Queen Elizabeth: "Sorrowful for the difficulties of Harry and Meghan, worrying the issue of racism"
In a statement Buckingham Palace responds to the accusations made in the interview with Oprah Winfrey: "We will talk about it in the family". And she adds: "They will always be beloved members of the family"
Last week some tabloids boldly announced that Elizabeth II would not even see Harry and Meghan's interview, snubbing it. Now, however, the Queen says she is "saddened" by the alleged racist phrases at the Palace about Archie, the son of Meghan and Harry, which the rebel dukes revealed in the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey last Sunday.
Not only that: Buckingham Palace, in an official statement, adds that "this affair, even if there could be divergent reconstructions, will be taken absolutely seriously by the Royal House on a private level." This is because "the issues raised by the interview, especially those of a racial nature, they worry us ”. "Harry and Meghan", the Queen is keen to underline, "will forever remain members of the family much loved by all."
This is an extraordinary statement. First of all, because it is very rare for the British Royal Family to expose themselves or express themselves on public facts and controversies concerning them. But in addition this time, despite the catastrophic precedent of Prince Andrew's interview with the BBC, the "Company" could not remain silent.
The accusations of Harry and Meghan, bounced around the world in a moment and although still to be verified, were very heavy, unsustainable. And being still anonymous, the alleged manager worried about "how dark the unborn Archie could have been" cast a tremendous racist shadow on all the Windsors, including Crown Prince Charles, so diversity and multiculturalism have always been themes for him extraordinarily dear.
It is therefore very likely that it was Carlo, perhaps the most open and inclusive member of the family, who chose the soft line - and for some sensational commentators - adopted today by Buckingham Palace. That is, accept the serious accusations, acknowledge them, promise to shed light on the responsibilities and show support for Harry and Meghan, for what they would have suffered in the past.
All this despite their interview on Sunday was absolutely devastating for the entire monarchy, causing what great royal experts like Penny Junor have already called the most serious crisis at the Palace since 1936, when the pro-Nazi king Edward VIII abdicated for George VI, the father of Elizabeth II.
This extraordinary Buckingham Palace "bath of humility", quite different from what happened after Diana's equally explosive interview in 1995, is exemplary for another reason as well. Because it makes us understand how much media power Harry and Meghan have and how racism is an absolutely hot topic in the United Kingdom, which has also built its fortune on a colonial and imperial past.
It is not yet clear how substantial the very serious accusations of the rebel Dukes are, but after a summit and emergency conclave in the last 24 hours between all the highest responsible for the communication of the Windsors and it seems with the extraordinary participation of Charles and his son William, in the end it was decided to avoid a head-on collision. And to preserve the highest public respectability, even more so in the era of Black Lives Matter and rights. Such incendiary accusations, in the long run, could have made everything come more. For now, it is better to contain the fire. We'll see.
