A lot of what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said in their recent interview with Oprah Winfrey was shocking for fans of the royal family. For many, it was hard to believe that someone so close to the top could be treated so badly.
That said, bad treatment, even in the upper ranks of the royal family for members marrying in, isn't exactly new. Princess Diana publicly spoke about feeling the most isolated at a time when she was The Firm's biggest asset. Like her daughter-in-law, she struggled with thoughts of suicide. Diana also battled an eating disorder, as did Sarah Ferguson after becoming a royal, both attributing their illnesses to the large amount of pressure and complete lack of support.
The marked difference with Meghan's story is the role of race. Meghan detailed microaggressions, as well as some larger and more serious transgressions, by members of the royal family and the institution around them. While identities were largely protected, those claims have filled public discourse with discussions about racism and the royals, as well as what that means to the vast number of Black and Brown people that make up the Commonwealth.
As a result, Prince William publicly addressed claims when talking to reporters after a visit to a school in East London. He didn't add any other nuance or considerations to the discussion, instead simply asserting that the royals are "very much not a racist family."
Prince William has made his first public remarks on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey. During a visit to a London school on Thursday, the Duke of Cambridge took a few questions from reporters. When asked if he had spoken to his brother since the interview, he replied, "I haven't spoken yet, but I will do."
The response was a little curt and followed by another question, directly asking if the royals were racist.
"We are very much not a racist family," William replied.
That assertion isn't going over too well following the details Meghan shared of problematic issues. From the royals' lack of support in stopping racist tabloid attacks against her to a member of the senior royal family asking questions about how dark Archie might be at birth, Meghan felt that she and her child would always be othered. People pointed out the irony in William being able to say the royals aren't racist but never having had anything to say about the racism itself as it occurred from external sources.
The only time William has directly spoken out against racism was when it was occurring in his favorite sport, soccer. In September 2019, William, who is president of the Football Association, spoke about mental health matters with a group of staff, coaches, and fans.
"People are now talking a little bit about mental health issues but I imagine talking about racism is still quite a difficult subject, especially when it's happening in such a public fashion with Premier League matches or [in the] Champions League. We've got to do something about it. I'm fed up with it. I'm so bored of it," William said.
On January 31, 2021, William tweeted again about the subject. "Racist abuse – whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media – is despicable and it must stop now," he wrote.
"We all have a responsibility to create an environment where such abuse is not tolerated, and those who choose to spread hate and division are held accountable for their actions. That responsibility extends to the platforms where so much of this activity now takes place.
"I commend all those players, supporters, clubs and organisations who continue to call out and condemn this abuse in the strongest terms. – W"
Other who got wind of William's comments noted that the fact he hasn't spoken to Harry is not exactly making him look good, either. After all, the interview has been widely reported on all week. Granted, Harry did say that there's "space" between the two right now, but William still could have reached out.
The comments, as many have noted, are again a dismissal of Meghan's experience. If she feels she experienced racism, that's not for any member of the royal family to judge as right or wrong. They should instead be trying to understand and learn from her.
Many have also noted that William is still a distinct possibility in the public discussion of which member of the royal family was concerned about how dark Archie's skin color might be at birth. So far, we only know that Harry commented off-camera to Oprah that it was neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince Philip who asked those questions. The public has largely debated whether Charles or William might have done it.
Omid Scobie, the royal reporter who was one of the coauthors of Finding Freedom, questioned how the royal family's response to this is being viewed by the world, particularly the Commonwealth, whose diversity the family celebrated on the same day Harry and Meghan's interview aired.
"If it's not considered appropriate to acknowledge racism or racial ignorance when aimed at a mixed-raced senior royal, then how should the 54 countries of the Commonwealth and its predominantly Black, Brown, and mixed population feel about the realm’s figurehead belonging to an institution that claims to celebrate 'diversity' but in practice appears to uphold white supremacy?" Omid reflected in a piece for Harper's Bazaar.
"And if the lack of awareness Harry described to Oprah is true, then were race-related public duties, including Prince William recently calling out racism in British soccer and Prince Charles speaking out about racism in architecture in 2000, simply performative? It's hard to forget that across the full lineup of working royals, all failed to acknowledge last year’s Black Lives Matter movement, which saw just as much protesting across the United Kingdom as the United States."
The only other comment from the royal family has come in the form of a statement from Queen Elizabeth that Buckingham Palace released.
"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Meghan and Harry," the statement read.
"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. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved family members."
