UR WILL THE BABY BE?
SHOCK CLAIM THAT UNNAMED RELATIVE ASKED ABOUT DARKNESS OF CHILD’S SKIN SPARKS CALL FOR ROYAL RACISM PROBE
been accused of making racist remarks in the past. ‘He did not share the identity with me,’ the star said on CBS’s This Morning show. ‘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.
‘He did not tell me who were a part of those conversations. I tried to get that answer on camera and off.’
The mystery prompted speculation over who it might be, and calls for a probe. Labour MP Nadia Whittome tweeted: ‘When Meghan Markle was accused of bullying, Buckingham Palace immediately announced an investigation.
‘Now that Meghan has revealed comments about her child’s skin colour, will they investigate racism in the Palace? I won’t be holding my breath.’
Party leader Sir Keir Starmer also said the allegations should be taken ‘very, very seriously’.
Children’s minister Vicky Ford said there was ‘no place for racism in our society’ when asked about the claims.
The duchess – who is expecting her second child this year – also suggested her son may have been treated as second class because of his skin colour.
Archie will have no taxpayer-funded security and has not been given a title – unlike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Meghan said she was upset at the ‘idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be’.
She described the title of prince as Archie’s ‘birthright’. But experts confirmed he was being treated according to rules laid down by Harry’s great-great-grandfather George V.
Prince George had an automatic right to his title as the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
And the Queen decided to give titles to Charlotte and Louis, whose father William is in line to be king.
But the Queen’s other greatgrandchildren, such as Zara and Mike Tindall’s daughters Mia and Lena, do not have titles.
Archie can expect to become a prince or HRH when his grandfather Charles accedes to the throne.
OPRAH WINFREY has said she was ‘surprised’ by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations of a royal family member questioning how dark unborn Archie’s skin might be.
The talk show host also said she was taken aback by Meghan’s disclosure that she contemplated taking her own life while pregnant; and Harry’s revelation at feeling ‘trapped’.
Both Harry and Meghan refused to identify who made the alleged racist comment and Oprah (pictured) has said the couple did not confide in her off-camera except to say it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
Asked on US breakfast show CBS This Morning what surprised her,
Oprah said: ‘I think the skin tone – the discussions about what colour Archie’s skin tone would be.
‘What also surprised me, and that is why I clarified, “Were you just feeling badly, were you feeling sad or were there suicidal ideas or thoughts of harming yourself?” That also surprised me. It surprised me Harry said he was trapped.’
Asked if she was shocked that the conversation about skin tone happened or that they were revealing it, Oprah replied: ‘I was surprised they were telling me about it. Even on the tape you can hear me go, “Whoa! I cannot believe you are saying this right now”.’ Asked how the couple were feeling today, Oprah said: ‘I haven’t really spoken to them since the interview because we are in different time zones. ‘I got a text from Meghan yesterday saying, “How is it going?” because she was putting Archie to bed waiting on the west coast feed and had no idea what was happening on the east coast. I said, “I don’t either but from what I can tell it’s going well. I know it’s airing.” I will probably have a conversation with them later today.’
Oprah was a guest at the couple’s wedding, having requested an interview before their marriage – which was turned down.
Harry and Meghan were not paid for this week’s explosive interview – described on our front page yesterday as part of the Queen’s ‘Annus Harrybilis’ (pictured right). However, Oprah’s company Harpo is set to earn up to £ .5million from CBS TV network, with ads costing £280,000 per 30 seconds.
Zero carbon farm food target as Morrisons goes greener
MORRISONS has pledged only to stock meat, eggs, fruit and veg from net zero carbon UK farms by 2030 to reduce its impact on the climate.
The firm says it will work with 3,000 farmers to help cut emissions by rearing different breeds, using less damaging feed, reducing fertiliser and increasing renewable energy.
Plans to capture carbon by restoring hedgerows and peatland, and planting trees, grasslands and clover will also
Herd it here first:
Farmer Paul Coates from Cumbria supplies Morrisons
be looked at. The first products will be eggs next year, with beef, pork, lamb and vegetables by 2025.
Chief executive David Potts said: ‘Growing food is a key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. As UK farming’s biggest supermarket customer, we’re in a unique position to guide our farms and help lead changes in environmental practices.’
He added it was ‘an ambitious target – but it’s our duty to do it’.
LUXURY car maker Aston Martin will make all its electric cars in the UK from 2025. Its SUVs will be built at St Athan, south Wales and its sportscars at Gaydon, Warwickshire, The Financial Times reported. They are currently made at the German plants of part-owner Mercedes-Benz.
DELIVEROO has posted losses of £223.7million in the past year – despite surging sales during the pandemic. The takeaway delivery firm, which is backed by Amazon, is set for a £7billion London stock market debut. It has narrowed its losses from £317.3million in 2019.
BRITAIN’S success with the Covid vaccine rollout has yet to boost the jobs market, a study finds. The UK has Europe’s least optimistic outlook with employers ‘cautiously observing the impact of the rollout and longterm effects of Brexit’, said Manpower Group, which polled 1,500 companies.
THE average price of a house is likely to go up by four per cent this year, says property group Savills. It also predicts a 21 per cent rise by the end of 2025, lifting average values £50,000 to £279,644.
SHOE Zone has named Terry Boot as its finance boss... after Peter Foot walked away from the role. Mr Boot steps into the post as the retailer posts a pretax £14.6million loss.