Royals set for battle of the airwaves
Queen to go on TV the same night as Sussexes’ ‘tell-all’ Oprah interview
The Queen and senior royals are to go head to head with harry and Meghan with a Commonwealth television special just hours before the couple’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey is broadcast.
Westminster Abbey’s Commonwealth Day service, which is usually attended by most of the Royal Family, was meant to take place on March 8 but has been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Instead the Queen will share her annual message in A Celebration For Commonwealth Day, which will be shown on Sunday, March 7, on BBC1.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex will also take part in the programme.
But the timing of the show puts the senior royals on early evening television on the same night as the Sussexes’ ‘tell-all’ interview with Miss Winfrey in the US, which will be broadcast at 1am UK time.
To add to the inevitable awkwardness, the Commonwealth was one of the areas in which harry and Meghan had hoped to keep their official royal roles.
harry was president of the
‘Seen as slightly awkward’
Queen’s Commonwealth Trust while Meghan was the vicepresident. The duchess was also patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities until the couple were stripped of their remaining patronages last week after stepping down as working royals.
Last year’s service was also their final official engagement. Relations were so acrimonious, however, that William and Kate could barely even look the Sussexes in the face.
Sources stressed yesterday that broadcasting the service on March 7 was planned long before the Royal Family was even aware that harry and Meghan were to undertake what is likely to be an explosive and potentially damaging interview.
As the Daily Mail revealed on Saturday, the Queen did not find out until the news was leaked by ITV early last week.
An insider said: ‘When it became apparent around three weeks ago that it would be impossible to hold the service this March due to the pandemic, the BBC ... offered to put together a programme.
They suggested the traditional Songs Of Praise Sunday slot, which seemed perfect. Obviously it might be seen as slightly awkward [now] but there is definitely no conspiracy.’
The Queen will record her message to the Commonwealth via audio, which will be played over footage of her Majesty at Windsor. Although not a formal address, it will undoubtedly be seen by many in light of the brutal war of words last week after harry and Meghan hit out at Buckingham Palace.
A statement by the Palace insisted that they could not ‘continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service’ while pursuing commercial opportunities in the US.
The Sussexes then said they would still ‘live a life of service’ outside the royal fold. They added: ‘Service is universal.’
Senior royals and officials felt the statement was ‘horribly disrespectful’ to the monarch, 94, who has devoted her life to her country and duties, and whose husband, Prince Philip, 99, is in hospital. The Queen sees the Commonwealth as one of the greatest achievements of her almost 70-year reign.
The programme on March 7 will be presented from Westminster Abbey by Anita Rani and feature ‘voices from across the world’ with music and readings.
The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David hoyle, will lead prayers and blessings and will be joined by faith leaders from around the 54 Commonwealth nations.
The Sussexes’ 90-minute interview for US TV is likely to be one of the most watched programmes this year.
According to one close friend, Meghan has said ‘nothing is off limits’ for the show, entitled Oprah With Meghan And harry: A CBS Primetime Special.
US television presenter Gayle King, who attended the duchess’s baby shower, said Miss Winfrey was told she could ‘ask
anything she wants’. Meghan will speak about ‘stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood... to how she is handling life under intense public pressure’, according to network CBS. The couple will also speak about their move to the United States last year and future plans.