Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to speak out against the Royal Family in their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey was reportedly viewed by the late Queen Elizabeth II as the ultimate act of “betrayal,” according to new claims made by royal insiders.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020. Over the next three years, they launched a highly publicized campaign detailing their grievances with the monarchy. Their revelations came through various high-profile interviews, their Netflix docuseries, and Prince Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare.
But it was the March 2021 Oprah interview that insiders say caused the deepest hurt, particularly to Queen Elizabeth, who was grappling with a personal crisis of her own at the time. According to a new report from the Daily Beast, royal author Sally Bedell Smith cited conversations with the Queen’s cousin and longtime confidante, Lady Elizabeth Anson, revealing that the Queen saw the interview as a devastating personal blow.
“Ultimately, the queen felt betrayed by Harry,” one source said. “And when he and Meghan attacked the institution that she spent her whole life serving in the Oprah interview, that betrayal was complete. It was absolutely shocking to those of us who knew him… not least because her husband was on his deathbed.”
The interview aired on March 7, 2021. Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband of more than 70 years, died just 33 days later, on April 9. During the interview, Harry and Meghan made a number of explosive allegations, including claims of racism within the Royal Family and the impact royal life had on Meghan’s mental health.
The interview’s broadcast sent shockwaves through the monarchy and the public alike. At first, Buckingham Palace remained silent. But after mounting pressure, a statement was released two days later, reading: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.” A former royal staffer shared how deeply the Queen was affected by the couple’s accusations. “The allegations of racism dismayed [the late Queen],” they said.
“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.”