Five Years On: Revisiting Harry and Meghan's Oprah Interview Claims
Five years ago today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle delivered a seismic television interview with Oprah Winfrey that reverberated globally and sent shockwaves through the British Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made numerous startling allegations about their experiences as senior working royals during that landmark broadcast on March 7, 2021.
Since that explosive conversation, the couple has produced additional revealing content including a comprehensive Netflix documentary series and Harry's controversial memoir, Spare. However, careful examination reveals that several key claims from their original Oprah interview appear to have been modified, downplayed, or omitted entirely in their subsequent projects.
Archie's Skin Colour Controversy Revisited
One of the most incendiary moments from the Oprah interview occurred when Harry and Meghan revealed that a senior royal had expressed concerns about how dark their unborn son Archie's skin might be. The allegation prompted Prince William to publicly defend the monarchy, stating emphatically: "We are very much not a racist family."
Notably, this specific incident was conspicuously absent from Harry's memoir Spare. When questioned about the omission during a promotional interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Harry clarified his position, stating: "No I didn't" accuse family members of racism, adding "the British press said that."
The Duke further elaborated on his perspective during the interview, drawing a distinction between racism and unconscious bias. He explained: "The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different. But once it's been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that."
Secret Wedding Claim Clarification
Another claim that generated considerable confusion emerged when Meghan revealed during the Oprah interview that the couple had secretly married three days before their highly publicized Windsor wedding ceremony. She told Oprah: "You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that."
In his memoir, Harry provided additional context about this private ceremony in the Kensington Palace garden, describing the nuptials as "unofficial, non-binding, except in our souls." This clarification helped explain the nature of what had initially been presented as a secret wedding.
Evolving Narratives About Royal Introductions
During their conversation with Oprah, Harry initially described his family as "really welcoming" when Meghan first met them, noting that relations only deteriorated following their South Pacific tour. However, both Harry and Meghan have since provided more nuanced accounts of these initial interactions in their Netflix series and Harry's book.
In the documentary, Meghan recalled an awkward first dinner with William and Kate, remembering: "I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits." She added that she quickly understood "the formality on the outside carried through on the inside."
Harry's memoir similarly noted a "discordant note" between the two women, observing: "The only possibly discordant note I could think of was the marked difference in how the two women dressed, which both of them seemed to notice. Meg: ripped jeans, barefoot. Kate: done up to the nines."
Hospital Photograph Controversy Reexamined
When Oprah questioned why the couple hadn't participated in the traditional hospital steps photograph after Archie's birth, Meghan immediately responded: "We weren't asked to take a picture." This contradicted the established royal tradition where new parents typically pose with their newborn outside the hospital.
However, in the Netflix documentary, Meghan presented a different version of events, stating: "There was already the pressure of the picture with Archie on the steps." She explained that she and palace officials had instead arranged for photographers to have extended access at Windsor Castle to photograph her with the newborn, noting that no one had objected to this alternative plan.
The evolution of these narratives over the past five years reveals how Harry and Meghan's accounts of their royal experiences have developed through multiple media projects, with some original claims from their groundbreaking Oprah interview receiving clarification, context, or modification in their subsequent tell-all endeavors.
