The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's planned apology to the Prince and Princess of Wales is simply a "strategic move", one royal expert has warned. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to express their regrets to the Royal Family over comments they made to Oprah Winfrey during their 2021 bombshell TV interview.
Following their exit as senior royals and move to the US, the former Suits star, 45, claimed that there had been "concerns and conversations" from a royal family member about how dark their son Archie's skin would be before his birth. The comment sparked a backlash after Meghan and Harry, 42, refused to reveal which royal had said it, forcing Prince William to issue a public denial to reporters.
Long-term plan for a fresh start
Now, it has been revealed that the couple are planning to eventually apologise to his family for Meghan's claims and the hurt they caused as part of a long-term plan for their fresh start in the UK. A source said: "Their one big regret about leaving the royal family for the US was their interview with Oprah, and Meghan knows her biggest mistake was her claim that a royal family member had discussed Archie's skin colour.
"Harry was angry with his family at the time, and backed Meghan up, but they now realise what a low blow it was. They both know they're hot-headed and realise they took things too far."
Expert questions the timing
On Tuesday (October 6), TalkTV presenter Peter Cardwell welcomed royal expert Charlotte Griffiths onto the show to discuss the latest royal developments. She confessed: "I'm in shock, I've got to say, because when I first spoke to friends of Harry when he first got to the UK in August, this was not the attitude he has today. He was not eating humble pie. Far from it, he was effing and blinding to be honest. He was very much not contrite, very much angry still with the institution and various members of the Royal Family.
"I don't think [his anger was directed] particularly at Catherine, but I think Camilla was in the mix of people that are on his list of people he was really angry with. My sources were quite shocked that that was the mood he was in."
The journalist added that the decision to apologise to his relatives came largely from his PR team. Ms Griffiths went on: "However, he does have a very competent and very active PR team.
"I think it's more of a strategic move."
Public reaction online
It didn't take long for viewers to flock to social media to share their thoughts on the proposed apology online. One user penned: "She [Meghan] told 17million Americans that this family wondered how dark her baby would be, while the Queen's husband lay in hospital.
"Five years on, a 'source' says she's sorry. An accusation on Oprah isn't withdrawn. If she's sorry, she knows where the cameras are. She's never had trouble finding them before."
Another agreed: "It will be a fake apology calculated to manipulate and hurt them all over again. Those two are diabolically jealous and obsessed with Prince William and Princess Catherine. No apology will ever repair their lies and attempts to destroy William and Catherine."
A third warned: "This is no longer about an apology. Harry and Meghan's interviews, documentaries and books shattered trust with the Royal Family. King Charles may see them privately, but a real reconciliation - or a return as working royals - seems out of reach. They chose this path, and they have only themselves to blame."
Meanwhile, a fourth pondered: "Wonder what her friend Oprah thinks of this...The ship has sailed. They need to leave the royals alone now."
