Interview of Meghan and Harry by Oprah Winfrey: all the questions that remain unanswered
The reaction of the royal family, the origin of the racist comments evoked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ... Several questions arise and remain after the explosive exchange between the American presenter and the couple, whose interview was broadcast Sunday March 7 on CBS.
They evoked, in a jumble, the legacy of Lady Diana, the sex of their second child, or the loose ties between Prince Harry and Prince Charles. A year after the "Megxit", the Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, have indeed granted an interview to Oprah Winfrey, broadcast Sunday March 7, on the CBS channel which has spent nearly 8.5 million euros for this exclusivity. But the couple's revelations about their life within the British royal family and their decision to walk away from it leave several questions unanswered.
How will the royal family react?
Buckingham Palace has not commented on the couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey. According to British media, he is unlikely to decide to do so, except to respond to criticism relating to certain members of the royal family targeted personally. The revelations of Meghan Markle, who would have expressed her suicidal thoughts and received no support from the Palace, are however devastating. The British are watching the reaction of Prince William and Kate Middleton in particular, they who continue to affirm their commitment to the subject of mental health. During the interview, Meghan claimed that contrary to what had been reported by the British press, it was not she who had made the Duchess of Cambridge cry, in an incident which occurred shortly before her wedding, but the reverse.
Who made a racist comment?
According to Meghan Markle, "concerns" have been expressed about the skin color that her son Archie would have after his birth. Members of the royal family would have worried about knowing "how dark it would be." Prince Harry, whose mother-in-law is black, has vowed never to reveal which member of the royal family had submitted this "concern" to him. But, on social networks, speculation is rife. The accusations of racism against this unnamed member of the royal family are a particularly sensitive subject in the United Kingdom, crossed last year by large demonstrations carried by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Who did Meghan Markle seek medical help from?
Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey that she had suicidal thoughts when she was pregnant with her son Archie. “I just didn't want to be alive anymore,” she said. An emotional distress which the Duchess reportedly told officials at Buckingham Palace. The latter would have refused him any medical aid, for fear that this would harm the image of the monarchy. This raises questions about the identity of the people contacted by Meghan Markle, and the reasons that led them to deprive her of this support.
How much have their ties to the royal family suffered?
The couple's revelations have done little to improve their ties with the royal family, already strained by their decision to leave the UK. They could even lead them to cut the bridges for good. Prince Harry has revealed that his father, Prince Charles, had stopped answering the phone for a while and said he was “really disappointed” by his lack of support, while showing determination to strengthen ties. He also declared to have taken a "different path" from that of his brother William, whom he nevertheless confides "to love with all his heart".
Who was jealous of Meghan Markle?
Prince Harry has hinted that some members of the royal family are jealous of Meghan Markle's popularity, during the couple's 2018 trip to Australia and New Zealand. Who is he talking about, where did this jealousy come from and can it explain the problems that followed? This episode is reminiscent of when his mother, Lady Diana eclipsed Prince Charles on their own tour of Australia in 1983, a topic covered in the final season of the Netflix series The Crown.
What about accusations of harassment?
A Times investigation, published on March 2, accuses Meghan Markle of harassing some of her employees at Kensington Palace. Since then, Buckingham Palace has assured that it will open an investigation into these allegations, saying it is "very concerned". The Duchess of Sussex has refuted them.
What becomes of Meghan Markle's father?
Meghan Markle had moved away from her father Thomas Markle because of a false "paparazzade", orchestrated by a tabloid before her wedding, in 2018, and he had never met Prince Harry or his grandson Archie . Oprah Winfrey did not yet formulate any question on this subject.
What will their daughter's first name be?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed their second child will be a daughter, prompting speculation on which name they choose to give her. Bookmakers are already betting on Diana or Alexandra.