Infuriated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's accusations, Prince William: We Are Not a Racist Family
Prince William has spoken up about racist accusations made by Prince Harry and Meghan, who say a family member has touched on how dark their son Archie's skin is.
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, Prince William denied the allegations and insisted that his family had never been racist.
Prince William said this in response to questions directed to him by journalists during a visit to an East London school.
On the other hand, members of the British royal family often ignore such questions, but Prince William seizes the opportunity to answer the explosive accusations that have rocked the kingdom.
"We really are not a racist family," said Prince William.
Buckingham Palace has struggled to silence the furious criticism, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accused the royals of being victims of racism and heartless treatment during their time as a member of the British royal family.
The palace tried to respond to the allegations, made during an interview with US TV host Oprah Winfrey, with a 61-word statement that critics called "too little, and too late."
Prince William, second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, made a response during a visit to School21 to mark the return of students to classrooms following the nationwide lockdown.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, known to have left royal duties last year and moved to California, later said they wanted to escape the annoying British media and wanted to live a normal life.
Meghan Markle revealed in an interview that she was so isolated and miserable as a member of the British royal family that she even had suicidal thoughts.
Meghan Markle also said Prince Harry informed her that members of the British royal family had expressed "concern" about the color of her baby before the birth of their son, Archie.
Thirty-six hours after the interview first aired, the palace immediately issued a written statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother.
"The whole family is saddened to fully understand how challenging the past few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, especially race, are of great concern. Although some memories may differ, they are taken very seriously and will be handled by the family personally," the statement reads. such as Pikiran-Rakyat.com quoted from AP News.
The allegations, and court responses, have sparked conversation around the world about racism, mental health and even the relationship between Britain and its former colonies.
The revelations stood in stark contrast to the hopes of many when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married that the glamorous former actress would help the monarchy connect with young people in an increasingly multicultural country.
On the other hand, many have criticized the palace, for trying to deal with the matter privately, saying the monarchy is supported by taxpayer money and such important issues should be tackled in public.
Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and the royal family is legally prohibited from trying to influence public policy.
However, the kingdom remains a symbol of national unity, especially under the leadership of the queen who has ruled since 1952.
The interview also exposed tensions between Prince Harry and Prince William, who have long been seen as close and supportive of each other after the death of their mother, Princess Diana.
When asked about his relationship with Prince William, Prince Harry said, "May time heal all things".
