The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning to apologise to Prince William, Princess Catherine, Queen Camilla and King Charles over comments made during their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. However, a commentator argues that Prince Harry should be the first to apologise.
Planned Apology Over Oprah Interview
The Express understands the couple intends to say sorry for remarks made during the televised interview. Millions of viewers watched as Meghan claimed that, when pregnant with Prince Archie, there were "conversations and concerns" at the palace "about how dark his skin might be when he's born."
Harry added: "That conversation, I am never going to share. At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked." Both refused to name the speaker, although Harry later described the remark as "unconscious bias" rather than intentional racist malice.
Meghan's Comments About Kate
Meghan also told Oprah that "a few days before the wedding [Kate] was upset about the flower girl dresses and it made me cry." She said she was not sharing the story to be "disparaging" to Kate.
Commentator Chris Riches argues Meghan has "a bit to apologise for," but questions whether Harry has more to answer for. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry made claims about several royals, including that William and Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi fancy dress uniform, that William knocked him to the floor in 2019, and that William called Meghan "difficult," "rude" and "abrasive."
Source Says Meghan Will Apologise
Harry also called Camilla a "wicked stepmother" and said Charles struggled with emotional expression, physical affection and communication. 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."
The source added: "Harry was angry with his family at the time, and backed Meghan up, but they now realise what a low blow it was. They really want a sit-down so they can address what they said, and Meghan will apologise."
Riches argues that if Meghan is planning to apologise, Harry should go first and explain how he plans to win back his family's trust. Otherwise, the five-year-old apology risks being seen as another PR stunt.
