Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did not exactly hold back in their interview with Oprah, but they did not give as many details as viewers would have liked. Specifically, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex refused to name any names when they said that a family member had expressed concerns about Archie’s skin tone before he was born.
Markle explained, “In those months when I was pregnant, all around the same time…we have in tandem the conversation of [whether] he won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title. And also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
When pressed for a name, Markle refused to give one, saying that it would be “very damaging” to them. Harry gave a similar answer later in the interview.
However, the possibilities of who could have said such a thing have been narrowed down by royal experts and Winfrey herself.
Speaking to longtime pal Gayle King on CBS This Morning, Oprah said she still did not know who had raised those concerns, but there is a limited list of possibilities that is only growing shorter.
“[Prince Harry] did not share the identity with me but he wanted to make sure that I knew and, if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother nor his grandfather that were a part of those conversations,” Winfrey explained.
Chris Ship, ITV News’ Royal Editor, echoed that sentiment when appearing on Good Morning Britain. The royal expert explained, “I should be clear here, I’ve been told it’s not the Queen, and it’s not the Duke of Edinburgh.”
“So that only leaves two family members,” he continued. “The two people you are left with is either his father, Prince Charles, or his brother, Prince William, or their wives.”
Another expert, royal author Phil Dampier believes that the Queen spoke to whichever family members had raised concerns about Archie’s skin before releasing a response to the interview.
According to Dampier, “some recollections may vary” suggests that she has inquired about the situation among family members. He told Daily Mail, “The queen is really saying that Harry and Meghan might be giving their version of events or their interpretation of a conversation a couple of years ago, without going so far as to say they are lying, which they might not be.”
“Clearly she has spoken to the person who allegedly made the remark about Archie and they have given her their version of events,” he added.
He told the outlet that he believes the Queen “wants to keep the identity of the senior royal … a secret” in order to protect them.
“She knows that if it comes out that person will never be allowed to forget it, rightly or wrongly,” Dampier added.
