By Sheila Mckenzie-
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe the royal family did not take accountability for the concerns raised in their Oprah Winfrey interview, according to an updated biography of the couple.
Following a series of explosive allegations against the royal family, accusing an unnamed royal – not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh – of racism, the institution of failing to support a suicidal Meghan, and touching on troubled relationships with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge.
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Immediately after the interview was aired, Oprah Winfrey made it abundantly clear that the allegation of racism did not refer to either the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
According to the new edition of Finding Freedom, by Omid Scobie, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also believe the Queen failed to act over their allegation that a senior royal expressed ‘concern’ about their unborn child’s skin colour.
The book which was updated to include Harry’s return to the UK in April for his grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral – and says he bought a one-way ticket as he hoped he might be able to speak to his family directly, without staff being involved.
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It claims Harry spoke to his brother Prince William three times in all during the visit, as well as briefly chatting to his father, Prince Charles, after the service. He also enjoyed ‘precious moments’ with his grandmother, the Queen.
The biography by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand first published in August 2020, concludes that the trip ‘broke the ice’ and that the door to a rapprochement is now ‘slightly ajar’.
No Regrets
The updated version of the book claims Harry and Meghan have no regrets about their actions, despite the toll on their family. It says: ‘What started [as a] fairytale romance became a story that reinvented the genre – a self-made, independent woman playing an equal role alongside her knight.’
It says the Sussexes believe the Queen failed to act over their accusations of racism, and also took exception to a carefully worded statement from the monarch in the wake of their explosive interview
Buckingham Palace subsequently said the Queen was “saddened” to hear about Harry and Meghan’s struggles but added “some recollections may vary” over the other allegations.
In an epilogue for Finding Freedom, published by People magazine, unnamed sources close to the couple suggested the Sussexes felt the Queen’s comment showed the monarchy had not taken full accountability for the concerns expressed in the interview.
It said: “The Queen’s ‘recollections may vary’ comment ‘did not go unnoticed’ by the couple, who a close source said were ‘not surprised’ that full ownership was not taken. ‘Months later and little accountability has been taken’, a pal of Meghan added. ‘How can you move forward with that?”’.
Scobie’s book, co-written by Carolyn Durand, is being republished in paperback on 31 August with the new epilogue. Scobie told the magazine: “Meghan famously spoke about that it was not enough to survive – we are now in the thrive chapter.”
He described the couple as being in a healthier place as they enter “the era of visibility” and prepare to develop their in-person work with their Archewell Foundation this autumn.
After the globally televised interview, former television presenter, Piers Morgan, was forced to step down from his position as GMB top host, after thousands of complaints by broadcasting regulator Ofcom, and a personal complaint to Itv by Meghan Markle over Morgan’s reckless dismissal of her complaints of being suicidal and allegations that her cries for help about mental health issues she was facing were neglected.
Meghan Markle faced multiple criticisms by commentators and royal experts over the interview, as supporters of the royal family and Piers Morgan sought to discredit her claims. Also highlighted by her many critics was her claim that her son Archie was to be denied a royal title because of his colour.
In the meantime, Markle has faced embarrassing attacks from her father, Thomas Markle, and her half sibling, Thomas Markle Jnr, both of whom have openly attacked her credibility.
Harry and Meghan have signed lucrative deals – thought to be worth well over £100m – with Spotify and Netflix to fund their new life in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California.
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