisible contract" with the press
Meghan said that she initially agreed with what the Crown wanted, because she thought they would protect her, only to find out that it wasn't. "Not only was I unprotected, but they were willing to lie to protect other family members, but not willing to tell the truth to protect my husband and me."
Harry also spoke of an "invisible contract" between the press and the royal family, to which the tabloids would have full access in exchange for positive coverage. In essence, Harry said that the royal family is afraid that the tabloid press will turn against them and this has led them not to talk about the racism that Meghan suffered from the media.
Because they left the Royal House
Meghan denied orchestrating the so-called "Megxit" saying she intended to remain a member of the royal family forever, but decided to leave everything for love.
For his part, Harry said that the simplest reason why he and Meghan decided to retire from public office with the royal family (thus giving up the Sovereign Grant, a sort of royal salary) and wanting to become financially independent, is because a lack of support and understanding, as well as constant media oppression.
Harry said he was seeing Diana's story repeat itself with Meghan, reminding him of the way her mother was treated, with the added aggravation of racism and social media.
As for the couple's financial situation, Harry revealed that the royal family cut him out financially in the early part of 2020 and that he relied on what his mother left him.
The multi-year deal with Netflix, which will see the royal couple produce films, series, documentaries and children's programs, was not part of the original plan, but was suggested by a friend during the pandemic.
"From my point of view," Harry told Oprah, "all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for my and my family's safety."
