Here's How Bad The Fallout From Harry And Meghan's Interview Is

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's March 7, 2021 tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey seems to be the interview the world heard. The sit-down was packed with revelations and stories about Prince Harry and Meghan's new life in California, their relationships with their respective families, and what ultimately led them to leave the British royal family, or as Meghan called it, "The Firm." For instance, Meghan spoke of an alleged conversation that took place with top officials within the family about the color of baby Archie's skin (Meghan is half Black), she talked about her severe mental health struggles while pregnant with Archie, and Harry revealed that he believed his family is "trapped" by their steep pile of responsibilities.

Following the interview, the world seemed to hold its breath as it awaited a response from Prince Harry and Meghan's royal relatives, and it received one — just not in the way many expected. The interview even instigated some drama outside of the family, and caused at least one person to lose their job. So, how bad is the fallout from Harry and Meghan's interview? Keep scrolling to learn what has unfolded since their conversation with Oprah aired.

While the palace generally does not comment on public gossip or accusations, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview was unsurprisingly a special case because the accusations were coming directly from family members who previously worked under Queen Elizabeth II. The palace strategically waited to respond to the interview, and when they did, people were not impressed, per The Sunday Times (via Express). A source of the publication also noted that there is "a clear threat that if you challenge [Harry and Meghan's] narrative, they'll release more [allegations]."

The short response, issued on behalf of Queen Elizabeth on March 9, 2021, focused on one allegation in particular: that a high-ranking member of the family was concerned about the possible tone of Archie's skin. "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," the palace said, per AP News. "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

Prince William also shared a snappy response to reporters from Sky News four days after the interview debuted, saying his family is "very much not a racist family" and that he plans to speak to Prince Harry. While both Harry's brother and grandmother gave seemingly calm responses, several sources have reported that the family is frothing with anger behind the scenes.

Palace insiders reported that Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Charles were quite unhappy with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's statements in the revelatory interview.

According to The Sunday Times (via Observer), Prince William was "reeling" after his brother claimed that he is "trapped" by his royal duties. The outlet also reported that the Duke of Cambridge is "completely accepting of his role" in the royal family and believes he has a "path set out for him." Plus, he and his wife Kate Middleton were allegedly displeased with Kate's name once again being associated with reports that she cried over a dispute regarding bridesmaid dresses for Meghan and Harry's 2018 nuptials. Meghan cleared the air in the interview and said that "the reverse" happened, and she was the one who cried, as reported by People. Royal biographer Penny Junor told People that the statements likely did not sit well with the couple because "William is very protective of Kate and can get very angry." She added that William believes that Kate being pushed into "a negative light is worse than being attacked himself."

Furthermore, Prince Charles was so shocked by what came out in the interview that he allegedly wanted to issue a "point-by-point" rebuttal of the comments made against his family, according to a since-deleted report from The Sun (per Page Six). It's clear that Meghan and Harry's tell-all has hit a nerve with their family.

Meghan Markle notoriously experienced a fallout with her family before she became a royal. Her relationship with her father Thomas Markle soured after he was caught staging photos of himself getting ready for the royal wedding for paparazzi. He was unable to attend the wedding due to suffering a heart attack just days before, per TMZ. Meghan's half sister Samantha Markle spoke to tabloids as early as 2016, calling her sister a "social climber " once her relationship with the Duke of Sussex became public.  

So, it's not surprising that they had more to say once Meghan and Prince Harry's bombshell interview debuted. Samantha slammed an extra clip of the sit-down that aired on CBS This Morning on March 8, 2021 in which Meghan claims that she and her half sister do not know each other well, per Entertainment Tonight. "I don't know how she can say, 'I don't know her' and she was an only child. We've got photographs over a lifespan of us together. So, how can she not know me?" Samantha said to Inside Edition, with photo evidence in hand.

Thomas, on the other hand, slammed Harry for not being protective enough of his daughter in response to Meghan's claim that she felt suicidal while pregnant. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, he said her husband had "obviously not supported her that well" and that Meghan could have turned to her own family.

Good Morning Britain's inclusion in the aftermath of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's revelatory interview did not end with Thomas Markle's appearance on the show. While discussing the interview on March 8, 2021, controversial host Piers Morgan said (and later tweeted) that he "wouldn't believe Meghan Markle if she gave me a weather report." This statement was not taken lightly by viewers because one of Meghan's admissions that Morgan claimed as phony was that she felt suicidal while she was still a working member of the British royal family, as noted earlier.

Morgan was immediately pressured to apologize for his remarks and racked up 57,000 complaints to Ofcom (via The Hollywood Reporter), but he proudly refused. However, he decided he was fed up after his co-host Alex Beresford condemned his words on air on March 9, 2021. Morgan subsequently stormed off set and officially resigned later that day.

Morgan is notoriously critical of Meghan and has made it clear he will not apologize for his remarks. "On Monday, I said I didn't believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview. I've had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don't. If you did, OK," he tweeted on March 10. "Freedom of speech is a hill I'm happy to die on. Thanks for all the love, and hate. I'm off to spend more time with my opinions."

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Additional resources:

http://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/