Palace responds
Royal racism allegations “concerning.”
Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that allegations of racism made earlier this week by Prince Harry and Meghan were “concerning” and would be addressed privately by the royal family.
The comments, made in a statement issued on behalf Queen Elizabeth II, are the first from the palace since a two-hour TV interview by Harry and Meghan rocked the royal family. Meghan, who is biracial, said the palace had failed to help her when she had suicidal thoughts and that an unidentified member of the royal family had raised “concerns” about the color of her baby’s skin when she was pregnant with her son, Archie.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the palace said. “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
The interview, which aired Sunday night in the U.S. and a day later in Britain, has divided people around the world. While many say the allegations demonstrate the need for change inside a palace that hasn’t kept pace with the #Metoo and Black Lives Matter movements, others have criticized Harry and Meghan for dropping their bombshell while Harry’s 99-year-old grandfather, Prince Philip, remains hospitalized in London after a heart procedure.
The response was likely delayed by the queen’s struggle to balance her sometimes-conflicting roles as monarch and grandmother, said Angela Levin, author of “Harry, a Biography of a Prince.”
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members,” the statement said.
Prince Charles didn’t comment on the interview
Tuesday during a visit to a vaccine clinic in London.
Harry’s father met with health care workers, church staff and people due to receive vaccines. — Associated Press
Political journalist Mudd dead at 93
Roger Mudd, the longtime political correspondent and anchor for NBC and CBS who once stumped Sen. Edward Kennedy by simply asking why he wanted to be president, has died. He was 93.
CBS News says Mudd died Tuesday of complications of kidney failure at his home in Mclean, Va.
During more than 30 years on network television, starting with CBS in 1961, Mudd covered Congress, elections and political conventions and was a frequent anchor and contributor to various specials.
He also did stints on PBS’S “Macneil/lehrer Newshour” and the History Channel.
He wrote a 2008 memoir, “The Place To Be,” which described the challenges and clashing egos he encountered working in
Washington.
Mudd received a George Foster Peabody Award for his 1979 special “CBS Reports: Teddy,” which aired days before Kennedy announced his attempt to challenge then-president Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination.
In the report, Mudd asked the Massachusetts senator: “Why do you want to be president?”
Kennedy was unable to give a focused answer or say what he wanted to do.
Mudd spent a fair amount of time in the “CBS Evening News” anchor chair, substituting for Walter Cronkite and anchoring the Saturday evening news broadcasts from 1966 to 1973.
But he lost out to Dan Rather to succeed Cronkite. Mudd then jumped to NBC as its chief Washington correspondent. In addition, he co-anchored NBC’S “Nightly News” with Tom Brokaw, and for a time co-hosted “Meet the Press.”
Mudd left the “Newshour” in 1992 to teach at Princeton University.
He was a distant relative of Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who was arrested for treating an injured John Wilkes Booth shortly after Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.
Mudd and his wife, the former E.J. Spears, had four children. — Associated Press
Carole King remixes hit “It’s Too Late”
Carole King is singing a new tune.
The legendary singer/ songwriter took to social media to offer a remix to one of her iconic hits: “It’s Too Late,” from her groundbreaking album “Tapestry.”
After getting the COVID-19 vaccine, the 79-year Rock & Roll Hall of Famer posted a video in which she turns the 1971 Rock favorite into a ditty urging people to do the same.
“It’s not too late, baby/it’s not too late/and you really are gonna make it,” she melodically bellowed as she stroked the piano keys. “You’re gonna be so strong and healthy/when it’s your turn, just take it/don’t be too late, baby/don’t hesitate.”
In her caption, King thanked Dolly Parton, who revamped her classic “Jolene” into “Vaccine” while getting her COVID shot, for the inspiration. — New York Daily News