The queen was reportedly left “dismayed” by the allegations made

The late Queen Elizabeth II felt “betrayed” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, it’s been reported.

The interview, broadcast on March 7, 2021 when Prince Philip was “on his deathbed,” was “absolutely shocking” to those who knew Harry. Philip died on April 9, just 33 days later.

The royals later explained why they decided to sit down with Oprah.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being interviewed by Oprah in March 2021 (Credit: The Royal Family Channel/Harpo Productions, CBS)

Allegations during Oprah interivew

In the interview, Meghan alleged that the royal family had expressed concerns about “how dark” the skin of Prince Archie – the first child of Meghan and Harry – would be while she was pregnant with him.

At the time, Buckingham Palace responded: “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

The courtier claimed the queen was “dismayed” by the racist allegations.

They added: “To accuse an unidentified person within the family of racism, thereby casting the shadow of suspicion over everyone, was unforgivable in her eyes. That was what ultimately prompted her to issue the ‘recollections may vary’ statement. Things were never the same after that … It was a horrific series of betrayals at the end of her life.”
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 (Credit: Cover Images)

Queen “angry” with Harry and Meghan over Lilibet name

The queen was reportedly also unhappy that Harry and Meghan said they’d consulted with her before naming their daughter Princess Lilibet – her nickname.

A staffer told biographer Robert Hardman she was “as angry as I’d ever seen her.”

The queen’s team disputed the Sussexes account, telling the BBC that she had not been asked for permission

Another source claimed to The Daily Beast: “You have to remember, the queen was seriously ill for several years with bone cancer. She knew she was dying, she could hardly see, she could hardly stand, she could hardly move. And then she was completely let down by her grandson. It was utterly devastating for her.”

A friend of Prince William and Kate Middleton, meanwhile, said that the family “all blame Meghan 100%”. They feel as though Harry was “manipulated”.

“Meghan saw him and realized she could become the most famous person in the world,” they said. “Then the reality of what their boring royal life would be like sunk in. And, she decided to ruthlessly milk it for all it was worth. That is their view.”

The source went as far as to reference Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936. They explained that the family view things as a “rerun” of his relationship with American socialite Wallis Simpson, adding: “The only solution is to follow the same playbook. Exile worked before, and it will work again.”
Prince Harry left the UK in 2020 (Credit: Rolf Vennenbernd/DPA/Cover Images)

Could Harry return to the UK?

Harry, however, could be set for a solo trip to the UK to help smooth relations over.

A source said: “Harry didn’t expect the fallout to drag on this long. He’s beginning to see that including Meghan only complicates things with the royals, so he’s accepted – though not happily – that going it alone might be the only option for now.”

The source claimed that Harry is open to doing whatever he needs to in order to mend bridges, whether it’s one-on-one conversations, mediation, or video calls.

They added: “It’s incredibly hard for him. He cares deeply for Meghan, but he can’t deny the reality of the situation anymore. If there’s any hope of reconnecting with his family, he knows he has to try without her.

“And he knows he will have to make a trip back to Britain without her with his tail between his legs and begging bowl in his hands. He wants back into the royal fold and is feeling totally lost in America. It’s Meghan’s home and world, not his.”