The Queen Has Released a Statement About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Oprah Interview

The queen has released a statement about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview that aired March 7 on CBS. 

Read it in full, below: 

“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the queen said. “The issues, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much-loved family members.” 

This is the first statement anyone from the royal family has given about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s extensive interview, in which they opened up about the British monarchy, fame, tabloids, and why they chose to step back as senior royals. 

Markle’s and Prince Harry’s quotes about specific members of the family were mixed, but they made it clear how much they respect the queen. 

“She’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming,” Markle told Winfrey. “She was one of the first people I met. There wasn’t actually a huge formality the first time I met Her Majesty the Queen. We were going to lunch at Royal Lodge, which is where some of the other members of the family lived, specifically Andrew and Fergie and Eugenie and Beatrice. Eugenie and I had known each other before I knew Harry, so that was comfortable. It turned out the queen was finishing a church service there in Windsor, and she was going to be at the house. I remember Harry and I were in the car. He [was like], ‘My grandmother’s here, so you’re going to meet her.’ [I said], ‘Oh, great. I loved my grandmother. I used to take care of her.’” 

Meanwhile, Prince Harry said, “I’ve spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have for many, many years.”